Photography by Thomas Owac

The recession of 2008 hit Detroit hard — and it still hasn’t recovered. So how does a company selling hot tubs at eight locations in the Detroit metro area remain open seven years later? Lifestyles Hot Tubs found a simple answer: listen. What were customers saying? Less and less about hot tubs being a luxury, says Lifestyles general manager Jamie Severs.

“Customers used to say they wanted a hot tub, but now they’re telling us they need one,” Severs says. “They always used to be seen as leisure or entertainment. But now we’re hearing people say they need a hot tub for health reasons.”

Severs, originally a Lifestyles customer, was hired five years ago. He served in the military and then became a police officer. After breaking his back in an accident, Severs bought a hot tub to help with his pain.

“It was either medication or water therapy for 20 to 30 minutes a day,” Severs says. “When I was looking for a career change, I wanted to help people and do something I believed in, just like I had in law enforcement. I’ve been helping people feel better every day since.”

Lifestyles opened its doors in Flint, Michigan, in 1968 as Flint Pool and Patio. The family-owned business became Lifestyles Hot Tubs, and went on to open seven additional locations. Brett and Bryan DeGayner, whose father and uncle started the company, say that since the beginning, Lifestyles has stressed the importance of listening to its sales team. And Severs says that’s been the secret to surviving these tough recent years.

Customer service after the sale also sets it apart, says Severs. “I have been to many customers’ homes to help them with an issue here or there,” he adds. “I love doing it because I also get to see how much of an improvement the hot tub has had on their quality of life.”

Along with Watkins-manufactured hot tubs, Lifestyles also sells pools and patio furniture. After trimming the budget and successfully riding out the recession, Severs says the DeGayners are now in a position to expand.

LeisureTime Warehouse||

OWNER: Ted Dellas||

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LOCATION: Wickliffe, Ohio||

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