The draft publication of a combined set of European standards for residential swimming pools is now ready for public consultation. The documents relate to pool construction and installation for in-ground and above ground pools.
swimming pool
With an estimated 972,700 in ground and 633,500 above ground pools, France is one of the worldās biggest private pools markets, second only to the USA. The value of the French pool market is an estimated 1.5 billion euros, more than 70% made up by 930 specialist companies, employing 23,250 workers, with nearly 20% of their turnover based on export. The French Federation of Pool Professionals (FPP) recently presented its seventh annual pool awards, recognising, at the same time, some of the most dynamic pool builders across France.
More than ever, traditional pool and spa businesses are questioning the wisdom of maintaining a shop or showroom location. With increased competition from on-line retail sales, for some, the burden of rent, rates, display stock and staffing costs is becoming more and more difficult to justify. But other retailers are turning a negative into a positive by honing in on the Internet as a crucial marketing tool that can drive visitors to their shop sites and vitally, once there, maximising the potential of that visit.
One of the most fired up water leisure teams gearing up for 2013, is the newly formed line up of Interhiva UK. Initially focusing on spas but also steadily building the swimming pool portfolio side of the business, the Interhiva UK team offers a wealth of industry knowledge and experience.
No-one can doubt the way the water leisure industry is changing with more corporate enterprises and more global players. But the backbone of the UK trade business remains husband and wife teams and family businesses that continue to be handed down through the generations. It was back in the famously scorching summer of 1977 that David Adams, the founder of Golden Coast, decided to build a pool for his sons.
LaMotte Europe is the new European office for LaMotte USA, bringing LaMotteās unrivalled range of water analysis equipment firmly into the European pool and spa market. The LaMotte Europe office aims to consolidate LaMotteās growth in Europe over the past six years, through expanding dealer and distribution networks, as well as supporting the existing ones. The office and warehouse, based in Warwick in the UK, has the advantage of providing a European stock centre resulting in significantly shorter lead times for European customers, as well as local technical expertise and support.
From its roots amongst the elite horse racing fraternity, the business of animal hydrotherapy has grown year on year as Jan Hurst reports…
Now a widely accepted practice, exercise for animals in water was once considered an eccentric indulgence reserved for top flight horse racing bloodstock, nurtured by the worldās elite training stables and stud farms. Racehorse trainers, awash with oil-rich owners, invested in specially-adapted swimming pools, transforming the healing process for over-worked or injured, priceless horses.
Every pool and spa professional is being urged to take a few minutes to share their views in the second annual State of the Wet Leisure Industry survey.
Jacuzzi UK were approached by the producers of Channel 4ās Hestonās Fantastical Food to provide a circular hot tub to create the āworldās largest cup of teaā in which celebrity chef, Heston Blumenthal could conduct a ādunkingā experiment.Jacuzzi UK were approached by the producers of Channel 4ās Hestonās Fantastical Food to provide a circular hot tub to create the āworldās largest cup of teaā in which celebrity chef, Heston Blumenthal could conduct a ādunkingā experiment.
Delaying the need to invest in expensive shops and showrooms, the hot tub hire market has been providing a useful first stepping stone for would-be spa retailers for many years. Now, more established water leisure businesses, looking to diversify in order to bring in much sought-after cash flow, are dipping their toe into the hot tub hire market. āMore spa dealers are looking at the potential of the hire market to increase not just their cash-flow but their prospect lists,ā confirms Chris Alcock of Interhiva UK.
