Industry News
The Future of the Pool Industry: 3D Pool Designs
Occasionally, soon-to-be pool owners experience sleepless nights because they don’t know what to expect at the end of the project. Even though you employ the best pool company in the United States, it is normal to have a fear of uncertainty. Swimming pools are costly, and one mistake during construction can cost thousands of dollars. But did you know it is possible to see your dream pool even before construction begins? Well, 3D pool designs allow you to tour your backyard and enjoy the pool before construction. Seeing the project’s outcome before construction gives you the unique privilege of modifying the pool according to your requirements. However, a good percentage of homeowners are often satisfied by the showcased 3D pool design.
Justus, president and founder of Toronto-based Poolscape, Inc., says, “There won’t be any complaint on the pool size when clients get to experience the pool in virtual reality.” Consequently, 3D pool designs are helping pool companies become more successful in their sales.
Not so long ago, pool contractors presented world-class pool designs on paper. Although this gave homeowners an idea of what to expect, they remained anxious until they saw the project’s real outcome. Today, things are pretty much different, thanks to technology. Pool builders now showcase a wide range of pool designs on projectors. And they are not just simple pool designs. They give the client a detailed overview of every modification in their backyard.
Creating these virtual pool designs requires pool builders to use certain software like Structure Studios, IrisVR, Pool Studio, and Vip3D. This software makes it possible for pool designers to develop exceptional pool designs using their computers or laptops. For example, Structure Studios can create life-like pools, pergolas, waterfalls in a customer’s backyard. 3D pool design presentations from this software often look real, detailed, and clear. Not to mention the image, video, and graphic quality of this app is out of this world. Subsequently, virtual pool designs made from this software enable customers to see the project’s result.
Virtual reality forces you to be creative
One of Houston’s best pool contractors, Christopher Anderson, got the unique privilege of trying out several pool design software. He reported that Pool Studio enables you to do almost anything with the pool design. Typically Pool Studio gives you the unique chance of designing with as little or as many features, depending on your client’s requirements. But you have to consider how some features will appear on the 3D design before you incorporate them. So, generally, virtual reality forces you to become more creative. Owner of Custom Design Pools & Landscaping, Christopher Anderson, also says that coming up with a pool 3D design consumes time and effort. In fact, you spend about 30 to 40 hours on one project. Remember, the virtual design has to match the outcome of the project. Thus, creating a spectacular pool 3D design takes days.
Importance of virtual reality
Some customers do not understand what 3D means. Explaining the meaning of a 3D pool design using words is futile. But once you allow them to experience the virtual reality of their pool design, they immediately understand what you are trying to say. Virtual reality enables the customer to see whether all their requirements are met. For example, if the client mentioned that they wanted a shade for their daughter’s birthday party at 2 p.m, pool designers will incorporate the shade and the sun at their best positions. This way, they deliver 100% customer satisfaction. And in case of any modifications, most designers are willing to incorporate them.
Virtual reality pool designs also imitate the unique and pleasant sounds radiated by water features. For instance, if you wanted a spillover spa, the 3D pool designs will show how water cascades into the pool and emanated soothing sounds.
Industry veterans conclude that virtual reality significantly increases your sales. This tool helps you stay competitive in the pool industry, and in turn, you gain a large market share. Even so, coming up with a 3D pool design is not a walk in the park. It takes at least 30 hours. As a result, several pool designers may be afraid of showcasing all their virtual pool designs, especially if the client does not appear serious. Anderson says, “It’s high time we start charging customers to compensate all the time we’ve taken to come up with the 3D pool designs.”
3D pool designs: Virtual 3D only scratches the surface
The main downside of virtual reality is that most software is not compatible with standard laptops and computers. Thus, virtual reality requires pool designers to upgrade their desktops and laptops. And this is expensive. So, pool experts report that most pool designers will embrace this 3D technology five years from now. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, 3D pool designs always come from the designer’s creativity. Virtual reality is just a better way to express stunning pool designs. Ultimately, pool contractors and designers have to continue learning and researching the best twenty-first-century pool designs.
Industry News
POOLCORP Welcomes John Watwood as President and Chief Executive Officer
Seasoned distribution leader to drive POOLCORP’s next chapter of growth, deepening commitment to customers and supply partners
COVINGTON, LA., May 14, 2026 — POOLCORP, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and outdoor living products, recently announced the appointment of John Watwood as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Watwood joined the company in January 2026 as Executive Vice President and has quickly made an impact after spending much of his time in POOLCORP sales centers, meeting with customers, engaging with suppliers, and aligning closely with teams across the business. With extensive leadership experience in industrial and specialty distribution, Watwood brings a deep understanding of how to build high-performing teams, strengthen customer connections, and create long-term value in the industry.
Prior to joining POOLCORP, Watwood served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations at Motion Industries, a leading distributor of industrial parts and value-added solutions and a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company. During his career, he has led large-scale sales and operations organizations focused on customer growth, supply chain excellence, and market expansion.
“John has gained the trust of our employees, customers, and suppliers in a very short period of time,” said Kenny St. Romain, Senior Vice President at POOLCORP. “He understands distribution at its core, but more importantly, he understands the value of relationships and the local support that our customers need. Our field teams have seen firsthand his commitment to listening, supporting our customers, and helping us continue to evolve our already successful service model. There’s real excitement across the organization about where we’re headed under John’s leadership.”
Watwood’s appointment marks the next chapter for POOLCORP as the company continues to invest in customer-focused solutions, sales and service excellence, operational capabilities, and technology-enabled experiences designed to help industry professionals grow and operate more efficiently.
About Pool Corporation
POOLCORP is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and related outdoor living products. The Company operates approximately 455 sales centers in North America, Europe, and Australia, through which it distributes more than 200,000 products to roughly 125,000 wholesale customers, including pool builders, retail stores, and service professionals. For more information, please visit www.poolcorp.com.
Latham Group, Inc. – the largest designer and manufacturer of in-ground residential swimming pools in North America, Australia and New Zealand, visited the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square.
The team at Latham proudly rang the Nasdaq Opening Bell. The industry leader took a moment to celebrate its 70th anniversary and five years as a public company, highlighting continued growth, strong market performance, and resilience in a shifting residential construction landscape.
The achievement follows a year of solid performance for Latham Group Inc., which reported 7% year-over-year revenue growth in 2025, even as the broader residential construction market faced ongoing economic headwinds.
In a statement on LinkedIn, the company said:
“For seven decades, innovation has been at the core of what we do, made possible by the trusted builders and partners who bring these backyards to life every day.
Together, we’ve helped transform backyards into spaces where families gather and memories are made.
Here’s to 70 years of progress, partnership, and what we’ll build next!”
Photo Credit: Latham, The Pool Company
SPS’s Recent Acquisition of Pool Troopers Accelerates Company’s Investment in Scaled Infrastructure with ServiceTitan Powering Over 30 Branch Locations Across Five States and Standardizing Operations across the Service Cycle
LOS ANGELES – March 17, 2026— ServiceTitan (Nasdaq: TTAN), the software platform that powers the trades, today announced that SPS PoolCare, the largest residential swimming pool services platform in the United States, is standardizing their 30+ branch locations across five states on the ServiceTitan platform. By unifying their family of brands on ServiceTitan, SPS will leverage a single, enterprise-grade system to unify its vast operations, accelerate its high-velocity acquisition strategy, and scale its platform.
“SPS is demonstrating how purpose-built technology can transform a traditionally fragmented industry,” said Connor Theilmann, Chief Business Officer of ServiceTitan. “Their leadership team has made a deliberate investment in enterprise infrastructure, and we’re proud to support their continued growth. Standardizing on ServiceTitan will allow SPS to meet the needs of a large, multi-location operation, with Fraser Ramseyer, Storr Group, and the SPS leadership team making this one of the most seamless large-scale integrations we’ve ever seen.”
The move reflects SPS PoolCare’s continued investment in enterprise-grade infrastructure, as it advances its position as the dominant market leader in a highly fragmented industry. Founded in 2021 and backed by Storr Group, an investment firm that builds and scales industry-leading platforms, SPS PoolCare operates across Texas, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, where it employs more than 1,000 team members and is on track to perform more than two million weekly recurring pool services in 2026. ServiceTitan’s cloud-based platform serves as SPS PoolCare’s technology backbone, enabling SPS to manage complexity across geography, workforce scale, and service frequency.
“We’ve worked closely with the ServiceTitan team for several years, and this decision reflects the trust and alignment we’ve built as long-term partners,” said Lance Martin, CEO and COO of SPS PoolCare. “Our objective has always been to build a durable platform that enables our team to deliver exceptional service to our customers. Standardizing on ServiceTitan gives us the operational visibility, integration speed, and performance discipline required to scale responsibly and create long-term value.”
Ranked #1 on Pool and Spa News Top 50 Service list, SPS continues to solidify its position as the industry leader, driven by the company’s ability to pair high-velocity revenue growth with a deep commitment to staff training and retention, active industry leadership, and an early adopter of innovative technology within the pool service space. SPS PoolCare is dedicated to the communities it serves, ensuring that its national scale translates into a positive local impact across its entire service footprint.
“From inception, our thesis at Storr Group has been to build the pool industry’s first scaled category-defining operating platform,” Fraser Ramseyer, CEO of Storr Group and Founder of SPS PoolCare. “Technology is not ancillary to that vision – it is foundational. ServiceTitan provides the infrastructure necessary to integrate acquisitions efficiently, drive operational consistency, and support disciplined expansion.”
SPS PoolCare’s focus on being the employer-of-choice is supported by ServiceTitan’s mobile-first capabilities, which empower their over 1,000 staff team members with the tools they need to succeed in the field.
ServiceTitan continues to invest in purpose-built technology for the pool industry, offering features like route optimization, automated chemical tracking, and integrated project management for renovations. By providing real-time visibility into multi-location operations, ServiceTitan enables enterprise-scale businesses like SPS PoolCare to make data-driven decisions that fuel organic growth.
About ServiceTitan ServiceTitan is the software platform that powers trades businesses. The company’s cloud-based, end-to-end solution gives contractors the tools they need to run and grow their business, manage their back office, and provide a stellar customer experience. By bringing an integrated SaaS platform to an industry historically underserved by technology, ServiceTitan is equipping tradespeople with the technology they need to keep the world running.
About SPS PoolCare
As the #1 swimming pool services company in the United States, SPS PoolCare is on track to perform over 2,000,000 weekly recurring pool services in 2026 and employs more than 1,000 staff across five states. Backed by Storr Group, the company is focused on growing its family of brands across the Sun Belt, as it continues to make owning a pool a joy. SPS PoolCare is committed to creating a world-class service experience for its customers and being an employer-of-choice for its team members. Read more at spspoolcare.com.
About Storr Group
Storr Group is an operationally focused lower-middle-market private equity firm that backs, builds, and scales industry-leading platforms. With a rich background in business building, Storr combines world-class operators with strategic M&A, deep integration, and sophisticated technology to drive sustainable growth and long-term value. To partner today, visit storrgroup.com.
Press Contact
Max Wertheimer
ServiceTitan, Inc.
© 2026 ServiceTitan. All rights reserved. ServiceTitan, the ServiceTitan logo, and all ServiceTitan product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of ServiceTitan, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other brand names and marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s).
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