Industry News
Understanding Rebates: How to Turn Purchasing Power Into Profit
Rebate programs are one of the most overlooked tools in the pool industry for increasing profitability. They allow business owners to leverage their purchasing power, reinvest savings back into their company, and turn their savings into a lucrative profit.
What Are Rebates and Why Do They Matter?
Let’s start with the basics. Rebates are financial incentives given to buyers after purchasing a product or service. They can be offered as discounts, refunds, or cash back.
Rebates are much more than a simple upfront discount. With discounts, buyers do not have the option to receive cash back, equity, or other collateral in place of a cheaper price for a good or service. Rebates give power back to the buyer by allowing them to choose the incentive they receive for purchasing.
Here are some common types of rebates and how they work:
Loyalty Incentives: Loyalty incentives increase as a buyer continues to purchase from the same vendor over time.
Volume-Based Rebates: Volume-based rebates are exactly as they sound. The more you buy, the more you earn back.
Percent Rebates: Percent rebates return a percentage of the total amount spent to the buyer–kind of like an after-the-fact discount.
Growth Rebates: Growth rebates reward buyers for increasing their purchase volume or value within a certain time frame.
Sales Rebates: These rebates increase in value based on sales amount rather than purchase volume.
How Rebates Support Business Growth
Rebates can do a lot for your business. For example, you can use rebate funds to improve your margins without having to raise prices for customers. Rebate savings can also be reinvested back into your business to encourage growth.
You can use rebate savings to…
Hire new talent and train existing staff
Purchase new equipment, software upgrades, or other assets
Expand your business’ service offerings
Improve customer experience
And more
When you know how to leverage your rebates, the possibilities are endless.
Methods to Maximize Your Rebates
How do you make the most out of your rebates? Here are some key strategies you can use to get started.
Partner With Trusted Vendors Who Offer Competitive Rebate Opportunities
Seeking out vendors with competitive rebate programs can cut costs, increase profit margins, and allow you to offer more competitive pricing to your customers. Additionally, forging mutually beneficial rebate partnerships can strengthen your business relationships with vendors with vendors and help you grow your network.
Just be sure to evaluate the terms and conditions as well as the complexity of a rebate program before signing up. You don’t want to run into complicated administrative burdens for your business down the road.
Plan Purchases Strategically
Planning your purchases with intention allows you to strategically hit rebate tiers and maximize your savings. Pay attention to the rebate programs you participate in. Identify if they are volume, growth, percentage, or sales based and purchase accordingly. For example, if a vendor you work with offers a volume-based rebate, order larger quantities from them upfront rather than spacing out your purchases throughout the year to capitalize on the rebate opportunity.
Track & Manage Rebates Efficiently
Keep a close eye on all aspects of each rebate program you participate in. Read supplier agreements, monitor purchases against those agreements, and pay attention to rebate claim deadlines and terms to ensure timely payment. Additionally, it’s important to read the fine print before signing up for a rebate program so you understand the true cost of a product after factoring in potential rebates.
When it comes to rebates, you want to make sure nothing is left on the table. Tracking your rebates offers several key benefits.
Prevent lost savings: If you don’t stay on top of rebate tracking, you can miss out on deadlines and special offers, preventing you from claiming maximum rebate savings.
Ensure information is accurate: When you stay on top of your rebates, it allows you to double check and ensure you’ve provided the correct information so your rebates are processed properly.
Stay on top of deadlines: Never miss a deadline or have to pay a late fee when you track your rebates meticulously.
Comparison shopping: The more you know about the rebate programs available, the better you will be at determining which rebates are worth it and which are not.
If this all sounds a bit complicated, know you’re not alone. Buying groups and other organizations offer useful tools for tracking and managing rebates, which we will get into in the next section.
Why Group Buying Makes Rebates More Powerful
Teaming up with a buying group provides several benefits that can help you get the most out of rebates and make them more profitable.
Here are just a few benefits that buying groups offer.
Unlock top-tier rebates: Individual pool professionals may not have the purchasing volume to unlock top-tier rebates. However, buying groups use members’ combined purchasing power to secure better rebate opportunities that are not available to individuals and small businesses. Additionally, buying groups can negotiate with vendors for better prices and higher rebate amounts that would otherwise be unavailable to individuals.
Access exclusive vendor programs and tools for smarter purchasing: Buying groups offer their members helpful tools and resources that make getting the most out of rebates easier. For example, United Aqua Group (UAG) members get exclusive access to a sleek online portal where rebate terms, deadlines, and total savings amounts are tracked automatically, eliminating the headaches that come with manual tracking. Plus, buying group membership grants access to vendor programs with added benefits, like exclusive rebates and rewards for members.
There are several financial and professional benefits that you can earn by joining a buying group, including access to more profitable rebate opportunities. Read more about buying groups, what they are, and how they can help your business here.
Start Leveraging Your Purchasing Power
Ready to dive in and start taking full advantage of your purchasing power? Consider a partnership with United Aqua Group (UAG). We help our members get the most out of vendor rebate programs, manage strategic purchasing, and maximize profitability. Through collective buying power and strong vendor relationships, UAG members can achieve savings that wouldn’t be possible on their own. Visit our website to start your partnership today.
Recognition Highlights Pool Industry Leader’s Continued Commitment to
Innovation, Sustainability and Employee Experience
LATHAM, N.Y. (August 25, 2026) – Latham, The Pool Company [NASDAQ:SWIM], the largest designer, manufacturer and marketer of in-ground residential swimming pools in North America, Australia and New Zealand, has been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Greatest Companies 2026. This marks the second consecutive year Latham has earned a place on the list, which recognizes leading U.S.-based companies for their financial performance, employee satisfaction, innovation and sustainability efforts.
The comprehensive study, presented by Newsweek in partnership with Plant-A Insights Group, evaluated companies with over $75 million in annual revenue through an extensive survey of more than 179,000 employees and 2.7 million company reviews on financial stability, innovation, and sustainability. To enhance the depth and reliability of the study, Plant-A partnered with leading third-party data providers to assess more than 120 KPIs across critical performance areas such as leadership, integrity, compensation and work-life balance. Only companies that demonstrated outstanding results earned a place on the list.
“Being named one of America’s Greatest Companies for the second year in a row reflects the strength of our people and the culture they have built at Latham,” said Sean Gadd, President and CEO of Latham. “Our team shares a commitment to serving our customers, advancing our industry and finding better ways to work. This recognition shows the impact of those efforts and gives us strong momentum as we continue to grow.”
The Newsweek ranking also considers environmental stewardship, including greenhouse gas emissions, water use, waste reduction and transparency in sustainability reporting. Latham continues to explore ways to improve efficiency, reduce waste and support more responsible practices across its operations.
“Families trust Latham to help create spaces where they can connect, recharge and enjoy time together,” added Gadd. “Earning that trust starts with how we operate as a company. We are proud of this recognition and remain focused on delivering high-quality products, supporting our employees and building a strong foundation for continued growth.”
The full list of America’s Greatest Companies 2026 is published online at Newsweek.com. To learn more about Latham, visit LathamPool.com.
About Latham, the Pool Company
Headquartered in Latham, NY, Latham Group, Inc., is the largest designer, manufacturer, and marketer of in-ground residential swimming pools and pool accessories in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. With over 60 years of experience and a coast-to-coast operations platform across 24 locations, the company offers a broad range of pool products, including fiberglass, vinyl liner, and automatic safety covers, all designed to provide homeowners with the highest quality and value. For more information, visit www.lathampool.com.
Duraflex International and Landmark Aquatic have joined forces to bring premier diving equipment to aquatic facilities across the country. The partnership pairs Duraflex’s decades of expertise in diving board design and manufacturing with Landmark’s proven track record in aquatic facility construction, renovation, and maintenance — creating a best-in-class solution for facilities looking to elevate their diving programs.
Whether outfitting a new build or upgrading an existing facility, the collaboration gives aquatic operators access to Duraflex’s full product lineup alongside Landmark’s end-to-end project management and long-term service support. From recreational community pools to high-performance competition venues, the partnership is built to serve divers at every level.
“By joining forces, Duraflex and Landmark Aquatic provides our customers access to greater resources and strengthens our ability to better serve our customers,” said J. Ryan Casserly, Chief Executive Officer of Landmark Aquatic. “We’re excited about the opportunities ahead and the future we’ll build together in the world of aquatics.”
About Landmark
Landmark Aquatic is a nationwide provider of commercial aquatic facility design, construction, and maintenance services, with more than six decades of industry experience. Serving clients across most of the U.S., Landmark delivers construction-led solutions and on-going support though its AquatiCare maintenance team, ensuring excellence “for the life of your pool.” Committed to the full lifecycle of every facility, Landmark prioritizes long-term partnerships while adapting to client needs through exceptional service, operational excellence, and forward-thinking solutions. For more about Landmark Aquatic visit www.landmarkaquatic.com
About Duraflex International
For over 60 years, Duraflex International has been the trusted name in competitive and recreational diving equipment. Designed for performance and built to last, Duraflex products are found in facilities ranging from neighborhood pools to Olympic-level competition venues worldwide. Duraflex’s commitment to innovation and quality has made it the industry standard for diving boards and aquatic equipment.
Every two years, the prestigious German media outlet Schwimmbad + Sauna hosts the Golden Waves awards, celebrating and rewarding European companies for their outstanding products, technologies, and innovations in the aquatic and wellness industry. The competition draws entries from across the continent, making each nomination a meaningful recognition of excellence. CCEI has long been a strong contender at this event — most notably in 2019, when the company took home the coveted Gold award.
For this 11th edition of the Golden Waves, CCEI put its connected level regulation system Niva VP for infinity pools in the spotlight. The technology earned the company nominations in three categories: Smart Technology, Usability, and Technical Innovation — a testament to the solution’s breadth of impact and the jury’s recognition of its multi-dimensional value. Thanks to its differential pressure technology, Niva VP delivers ultra-precise water level regulation down to the centimeter, without floats or approximate adjustments.
Representing CCEI at the awards ceremony were Catherine Gobin, Group Sales Director, and Leonie Bauer, Germany Branch Manager, who accepted the Bronze Medal in the Smart Technology category on behalf of the entire CCEI team. Their presence at the event also underscored the company’s active engagement with the European market and its commitment to building lasting relationships within the industry. “We are thrilled and honored to receive this award as it acknowledges the hard work of our entire team who continue to push the technological envelope to bring innovative products to the swimming pool industry,” says Gobin.
This distinction is more than a medal — it is a confirmation of CCEI’s strategic vision and ongoing commitment to shaping the pool of tomorrow: connected, efficient, and sustainable. As the aquatic industry continues to evolve, CCEI remains at the forefront, developing solutions that combine cutting-edge technology with real-world usability for professionals and end users alike.
www.ccei-pool.com/en-us
424-800-2191
CCEI USA Inc.
808 Hindry Ave, Suite G / Inglewood, CA 90301
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