Merry WiseMerry Wise has been a retailer in the pool and spa business for almost 40 years outside Houston, and is a frequent contributor to Aqua.HomeShooting The Works!What do you get when you mix pool patriots, philanthropy, and esprit de corps for four days? You get a unique new post-pool-convention event held recently at Pahrump, Nevada, out in the middle of the high desert.December 1, 2011HomeWill the United Nations Tell You How To Build Swimming Pools?I first became curious about the growing influence of “regulations” on our local pool building activities this year when my husband was building a pool in an area in which we rarely work. The clients were excited about the design, and then we found out the rather tight property had “too much concrete” already built on it according to the local regulations. We had to remove an existing concrete area and rework the pool and landscape design to include pave stones instead of solid concrete.November 17, 2011RetailTime To Raise Prices?Recently I noticed a news item that mentioned “unexpected” mid-season price increases coming down the pike at those of us in the industry who buy products for our pool and spa building, retail or service businesses. It seems lately every few weeks we see in the news “unexpected,” somewhat alarming economic news, and all of it seems to be negative. Unexpected — by whom? Sadly, this is not “unexpected” by anyone who did business during 1977-1981. These were the years the concept of “stagflation” first turned Keynesian economics, the accepted economic theory many of our professors told us was gospel in college, on its ear. Inflation and a stagnant economy was, according to this theory, not supposed to happen at the same time — but it did. Many of us old folks remember that we could not raise our prices fast enough to keep up with the constant increases in price we were barraged with by suppliers, the gas lines were long, and the “misery index” was high. Yes, boys and girls, not only high gas prices, but lines to get it. It was difficult to keep ahead of it. Unfortunately, the handwriting is on the wall and I am seeing deja vie all over again with this “unexpected” little bit of news that flew by almost unnoticed in our industry. Many of you do not remember the “bad old days” of stagflation and may not realize what is coming at you so “unexpectedly,” but this time, maybe we can get ahead of the curve with some industry-wide “proactive” pricing.  Since business has been and still is somewhat stagnant in many parts of the country, the temptation is to cut prices to gain more business. However, this can be exactly the wrong strategy in a stagflation economy. One of the most useful seminars we ever attended proved to us mathematically how destructive price-cutting could be and how much increase in volume one had to make up to even break even. The details of the math, never my strong suit, are lost to me in the mists of time, but the lesson left an indelible impression. I remember my husband and I went back to our business and raised prices, and it saved us back then. Bill Markert, a long-time icon in the industry, and a friend of his developed the “lumberteria” concept of marketing and held this seminar, and I will always be grateful for their wise advice. I am seeing the time coming upon us EXPECTEDLY to raise prices now! Higher gas prices, increased regulations heaped upon the big folks we buy from, higher health care costs coming down the road at us, and the general uncertainty of cost of doing business ALL scream inflation and stagnation loud and clear, to me. Be aware, and price proactively. It’s later than you think!July 12, 2011BuilderMerry Wise On Pool Building Using Real RockCreating beautiful natural-looking poolscapes using rock, stone and other "nature" elements is not just art, but involves chemistry and engineering as well.March 28, 2011RetailPurchasing pool and spa products properly will help increase store profitsPurchasing products properly will pad your profitsDecember 18, 2010RetailA step-by-step method to improve spa and pool salesA step-by-step method to improve your salesJuly 19, 2010RetailChanging the way to sell pools and spas in a tough economyTough times call for bold measuresSeptember 28, 2009RetailPool Sales The Wise Way, Part IIVeteran builder Merry Wise shares success secrets (part 2 of 2).September 11, 2005RetailPool Sales The Wise Way, Part IVeteran builder Merry Wise shares success secrets (Part 1 of 2).August 11, 2005HomeWrite On TargetWritten communications help keep your business on the markMarch 11, 2004Previous PagePage 2 of 2Top StoriesBusiness OperationsHow to Turn a Family Business Into a Pool Construction FranchiseCalifornia Pools has franchised its operation, and now offer services to homeowners all throughout the nation, not just in Southern California.PoolsNatural ContoursBusiness OperationsBattling 'Outsider Syndrome' in the Family BusinessBuilderFrom Pipe Dreams to Pool ParadiseSponsored Content$500 Consumer Rebate on the Latest Tech
