In recent years, the cost of pool products has been steadily increasing, causing concerns for both pool professionals. This trend has been attributed to a variety of factors, including global supply chain disruptions, increased demand, and rising manufacturing costs.

The pool industry, like many others, has experienced rising prices due to various factors such as inflation and increasing interest rates. These economic influences have had a direct impact on the cost of materials, labor, and other expenses associated with pool construction, renovation, and the service and maintenance sector.

As a result of these increased costs, pool builders and service technicians are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their profit margins. Many are being forced to raise their prices in order to keep up with the rising costs of materials and labor. This, in turn, is leading to higher prices for consumers who are looking to have a pool built or serviced.

The costs of everyday goods have gone up dramatically in the past few years. For those who have managed to maintain pricing structures, a cost increase may just be inevitable. In the wake of the pandemic, the average price of a new vehicle has surged to nearly $49,000, marking a significant increase of approximately $10,000 compared to pre-pandemic times. Between January and June of 2022, the cost of regular motor gasoline experienced a notable surge of 49%, while the price of diesel fuel witnessed a slightly higher increase, reaching 55% (Bureau of Transporation). Consequently, just keeping a pool service fleet on the road has become exorbitantly more expensive.

How To Approach Raising Prices

While raising prices is never an easy decision, it is often necessary in order to maintain the quality of service and products that customers expect. Pool builders and service technicians must balance the need to stay profitable with the need to provide affordable and accessible services to their clients.

As the cost of pool products continues to rise, pool companies are faced with the challenge of maintaining profitability while still providing quality service to their customers. This can be especially difficult for small businesses who rely heavily on customer loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals.

Treat Customers Like People

To address this issue, pool companies should approach rising prices with transparency and communication. It’s important to explain to customers why prices are increasing and how it will affect their pool maintenance and repair services. This includes discussing the specific pool products that have risen in cost and how that impacts the overall cost of pool maintenance.

Communication should also include offering alternative solutions to help customers manage costs. This could include providing a range of pool product options that vary in price, or offering discounts for pre-booking services or signing up for a maintenance package.

Ultimately, being upfront and honest with customers about rising prices is key to maintaining trust and loyalty. By providing education and alternatives, pool companies can help customers navigate the increasing costs while still delivering quality pool services.

The template letter below serves as a useful tool for pool companies to notify their customers about an upcoming price increase for their services. While price increases can be a sensitive topic for customers, the template provides a professional and clear explanation of why the change is necessary. It can be customized to reflect the specific needs and circumstances of each company, allowing them to communicate the information in a way that is both transparent and respectful of their customers’ needs. By using this template letter, pool companies can approach price increases in a thoughtful and effective way, maintaining the trust and loyalty of their customers.

Raising Prices Template Letter For Pool Companies

Dear Valued Customer,

We hope this letter finds you well. At [Company Name], we take pride in providing top-notch pool cleaning and maintenance services to our clients. We appreciate your trust in us and want to take a moment to address a recent change in the pool industry that has affected our pricing.

Over the past few years, we have seen a steady increase in the cost of pool cleaning products and equipment. Unfortunately, this trend is expected to continue, and we must adjust our prices to reflect these changes. We understand that price increases can be difficult to accept, and we want to assure you that we have taken great care to keep our rates as competitive as possible while still providing the quality service you deserve.

Our company remains committed to providing exceptional service and will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do. We appreciate your understanding and want to thank you for your continued business. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you, [Your Name] [Company Name]

Wall-to-wall automation controls from Fluidra, Hayward, and Pentair lined the Folsom Eagles Lodge walls in preparation. After a while, a woman’s voice announced that training would begin. The snap-to-attention allowed one to hear a DPD tab drop. This was the beginning of the hands-on training session on wiring automation that quickly gained the attention of the manufacturing giants. What made this event a focus for the “Big 3”? This long overdue initiative in continuing education tackled a grossly underserved niche head-on.

Creating a Program Geared Towards Women

In a predominately male industry, only 9% of pool technicians in the United States are women (Zippia.com, September 2022). In sectors such as education and manufacturing women are the majority, but in this field, female pool contractors and service techs are still the minority. Despite full-time careers and entrepreneurship; we’re not given a pass on the culturally expected duties of being a woman, such as juggling children, spouses, and household management.

These added responsibilities, combined with a societal view that still leans toward women being less competent in skilled labor trades, make the traditional means of gaining education even more of a challenge. Sadly, women in co-ed environments often feel intimidated by their male peers. Not all, but a few wet tablets can make an entire bucket stink at a meeting.

Pool Girl Pro Industry Training Group

The solution? Twice a year, the PGP (Pool Girl Pro) Industry Training Group meets for in-depth and highly comprehensive master programs designed to build technical acumen for the women in the pool industry. Janet Reed and I formed PGP for just those reasons. All people, regardless of gender, should be free of ridicule in asking basic questions regarding technical installation, operation, and troubleshooting. With a primary focus on specialized hands-on training, Janet and I will strive to ensure those goals are met for those who find an all-female attendance more conducive to education.

PGP Industry Training Group had its first in-person, hands-on, all-women training in January 2020 at Leisure Supply Sacramento. This was right before the pandemic hit the world hard! Eight women from the Great Sacramento Area, Bay Area, and Central California attended a Fluidra-led training session on automation controls, variable speed pumps, and pool sweeps. During this first inaugural session, we noticed many men embracing a program that two women had developed. We welcomed them with open arms and exclusion was a non-issue. Many responded excitedly, supporting a group that their wives and daughters could attend to boost their skills without fear of harassment.

Reaching The Women of The Industry

During the pandemic, PGP was fortunate to continue offering in-person, hands-on training and webinars. We reduced the seat numbers during that timeframe to follow local social distancing regulations but provided live streaming of the events for those who could not attend in person. The streaming option allowed our group to reach more women across the country than ever before.

“I love the option to attend a virtual women’s training and gain knowledge from other women in our industry! It’s a great experience to be surrounded by other confident and determined women!” – Lindsay Brown, Oasis Pool Management, Florida.                    

Over the past couple of years, PGP events evolved to include networking and mentorship. The ladies would talk amongst each other at each in-person training, and afterward, in social settings, we would go out to dinner with presenters. This afforded us the opportunity to talk shop, family, and discuss life with each other and the vendor support system. This began the infield assistance network our group members enjoy today.

Finally, after three years, PGP is able to offer women-taught training. Our in-person and online attendees are learning the basics of wiring and automation control subpanel. They leavie our comprehensive program eager to employ those new skills in the field.

“The [wiring automation] training was delightful and well prepared. I felt the class catered to a diverse audience and was low-pressure, a factor of comfort I appreciated. I thought it to be a cohesive learning environment and the type everyone would feel welcomed to come to expand their knowledge, ask questions, and feel encouraged to pursue working in this industry.”  – Reina Arrostuto, Ohana Family Pools

Pool Girl Pro Industry Training Group is currently in the process of becoming a non-profit organization. The 501(c)(3) status will permit us the ability to provide additional quality educational opportunities, an increased number of training locations, and even more ability to support the advancement of women in the industry. Ultimately, we want to provide quality educational opportunities, more in-person training locations, and support women’s progress in the industry.

“In a sea of men, the Pool Girl Pro is a long-awaited group of women dedicated to a career in the swimming pool and spa industry and each other,” said Timber Vincent of Blue Dolphin Pool and Spa in Danville, CA. “We support one another; questions can be asked without the fear of judgment; we champion each other to be our best, and hands-on education is offered and encouraged. And together, we hope to make the industry nongender-specific. These gals are the modern Rosie the Riveter of the pool industry.”

Women can join PGP Industry Training Group on Facebook, where they can find training announcements, educational posts, and a place to ask questions when needed. To connect with women who they can consult and support on an international level. If you would like to join the group or get involved, you can find them on Facebook or email [email protected]

The Independent Pool and Spa Service Association (IPSSA) continues to grow and has created more opportunities for its members and chapters to earn recognition and prizes.  IPSSA now offers three awards designed specifically for service professionals that are members.

The newest of these awards is called The Pool Professional of Tomorrow Award to be awarded to any member that demonstrates a commitment to the growth and future of the pool service industry through the activities within their chapter and community.  Designed specifically for newer members, applicants must be active in the industry for less than 10 years. The winner receives a $500 prize and travel accommodations to the annual Weekend of Inspiration event in 2024. 

Additionally, the Independent Pool and Spa Service Association has expanded its well-known Terry Cowles Lifetime achievement award. Established in 2006, the award for individuals was established for those with over 10 years of active service in IPSSA and provides a cash award and complimentary tickets to the annual banquet event.  The new Chapter of the Year Award provides a first, second and third place award that includes cash funds for the chapter as well as complimentary tickets and hotel accommodations for chapter members to the organization’s Weekend of Inspiration event. 

Those interested in applying for these awards, please contact Rose Smoot ([email protected]) for details on the nomination criteria.  Submissions must be received by September 1, 2023 to be considered for the awards.  Since its inception in 1988, IPSSA was established to promote educational opportunities and provide business support and resources to its members.  These awards are part of the organizations continued desire to engage members and the criteria reflect the organization’s core values of community, education and support of all IPSSA members.  More information about how to join a chapter can be found on their website, the official Facebook page, or by calling 888-360-9505.