What's In A Name?
"Freeflow has simply outgrown its name," says president Michael Kite. "When we started making hot tubs in 1997, we only made a single hot tub that we branded with our company name. Today, we manufacture various brands of spas for different markets and distribution channels so the name Freeflow has become limiting."
The company says that nothing will change in regard to its relationship with its customers except the name.
"We will continue to honor all Freeflow Spas warranties and the name Freeflow will continue to be the brand we sell through specialty retailers. It's business as usual," adds Kite.
Nexxus Lighting Clarification
Nexxus Lighting has sold two of its divisions to Next Step Products. The two divisions sold are SV Lighting, which supplies the commercial lighting markets, and Nexxus Pool & Spa, which supplies the pool and spa markets.
SV Lighting's name will remain the same while the Nexxus Pool & Spa division has been renamed as Savi Pool & Spa.
All company employees, including each division's executive management, remain in place. The two divisions had accounted for approximately 53 percent of the total revenue for Nexxus Lighting at the time of sale.
Next Step Products, through its Savi Pool & Spa division, will continue to bring advanced LED Lighting products to the pool and spa markets.
And the AQUA Choice Winners Are...
AQUA would like to thank the judges for all their hard work in making extremely difficult selections. This year's panel included Charles Wise of Wise Pool Company, Conroe, Texas; Jeff Gale of Pacific Pools of St. George, St. George, Nev.; and Kelly Caviness, Caviness Landscape Design, Edmond, Okla.
Each of the winners will be profiled in an upcoming issue of AQUA magazine.
Winners and schedule of publication:
January Issue — Vision Design and Watershapes, Calif.February Issue — Landscape Solutions West, Mich.March Issue — Paragon Pools, Nev.April Issue — Poolscape, Ontario, CanadaMay Issue — AquaFX, N.Y.June Issue — Blue Water Pools, Mich.July Issue — Silver Fox Pools, DubaiAugust Issue — Westmoreland Pools And Spas, Pa.Sept. Issue — Valley Pool And Spa, B.C., CanadaOctober Issue — Platinum Poolcare Aquatech, Ill.November Issue — Robertson Pools, Texas
Business Briefs
BioGuard has enacted a Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) policy for its BioGuard and SpaGuard products. Effective Nov. 4, the policy applies to all resellers of products in the United States, including Platinum and other dealers. All media (Websites, Internet auctions, traditional print, mailers and TV/radio ads) are included in the policy.
"By instituting the MAP policy, we are assuring our dealers that we will diligently protect the good will and quality image of these brands that they believe in and sell everyday," says vice president and general manager Charlie Schobel.
The National Swimming Pool Foundation has named Hayward Pool Products' eastern regional training manager Scott Wiegman one of the country's top four instructors. "I'm proud of this recognition because of Hayward's history of championing the importance of training for the success and growth of our business and the industry," says Wiegman.
The San Diego — Imperial Council of the Boy Scouts of America is pleased to announce that Bruce Dunn, owner and partner of Mission Pools, is this year's recipient of the BSA Distinguished Citizen Award for the community of Escondido. Dunn will be honored during the annual Escondido Friends of Scouting Dinner on Nov. 20.
