What makes a “great” pool and spa retailer?
It’s hard to say. It could be sales, customer service, passionate leadership, what they do for the community or a litany of other factors.
In our years of covering swimming pool and hot tub retail, we at AQUA know this: A great retailer is the sum of all those things and more. And this month, we'll be highlighting 10 of them, the first class of AQUA 100 winners since reviving the competition last year.
These 10 companies are located all over the country. Some have several locations, others have one. One retailer was founded in 1921, and another entered retail only in 2014. What they all have in common is a deeply rooted commitment to the customer and genuine passion for what they do.
Without further ado, the 2019 AQUA 100 winners are:
About the JudgesThe AQUA 100 was judged by an independent panel: Ted Lawrence, POOLCORP corporate retail category manager, has been in the specialty swimming pool industry for more than 24 years and is known as a leading authority on omnichannel retail. With his experience and proven methods, Lawrence coaches hundreds of small independent as well as large multi-store chains on how to skyrocket revenues, increase consumer loyalty, plan for the future and reach the next level. He is an award-winning international presenter at dozens of industry events globally. Merry Wise has been involved in all phases of the swimming pool industry for over 46 years. She was vice president of Wise Pool Company, an AQUA 100 Hall of Fame Company and firm that won numerous regional and international design awards, including the prestigious APSP Chairman’s Award. She is president of Retrospective Publishing and has authored a pool care book for the pool owner, “Cruising Through Pool Care the Wise Way,” and is a freelance writer contributing to AQUA Magazine. Merry is also an industry speaker and consultant specializing in customer service, marketing and retail issues for some of the industry’s most prestigious firms. |
Interested in participating in next year's AQUA 100? Keep an eye on this page for updates.
