Ladies and gentlemen, we’re in the thick of trade show season. One thing we’ve learned so far: As the economy continues to improve and the pool and spa industry grows stronger, trade show season hasn’t been this exciting in quite some time. And organizers of the Atlantic City Pool & Spa Show, taking place Jan. 27 to Jan. 30 at the Atlantic City Convention Center, are hoping to keep up that industry-wide goodwill.
“Coming out of the show last year, there was a resounding feeling that the pool and spa industry was making a rebound from the recession of the past few years,” says Show Manager Trish McCormick. “This year’s education conference and show floor will give our attendees the tools they need to capitalize on this positive momentum and help them build their businesses in 2014 and beyond.”
On the education side, the AC Show will feature more than 50 technical seminars. Vanishing edge construction, vinyl liner measurement, water testing, spa construction, pool heating and hydraulics are just some of the topics that will be addressed. On top of that, certification courses from APSP, NSPF and the NPC will be offered.
Manage the business operations at your company? The AC Show has you covered with more than 25 courses across a variety of subjects, including marketing, staff management, finances, customer service, sales and more.
But enough about education — if you’re going to Atlantic City, you’re also going to have a good time. The annual Welcome Party will again be held at Harrah’s Pool after Dark, one of the city’s biggest nightclubs that, thanks to a large swimming pool that anchors the club, makes it an apt location for a pool and spa industry party.
However, you don’t have to wait until the show to make your arrangements and plot your show strategy. New this year is an official show app for Android or Apple devices. The free app makes it easy for attendees to create personalized plans for the show, with an interactive floor plan updated in real time.
“Have some time in between meetings? Browse through exhibitors that will be showing specific products like automatic covers or heat pumps,” McCormick says. “You’ll be able to bookmark the exhibitors you’d like to visit and even send out an email to schedule a meeting time.”
With more than 1,000 booths of new and exciting products filling more than 100,000 square feet of floor space, the Atlantic City Pool & Spa Show is slated to get 2014 off to a strong start. We’ll see you there.
Sunday, January 26
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- NSPF Certified Pool/Spa Operator CPO Course (Day 1 of 2, separate registration required)
Monday, January 27
10 a.m. – 4 p.m
- APSP Certified Building Professional Prep Course or APSP Certified Service Professional Prep Course:
All Exams will be held Wednesday, January 29th, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- NSPF Certified Pool/Spa Operator CPO Course (Day 2 of 2, separate registration required)
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Getting The Most From Microsoft Excel: Working Smarter, Not Harder (Separate registration required)
- National Plasterers Council Start Up Certification Class (Separate registration required)
12:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- Beauty of The Edge: Vanishing Edge, Grass Edge & Perimeter Overflow Pools with Project Specific Examples
- Vinyl Liners: Measuring, Installing & Troubleshooting
- Water Chemistry: Beyond the Basics
- Advanced Techniques for Shotcrete Pools
- Swimming Pool Marketing for The New Economy
- Troubleshooting Spa Controls and Equipment Packs with Hands-on Simulator Training (Separate registration required)
12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.
- Enzymes & Phosphates... Clearing Up The Myths
- The ROI on RWI: Management for Commercial Aquatic Facilities
- Hydraulics and Energy: How to Comply with the ANSI/APSP 5, 7 & 15 Standards
- Transform Your Plain Jane Pools with Artificial Rock Waterfalls
- You’ll Love Working Here: The Performance Power of Workplace Culture
- Six Steps to Controlling Accounts Receivable
2:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- 2011 National Electrical Code (NEC): What Builders Can and Cannot Do
- Regenerative Filter Media Systems
- Swimming Pool Technologies: Are They the Answer?
- Commercial Aquatic Facility Pump Room Integration
- If General Patton Ran Your Business: Strategies for Success
- Ways to Immediately Improve Your Bottom Line
7p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Welcome Party at Harrah’s Pool after Dark
Tuesday, January 28
8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- (In Spanish) Pool Water Chemistry
- Safety Covers: Measuring For Success
- State-of- the-Art Spa Details: Secrets to Designing and Building Concrete Spas with Confidence
- Basic Water Chemistry
- Excelling With Microsoft Excel: Go to the Next Level with Advanced Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts
- Finance 101: In the Black - Cash Flow Management
- Electronic Controls for Spas/Hot Tubs Hands-on (Separate registration required)
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
- Solar Pool Heating: Marketing and Sales Process
- Before You Drive Away: Defensive Driving
- Intermediate Pool and Spa Water Testing
- Raypak Variable Speed Pumps
- Slides and Diving Boards: Design, Sell & Build
- So You Think You Know How to Interview? 3 Steps to Become Power Interviewers
- Seven Steps To Closing A Pro Table Sale
- Taking Your Company To The Next Level
- Inexpensive Marketing Tips and Ideas To Grow Your Business
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- Solar Pool Heating: Design Engineering, & Installation
- Blueprint for a Successful Collaboration Between the Landscape Architect and the Pool Builder
- Mysteries and Myths of Metal Staining
- Zodiac Variable Speed Pumps
- The Nuts & Bolts of Diving Board Components
- Is Your Internet Marketing & Advertising Working as Hard as You Do?
- Job Safety Analysis & Reporting
- Good To Great: 4 Things Great Managers Do to Improve Employee Performance
- Inventory Management and Pricing Strategies
Wednesday, January 29
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
- Advanced Troubleshooting for Your Biggest Pool Water Nightmares
- Vinyl Liners and Safety Covers: From Sales to Service
- Heater Troubleshooting
- The Candid Contractor: Tips & Lessons Learned From an Expert
- Hayward Variable Speed Pumps
- What Makes Employees Want To Leave and When To Ask Them To Leave
- WOW Up Your Website With WordPress
- Six Steps To Controlling Accounts Receivable (Encore)
- Create Great Customer Loyalty Through Great Customer Service
8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- Profitable Swimming Pool Inspections
- Salt Chlorine Generator Trouble- Shooting
- Basic Electricity for Technicians
- Project Profiles: Swimming Pool Challenges and Solutions
- Advanced Forensics for Plaster Pool
- Master the Techniques to Gain Control of Your Inventory and Maintain Your Sanity
- Presenting With Pizzazz! Developing Your Presentation Style
- Electronic Controls for Spas/Hot Tubs Hands-on (Encore) (Separate registration required)
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- You Found WHAT In Your Pool?
- Pentair Variable Speed Pumps
- Outdoor Firepits and Fireplaces
- Efficient Hydraulic Design for Residential Pools & Spas
- Federal Healthcare Reform (Affordable Care Act): How Does It Affect You? (Free, open to all attendees)
- Website Marketing: Get Found Online!
- Ways to Immediately Improve Your Bottom Line (Encore)
- Risk Management Principles for Pool & Spa Professionals - Key Insurance & Legal Strategies to Protect Your Business
- Swimming Pool Selling Secrets - From a Marketing Guy
Thursday, January 30
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
- The Outdoor Room Boom
- Slot-Edge Pool Hydraulics
- Advanced Water Purification Technologies
- Operation of Electronic Ignition Heaters
- Get Organized About Your Priorities
- The Latest & Greatest On-Line Marketing Tools (Pinterest, Houzz, YouTube, Facebook) and Why You Should Be Using Them
TRADE SHOW HOURS
Tuesday, Jan. 28 11-5 Wednesday, Jan. 29 11-5 Thursday, Jan. 30 10-2
Registration, badge pickup information, hotel reservations and more are available at www.acpoolspashow.com