As landscape contractors continue to look for new lines of revenue, adding pool installations has been an enticing idea. But how do you start? Who are the right people and companies to speak with?
LM sat down with Gail Conroy, vice president of marketing at Latham, to discuss how landscape contractors can work with pool manufacturers to get a leg up when adding pool installation services to their business.
Landscape Management: What can you tell our readers about Latham, and how can contractors work with manufacturers like Latham?
Gail Conroy: (Latham) manufactures fiberglass and vinyl liner pools, auto safety covers and manual mesh safety covers. Typically, we work directly with builders and offer our products through distributors. Suppose you’re a landscaper looking to get into the pool installation business or want to subcontract out to a pool builder.
In that case, the best thing to do is get a list of authorized builders in a particular region from a manufacturer like Latham. (The manufacturer) can give them a referral and put them in touch with the recommended builders, and then they can work directly with those builders.
LM: While a contractor looking to add pool installs is probably familiar with the basics of the equipment they’ll need, what resources are available for them to learn the basics of pool building and installation?
Conroy: Latham has a boot camp program at our headquarters in Zephyrhills, Fla., where our new builders are required to attend both classroom and hands-on training. We want to ensure that builders know how to install the product properly.
(For interested contractors) there’s a lot of education out there. The PHTA (Pool and Hot Tub Alliance) offers its Genesis program which provides tons of different training and certification programs. If you’re a landscape contractor who wants to get into the pool business, we highly recommend you take the time to seek out the education and the training.
(Latham’s boot camp) is a multi-day class with a lot of in-classroom training that touches on all the technical aspects of pool building. We also have separate installation rooms where contractors get hands-on training on how to install a liner in a vinyl liner pool, how to measure for a safety cover, how to install an automatic safety cover and more. Also, outside, we have a dig site where they can get hands-on and learn exactly how to put a fiberglass pool into the ground.
It’s important to become a member of the PHTA and get involved. You’ll just have so much access to education and training and even environmental and governmental policy — things that affect our industry.
LM: What should contractors know about emerging trends in the pool market?
Conroy: Plunge pools are incredibly popular and have grown exponentially over the past few years. They used to be called small swimming pools, but now they’re in their own category. So, we see tremendous consumer interest in small or plunge pools and a couple of things drive that, including lot sizes for homes getting smaller and smaller so people don’t have as much room for a larger pool in the backyard.
Contractors can install plunge pools quickly. They’re less expensive because they’re smaller, more cost-effective to heat and many people, even if they have a large piece of property, don’t want to take up the entire property with a pool. People want outdoor kitchens, fire pits and play areas.
The other thing that we’re seeing grow is connected spas. We’re seeing a lot of consumers requesting that particularly in some of the southern states.
