The 34th edition of the Pool & Spa Show (formerly the Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show) began this week in the midst of a blizzard that covered large swathes of the East Coast in snow and ice. The storm cancelled flights and made travel hazardous for attendees driving from New England states where the storm hit hardest.
Inside the Atlantic City Convention Center, however, enthusiasm was undimmed for an industry on an upswing after several bumpy years. In discussions with attendees, there is an expectation that this year will see better growth than last year.
Few companies have seen as many storms and economic cycles as Bel-Aqua, a distributor based in New Rochelle, N.Y. The company held its 60th celebration at a large booth on the main aisle, where friends enjoyed cake, a little golf and prizes.
From its inception in 1955, the company has remained a family owned and operated business through three generations. It is the second-oldest member of APSP at number 118 and the oldest distributor.
From 1955 until the early 1960s, Bel-Aqua contracted one of the industry's Big Three, Hayward, to manufacturer products including lights, fittings and pumps. As such, Bel-Aqua was Hayward's first customer in the industry.
Retaining experienced employees has been a major key to Bel-Aqua’s longevity, says Mark Warshaw, 3rd generation of the original owner and VP of sales and marketing at Bel-Aqua. By building the company’s extensive knowledge base, it has been able to provide product expertise to customers, which is crucial to the success of a distribution company in both good times and bad.
