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SR Panel

Scott Clark

Scott Clark opened his first hot tub store in San Jose, California, in 1990. He eventually closed it to focus on road shows, but all the travel was hard on his young family. In 2004, he opened another store, this time in Reno, Nevada. Now, Clark has five retail stores,

David Ghiz

David Ghiz has spent a lifetime in water; his dad started Phoenix-based Paddock Pools in 1958. Ghiz and his brothers grew the family business into one of the largest pool and backyard specialty companies in America. In 2005, they sold to a private-equity firm, which began liquidating Paddock in 2012.

Michael Lahay

Michael Lahay was selling copiers — and he’d had enough — when a friend started talking to him about how much fun he was having selling hot tubs. Not only was this friend enjoying what he was doing, but he wasn’t stuck in a suit like Lahay. Lahay went to work with

Angela Barta

Barta’s father, Bob Sullivan, founded 21st Century Pools & Spas in 1979. She grew up working in the store part time and came back to the store full time after studying political science and business at Arizona State University. She has more than 10 years’ experience in the pool and

David Isaacs

David Isaacs grew up in the pool and spa industry, eventually taking ownership of the family business, Isaacs Pools & Spas (founded in 1978), in 2016. Isaacs began working full time at the company in 2004 after he finished college and shared 50/50 ownership of it with his mother by

434

Hot Tub Retailers…

and counting have been interviewed in SpaRetailer since our first issue in 2007.

294

Trade Companies

have been featured or written about in SpaRetailer.

Magazine

dedicated 100 percent to the needs of the hot tub industry.

Surviving an Election Year

Spa retailers discuss how to navigate business in a volatile political climateBy Seraine Page This story was written before the covid-19 outbreak. Though the advice is geared toward politics, much of it holds true for helping your business

Here, There and Everywhere

These owners of multiple hot tub locations have found the courage to step away — sometimes very far away.By Sarah Protzman Howlett While technology has made it easier than ever to pull off, being a commuting owner —

Booming Manufacturers

Bullfrog’s new factory adds 265,000 square feet to its facilities footprint. Hot tub suppliers are expanding to make room for continued growthBy Megan Kendrick While 2019 hot tub industry growth was small or held steady at 2018 numbers,

The Dealmaker

Blaine Budke decided to give hot tub retail another try when he opened Hot Tub Brokers.

Blaine Budke uses bartering, car sales experience to succeed as a spa retailerBy Michelle L. CramerPhotography by Iris Photography Hot Tub BrokersOwner: Blaine Budke Location: McCook and Grand Island, NebraskaHotTubBrokers.com@HotTubBrokers@HotTubBrokersGIHot Tubs: Cal Spas, Caldera Spas, Coast Spas, Passion

Mutual Benefits

Olympic Hot Tub’s Seattle show room. Photos: Olympic Hot Tub Olympic Hot Tub partners with local TV stationBy Hannah Brashers In a clever mash-up that provided content for the station and promotion for a local business, Seattle-based Olympic