Every other year, SpaRetailer returns to a feature we consider essential — Power Women. This isn’t about singling out one group at the expense of another; it’s about recognizing leadership that strengthens the whole industry.
When Alice Cunningham walked away from a prestigious federal career in the mid-1970s to start a hot tub business, her father cried. She had a month of vacation, excellent benefits and a senior role administering job training programs for tens of thousands of people nationwide. She was, by every conventional measure, doing exactly what she was supposed to do.
Hot, cold or cold, hot — whichever order you choose, combined hot tub-cold plunge units are giving homeowners an easier way to experience contrast therapy without separate systems.
People are drawn to the spa industry for many reasons, but standard operating procedures (SOPs) usually aren’t one of them.
“They’re difficult,” says Brandon Jones, co-owner of St. Cyr Pool & Spa in Middleton, Massachusetts. “It’s tempting to want to put SOPs on the back burner,” especially amid the everyday hustle of running a business.
When I attend trade shows as a buyer, I focus on being strategic with my time and decisions to make sure I bring back real value for the business:
In an era where shoppers are more likely to order online than walk into a store, creating a captivating showroom is essential. For retailers, this means the store must offer something the internet cannot. Consumers often look for fast, convenient and exciting shopping, so quick store refreshes can be a game changer.
With new marketing channels popping up constantly — from trending social platforms to podcasts and local influencers — it’s hard to know which are worth trying. Are these tools actually a good fit for hot tub businesses?
When most in the industry think of swim spas, they picture the acrylic, portable units that took off in the early 2000s. But alongside that story — sometimes intersecting, sometimes running parallel — is another: the rise of swim machines.
The holiday season isn’t just for decking the halls — for savvy spa retailers, it’s a chance to meet customers where they are (literally) and convert cold weather into hot sales.
A sparkling hot tub tucked into a meticulously manicured backyard can look like the perfect retreat — until the reality of soggy towels, scattered chemicals and a tossed-aside cover turns the sanctuary into cluttered chaos.
For 70 years, Jacuzzi has pioneered hot tub design, bringing health and relaxation to millions. Now, its new J5 Collection sets a next-level standard in backyard luxury. Erica Moir, senior vice president for product design, marketing and engineering innovation at Jacuzzi in Chino, California, says this new line of hot tubs will bring an elevated experience like nothing in the industry.
For many hot tub owners, cleaning filters feels frustrating, time-consuming and easy to put off. The task is not high on their weekend to-do list. Some buyers even tune out during the sales pitch — hearing only “low maintenance … every three months” — and assume if a filter looks clean, it is.