Pool equipment giant Pentair has added their name to the slew of high performing manufacturers poised for growth this season. With their recent acquisition of Water Appliance Manufacturer Be The Change Labs, Inc. which does business under the brand Rocean.

Rocean produces a sleekly designed high performance seltzer water appliance that filters and carbonates water right from the tap. When you think of the product, think the Keurig of Seltzer. The machine was recently touted by Times Magazine in it’s “Best Inventions of 2020” issue.

Pentair Aquisition of Rocean symbolizes continued growth in Consumer sector

The announcement came December 28th, in the form of a press release. When you think about it, it’s really a sensible buy for a pool equipment juggernaut like Pentair. Here is a company already known throughout the swimming pool industry for their long track record of producing pumps, filters, and extensive catalog of water filtration products.

“This acquisition further advances our strategy to expand our core water treatment products in the residential and commercial water business…”

Mario D’Ovidio, Executive Vice President and President, Pentair Consumer Solutions

Why Pentair Acquiring Rocean Makes Sense

The timing of the acquisition itself makes complete sense for Pentair. Historically known for their line of commercial and industrial products, the manufacturer has been making progressive headway into the consumer sector. The buy out symobilizes a commitment to double down on the gains made this year universally throughout the pool industry, as homeowners continue to invest in their backyard. Pentair had revenue in 2019 of $3 billion, and trades under the ticker symbol PNR. With approximately 120 locations in 25 countries and 9,500 employees worldwide.

Today, automatic pool covers help pool owners in safeguarding their pools as well as prolonging swimming seasons. Additionally, these pool covers can enhance your property’s aesthetics and save on costs.

With time, there has been an increased demand for custom pool covers in the pool industry. A broad spectrum of opportunities thus exists for pool companies. They can manufacture and install these products according to their client’s requirements, even during this global crisis caused by COVID-19.

Benefit 1: Extended swimming season

Homeowners seek to make the most out of their pool investments by using their pools frequently. Despite the covid-19 pandemic, most homeowners desire to enjoy and relax by the pool with their families. Fortunately, they can enjoy a short stay-cation in their resort-like pools located in their backyards.

Automatic pool covers are flexible enough to close and open, based on the weather conditions of the day. Thus, a pool owner can prolong the swimming pool season and maximize all the benefits their pool has to offer. Furthermore, the pool can remain open during the first days of winter when the weather is relatively favorable.

The covers generate their heat; thus, water will still be suitable even in cold weather. Furthermore, the pool owner might buy a pool heater to keep water warm during the spring and fall season.

Several pool owners desire to use their pools throughout the year. Often, pool contractors encounter various customers who request for a heater to warm their pool up to 90 degrees. This enables them to swim during the festive season, including New Year’s Eve. In such cases, builders advise their clients to get an automatic pool cover installation.

Besides, automatic pool covers maintain a safe, clean, and healthy pool through balancing out the water chemistry. Undoubtedly, pool companies should hire reliable sales crew. As a result, they will develop an effective sales pitch for marketing and selling. Also, sales experts should ensure their potential customers know that these pool covers prevent the waste matter from getting into the pool, especially when no one is using the pool. As a result, covers go a long way in cleansing the pool during the fall season; APCs are worth trying. Once potential clients become aware of all these benefits, it is normally much easier to sell automatic pool covers.

Benefit 2: Safety

Pool experts should not leave out the safety function of automatic pool covers when presenting a sales pitch. Apart from convenience, covers safeguard the safety of everyone in the surrounding environment of the pool. Additionally, pool covers only give the owners access to their pools, as they have to open the cover using a specific code.

But in many instances, pool owners buy covers for safety purposes. Once sales professionals from pool companies assure them of this function, most of them don’t think twice about buying the cover. Unlike a manual pool cover, customers have an easy time when removing the automatic cover when necessary. The fact that pool owners can open automatic covers in less than a minute is also quite fascinating.

Benefit 3: Savings

Automatic pool covers reduce maintenance costs for homeowners, thus allowing them to save in the long run. They store heat and prevent pool chemicals and water from vaporization. This leads to a decrease in maintenance and repair costs.

According to statistics, gas-heated pool owners with these pool covers end up saving more than $1800 in one year. They also save roughly 3000 liters of water lost from vaporization. Meanwhile, operation costs for pool covers are cheap and go for about $5 in a year.

Benefit 4: Beauty

Most pool owners don’t purchase automatic pool covers to enhance their home’s aesthetics. Nonetheless, covers play a huge role in improving the beauty of a homeowner’s outdoor living area. Once completed, the cover contains an attractive, seamless appearance that looks good even during the winter. Some pool owners fall for the beauty aspect once they set their eyes on the covers.

Pool contractors should encourage their customers to get automatic pool covers before the building process begins. Buying the cover before enables contractors to position it beneath the coping in the right manner. What happens if homeowners buy the cover after pool construction is over? The installation of covers is likely to interfere with the track, and it won’t look attractive as expected. Ultimately, there is a broad spectrum of colors to choose from for your pool cover. It would be best if you chose a shade that befits your outdoor theme color.

Fiberglass is well known for its eminent attributes. The material contains a uniform, high-standard shell. The shell is resistant to damages caused by adverse chemical reactions and algae breeding grounds. Even so, compared to gunite and concrete pools, fiberglass pools are not considered appealing. But it depends on how the pool owner decides to design their fiberglass pool. Designer at Sage Outdoor Designs, Kate Wiseman, states that fiberglass pools offer several design opportunities.

Moreover, Wiseman provides tutorial classes on how to design fiberglass pools at Genesis construction school information in South California. The course aims to assist contractors in realizing that fiberglass’s limitations do not have to affect the final appearance and standard of the pool. 

Wiseman says, “In the class, we learn how contractors can improvise fiberglass pools to look like a concrete pool.” She says that it all begins with the builder’s mindset. In fact, the first question asked once you attend the first class is, ‘Why should you presume that fiberglass material offers limited pool designs?’

Step Back

Furthermore, the course at Genesis talks about the usual layout failures in building a fiberglass pool. But the most common reason for design failures is usually limiting your mind to see the broad spectrum of designs fiberglass pools can offer. 

“If you are a pool builder, don’t just focus on constructing and installing the pool.” Once you reason from this viewpoint, it will be much simpler to build something attractive and high-quality with fiberglass, says Wiseman.

If you are in charge of constructing a swimming pool in your client’s backyard, you are also responsible for the design.

Designer at Sage Outdoor Designs, Kate Wiseman

Kate also says, “Today, it is evident that the majority of homeowners frequently build a rectangular pool. It is normally located at the center of the backyard, thus eliminating all the designs owners had in mind.”

Suppose your backyard contains little space, pool builders can place the pool at the furthest end of the yard. So, there will be some space left for your outdoor living area. “Additionally, coming up with priorities is important. In my class, we mostly focus on what the highest and the least priority should be.” “Besides, pool contractors have to know the areas where people will use for relaxation and entertainment. Once you identify these first before determining where the pool will be, the outcome will be an attractive and unique pool design.

On the contrary, if you have an unlimited outdoor living area to work with, your client has provided you with a golden opportunity to express your creativity.

Reading Your Customer‘s Mind

Beauty lies in the beholder’s eye. When constructing a custom pool, the only beholder you should consider is your client. Thus, as the contractor, you should seek to lure your client by providing various unique, eye-catching pool designs. Wiseman also teaches how to do this and develop a great sales pitch to win your client. 

Wiseman says, “The design ought to have gain approval from the client.” Thus, the first thing to do once you meet your customer, try as much as possible to understand their tastes, preference, and, most importantly, their budget. When you become aware of all this information, pinpoint and present pool designs that best suit your client. During the first consultation, observe your client and ask them questions to get the right information. 

Furthermore, if your client is a bit reserved and prefers not to talk much, look at their stuff. By doing this, you can identify your client’s taste and preferences. For instance, you can observe their car, house, clothes, and accessories to determine the things they like. Frequently, you may notice their preference for either simple, sophisticated, or conventional designs. So, when formulating various pool designs, ensure they complement your customer’s taste. 

Another example that Wiseman gives is if the customer appears to have money and likes to flaunt, present classy, elegant pool designs. The chances are high that they will love the design, and they might hire you in the end. Additionally, investigate models that the customer had constructed before, if possible. You can use this to come up with similar pool design options. In the end, it all depends on the little things you notice about the client. 

Great Design

In this present age and time, the fiberglass pool market is significantly growing. More homeowners continue to show interest in such pool types once they realize they offer a wide range of design options. Besides, fiberglass material is very robust. Thus, contractors can use them for expensive and large pool projects. 

It is also important to note that the secret to a successful pool project is the design alongside the shell. Pool design is everything. Undoubtedly, it is the distinction between a dull pool and an appealing pool; the material doesn’t matter.