APSP Quarterly - Spring 2008 - (Page 25)

Can Pool Builders Hedge A Tough Year With…Hedges? B Y B I L K E N N E DY WITH THE DECLINE in the national housing market and the attendant decrease in new inground pools, builders have to be creative to keep themselves in business. Many builders focus on repairs and renovations of existing pools and equipment. But is that enough? While new pool construction has declined, pools are still being built, and the rest of the backyard is there for the taking. P.K. Data recently surveyed 100 pool builders from across the country. More than a third have landscape service as part of their portfolio. For those that offer landscape service, 86% agree that by adding such service, their amount of business increases, and 75% of the same group increase their profitability to a greater extent than they would by solely building pools. On a scale of 1 to 5, with “1” as COMPLETELY DISAGREE and “5” as COMPLETELY AGREE, do you agree with the statement that by offering landscape services, a pool builder can increase its business? good customer service. As one builder stated, “It gives our customers more of a one-stop shop. They don’t have to outsource everything themselves and get a bunch of different contractors in their backyard.” Providing one contact for a customer dealing with all aspects of the project, be it a new backyard or remodeling, is a strong selling point. Nearly a third of pool-only builders have considered adding landscaping to their business, and 27% state a strong possibility of considering this addition in the future. Have you ever considered adding landscape services or design to your business portfolio? 1 = Completely Disagree 2 3 4 5 = Completely Agree 1 = Completely Disagree 2 3 4 5 = Completely Agree Don’t Know On a scale of 1 to 5, with “1” as COMPLETELY DISAGREE and “5” as COMPLETELY AGREE, do you agree that the business is more profitable than only building pools? But is it just about profitability and having another skill that might keep you busy during a down time for pool construction? Many builders say no. What they see in having a full backyard portfolio is Would offering landscape or landscape design services be something you might consider in the futue? The number-one reason given by builders who say they are not interested in adding landscape services to their portfolio is that they are already too busy. Yet the current state of the market leads us to ask: How much longer will they be too busy? Small businesses (and even mid-size to large) often achieve a particular “standard of living.” If the new pool SP RING 2008 | 2 5

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of APSP Quarterly - Spring 2008

APSP Quarterly - Spring 2008 Contents President's Message Chairman's Message International Awards of Excellence Spotlight Quality and Innovation If You're Still in the Pool Business, You're Leaving Money on the Table Gunslingers for Sale-s Can Pool Builders Hedge a Tough Year With... Hedges? Creating a Shared Vision: An Interview with PoolCorp CEO Manny Perez de la Mesa Grow Boating Initiative Helps Industry Imagine a Better Tomorrow First Ever CBP of the Year Award Presented at Inaugural CBP Recognition Dinner Safety Department News & Resources Advertiser's Index

APSP Quarterly - Spring 2008

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