APSP Quarterly - Spring 2008 - (Page 31)

“We also develop and run national television commercials as well as local media campaigns in support of local pool and spa companies,” Perez de la Mesa says. “And we develop and pay for Internet advertising campaigns. Again, the idea is that when our customers grow, so do we.” ® Inspiring Change Change is one of the most difficult business processes to manage, and one key part of inspiring a shared vision involves inspiring people to change. Most people don’t like change. “You can’t push things on people,” cautions Perez de la Mesa. “Companies have cultures and you have to work through the culture to change the culture. In our case, we started out by talking about the logic of the market need for a one-stop-supplier. Then we listened to what people had to say. I’m not just talking about employees. We talked to our people, of course, but we also talked to our customers and our suppliers.” As it turned out, Pool Corporation’s customers and suppliers wanted to see a onestop-shop in the pool distribution industry. Suppliers believed they could sell more, and customers believed they would be able to work more efficiently. “In the end, all of us realized that we had to make the change because it is what our customers and business partners wanted,” says Perez de la Mesa. And it has certainly worked. Today Pool Corporation is nearly a $2 billion company. It owns SCP Distributors LLC, the largest distributor in the industry. It also owns Superior Pool Products LLC, the second largest distributor in the U.S. The next five largest domestic distributors combined would make a company approximately as large as Superior. The company has established more than 200 distribution points for swimming pool products across the U.S., with an aggregate of more than five million square feet of warehouse space. The U.S. pool business comprises 10 divisions, each headed by a general manager. Each division generates more sales than any other U.S. independent distribution company in the pool industry. In other words, these 10 divisions rank as the 10 largest customers of pool industry manufacturers. Garden Prairie Custom Pool Enclosures Garden Prairie Pool Enclosures are designed to give you a light, crisp garden setting, letting you enjoy summer activities all year, guaranteeing a relaxing and enjoyable environment. What Happens Next? Anything is Possible “This is a very young industry,” Perez de la Mesa says. “Compared to its potential, we have only just scratched the surface. Granted, we are currently undergoing a severe test given the debacle in the real estate and credit markets. But that will pass. “Next comes more of the same. We plan to continue executing the plan. As we get better at it, we are building a company culture that constantly strives to do better, that is never satisfied with the status quo. The status quo is fi ne today, but it has to get better tomorrow. That is the heart of what we’re doing.” Leaders act on possibilities, not probabilities, write Kouzes and Posner in The Leadership Challenge. “All new ventures begin with possibility thinking, not probability thinking,” they continue. “After all, the probability is that most new businesses will fail…. If entrepreneurs… accepted this view, however, they’d never start a new business. Instead, they begin with the assumption that anything is possible.” AQ CCSI International, Inc., is proud of its longterm acceptance by architects and builders, who have recognized the structural integrity and longevity of Garden Prairie Pool Enclosures, as well as its detail in fabrication. CCSI has served the leisure industry for almost four decades with quality residential and commercial enclosures. We offer consultation service and design assistance. CCSI International, Inc. Manufacturing - Distribution 8642 Hwy. 20, P Box 98 .O. Garden Prairie, IL 61038 “As a large publicly-owned distributor, we have virtually no capital limitations, especially when compared to small private distributors. We had the ability to become a one-stop-distributor in an industry with no one-stop-distributors.” www.ccsiusa.com Email: ccsi@ccsiusa.com 1-800-537-8231 343114_CCSI.indd 1 SP RING 2008 | 31 10/11/07 10:30:16 AM http://www.ccsiusa.com

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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