News
What is a Buying Group and How Can Joining One Benefit Your Business?

If you’re in the pool industry, you’ve likely heard of a buying group or group purchasing organization (GPO). But what exactly is a GPO and how can it benefit your business? A buying group offers products, goods, or services at significantly reduced prices on the condition that a minimum number of buyers will make a purchase. It is essentially a group of individuals or businesses that band together to negotiate more competitive pricing from vendors.
If you’re a member of Costco or Sam’s Club, you’re part of a buying group or rather a buying club. Being a member of Costco or Sam’s allows you to purchase bulk quantities of the products you love at a reduced price. Similarly, buying groups in the pool industry allow contractors, builders, retailers, and servicers to enjoy benefits like reduced pricing and the convenience of bulk purchasing on inventory.
What Are the Advantages of Joining a Buying Group?
So what exactly are the perks of joining a buying group? Becoming a member of a GPO is an excellent financial investment. Membership can save you thousands of dollars annually in the form of vendor rebates, automatic reimbursement plans (ARP), and heavy discounts on items your business needs. Plus, some buying groups, including United Aqua Group (UAG), offers stock shares so their members can build wealth over time.
There are some non-monetary benefits that buying groups offer as well. GPOs streamline the entire buying process to save you time and headaches. For example, buying groups handle ordering and billing all in one place, so you don’t have to deal with dozens of vendors. Additionally, GPOs offer greater efficiency and inventory control. When you join a buying group like UAG, for example, you’ll no longer have to worry about product availability or price at distribution.
Another added advantage is that buying groups offer a built in network of other like-minded professionals in the pool industry. This allows you to create helpful business connections and expand your professional network.
Are There Any Disadvantages of Joining a Group Purchasing Organization?
As you’re reading this, you may be thinking this is too good to be true, which is why it’s also important to weigh the possible drawbacks of joining a buying group as well. One of the biggest disadvantages that GPO members face is that most buying groups won’t work with every supplier on the market. In simpler terms, if you have a preferred vendor that isn’t affiliated with your buying group, you won’t be able to use your GPO discounts with them and may have to opt for another vendor to purchase at a discounted rate.
Additionally, some buying groups require involvement and participation from their members as part of the deal. So just be sure to thoroughly research any buying group before joining to ensure you are ready to make the commitment.
What Does It Cost to Join a Buying Group?
Like Costco and Sam’s Club, most buying groups are funded through membership fees. These fees can be modest or quite pricey depending on the size and scope of the organization, so it’s important to be informed about what you’re signing up for before joining. Some buying groups also require a minimum order amount, so don’t forget to read the fine print and rules of membership before signing up.
Get Started–Join a GPO Today
If a buying group seems like it would benefit you or your business, getting started is easy. Simply determine which group is best for you, apply, and start saving. Chances are, once you’ve joined you’ll be thanking yourself that you did.
If you aren’t sure which group is for you, consider United Aqua Group. We help our members buy better and build equity in the process. On average, our members save up to $180,000 a year or more on purchases. Check out our website for more information on becoming a member of UAG.
Manufacturer
Soake Pools Bolsters National Growth With Four Key Hires

New territory managers, production leadership, and operations support reinforce the plunge pool manufacturer’s white-glove service as demand grows across U.S. markets
Pembroke, N.H. — October 2026 — Soake Pools, the New England manufacturer that pioneered the made-to-order precast concrete plunge pool, has added four team members to support its growth into new regional markets. The hires span sales, production leadership, and operations, positioning the team to scale with rising national demand for its hand-tiled pools, without sacrificing service or quality.
New appointments include:
- Kerry Covington, Pacific Northwest Territory Manager—Based in Oregon, Covington is Soake Pools’ first territory manager to live and work in the Pacific Northwest, offering on-the-ground support. With more than a decade of experience in high-end remodeling and landscape design for luxury residential construction, he will help Pacific Northwest homeowners translate plunge pool concepts into thoughtfully planned additions tailored to their homes and landscapes.
- Brooke Fine, MA South Shore, Cape Cod & Islands Territory Manager—Also based in territory and a Soake Pools customer herself, Fine brings both local knowledge and firsthand experience with the brand to the role. With a personal understanding of how a Soake Pool can enhance wellness, relaxation and outdoor living, she will provide dedicated in-territory support to homeowners across the Massachusetts South Shore, Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
- Eric Bailey, General Manager—At the company’s Pembroke production facility, Bailey will oversee manufacturing with 22 years of precast concrete experience. As a born-and-raised New Hampshire resident with a career built on quality and customer service, Bailey embodies the values Soake Pools has built its reputation on.
- Katherine Fillon, Accounts Receivable—Lifelong New Englander Fillon rounds out the company’s administrative team, supporting a seamless experience between Soake Pools’ customers, partners and collaborators.
The news follows Soake Pools’ recognition as one of Business NH Magazine’s 2026 Best Companies to Work For in New Hampshire, where the company earned the No. 11 spot after a rigorous evaluation that included employer and team surveys, site visits, and employee focus groups. As it grows its team, the locally owned, family-run company stays anchored to the same standards that earned this honor.
About Soake Pools: Co-founded by Karen and Brian Larson in 2014, Soake® Pools disrupted the industry as the first company to offer hand-tiled precast concrete plunge pools for the home. Today, Soake Pools is the leading prefabricated plunge pool manufacturer in North America, designing luxury, space-saving pools for year-round use and enjoyment. At Soake Pool’s New England facility, its plunge pools are made to order in a controlled environment using proprietary concrete and state-of-the-art tile, continually setting the standard with new dimensions, luxury finishes, and innovations in quality control, safety and usability with impressive turnaround timelines. Fully customizable and delivered ready to install, each Soake Pool is equipped for hot dips in the winter and cooling soaks in the summer, with cold plunge and resistance system offerings that support athletic recovery and enhance at-home wellness routines. The monolithic concrete design offers accessibility in size and pricing, while saltwater filtration, low water usage, and variable speed pumps support sustainability, require less maintenance, and lower costs. Delivering backyard luxury retreats with demonstrated ROI in home value, Soake Pools offer countless physical and mental wellness benefits at a fraction of the footprint and expense of a traditional pool.
Industry News
Hayward Holdings Names New Chief Accounting Officer

CHARLOTTE, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) (“Hayward” or the “Company”), a leading global pool and outdoor living technology company, today announced the appointment of Jared Arrowood as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, effective immediately. As principal accounting officer, Arrowood will oversee the Company’s global financial reporting, tax, operational finance and technical accounting functions.
“Jared’s experience as a financial executive for publicly traded global organizations and his deep understanding of our business make him exceptionally well suited for this role,” said Eifion Jones, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. “I am confident his technical expertise, leadership and business perspective will continue to strengthen our finance organization and support long-term value creation for shareholders.”
Arrowood will continue to report to Jones as part of his financial leadership team.
Arrowood joined Hayward in 2023 as Assistant Corporate Controller and was promoted to Vice President, Corporate Controller in 2024. He has helped strengthen the Company’s financial processes, controls and continuous improvement efforts across the global controllership organization. Prior to Hayward, Arrowood spent 17 years at SPX FLOW, including serving as Vice President of Finance for its Mixing Solutions division.
He holds a Master of Accounting from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is a certified public accountant.
About Hayward Holdings, Inc.
Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) is a leading global specialty water management company focused on designing and manufacturing pool and outdoor living technology and industrial flow control products. Driven by a mission to transform the experience of water, Hayward offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy‑efficient and sustainable pool equipment—including pumps, heaters, sanitizers, filters, LED lighting, water features, and cleaners—integrated through its intuitive, IoT‑enabled SmartPad™ platform. The Company also provides industrial thermoplastic valves and process control products serving a wide range of applications.
Investor Relations Contact:
Kevin Maczka
[email protected]
Media Relations Contact:
Misty Zelent
[email protected]
Press Releases
Daldorado Names Marcia Gyles Director of Sales

Daldorado, a leading innovator in the commercial aquatic industry, announces the appointment of Marcia Gyles as its new Director of Sales. Bringing a distinguished track record of high-impact leadership to the role, Gyles’s comprehensive sales approach will span the entire industry ecosystem, serving distributors, contractors, and facility owners alike as she accelerates revenue growth and scales national operations.
In her new role, Gyles will manage the entire United States, leveraging her deep market expertise to provide unlimited access to Daldorado’s expansive product line. She is tasked with representing the company’s full portfolio of high-performance aquatic solutions—including its signature Rim-Flow systems, Main Drains, and highly anticipated products currently in development.
“We are thrilled to welcome a professional of Marcia’s high caliber to the Daldorado leadership team,” said Rob Lawson, Founder/CEO. “Her unparalleled expertise in channel sales and sophisticated account management makes her the perfect fit to elevate our national footprint as we shift to a distribution sales model. Marcia’s dynamic energy and master strategic vision will play a critical role in setting the tone for our sales pipeline and achieving our aggressive scaling goals.”
As Director of Sales, Gyles will oversee regular sales forecasting, manage cross-functional collaborations with marketing and operations for seasonal inventory planning, and maintain a commanding field presence. Her role involves an extensive travel schedule which includes conducting on-site commercial installation visits and providing master-class training for Daldorado’s extensive distribution and design networks.
About Daldorado
Daldorado is a leading innovator and manufacturer of high-quality commercial aquatic drainage systems and perimeter grating solutions. Committed to safety, durability, and superior engineering, Daldorado serves major commercial aquatic facilities, waterparks, and competitive swimming venues globally.
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