As we close out one year and begin the next, it’s a good time to reflect on where our industry has been and where it’s headed. This issue of SpaRetailer does just that — celebrating the pioneers who built the hot tub category, spotlighting the retailers carrying it forward and, of course, the innovations shaping what’s to come.
I can’t believe it’s already time for 30 Under 40! This is our second year celebrating young professionals in SpaRetailer, and I hope you enjoy reading their stories as much as I do. Help us continue to grow this program by nominating and applying for 30 Under 40 when it opens next April.
It’s been a long time since I’ve gone down a deep reporting rabbit hole, but I could not stop digging up nuggets while working on this story about the history of swim spas (to the detriment of all my other work).
I love watching retailers get creative. Actually, I think creative problem-solving is one of the core competencies of successful entrepreneurs and businesses. Show three businesses the same obstacle, and each will find a unique way to overcome it.
Hectic is how I would describe the beginning of 2025, at least for me. I’m thrilled to say our art director, Brittany Moses, welcomed a baby boy in February! But that joy comes with a bit of chaos while she’s on maternity leave.
For many reasons, I’d say most people in the hot tub industry were happy to say goodbye to 2024. I, for one, was ready to hit the reset button and welcome in 2025.
It’s hard to believe we’re already finishing our last issue of 2024 — it feels too early to be reflecting on the year. I am so proud of everything my team has accomplished this year. They put together a yearlong succession planning series, which included webinars, podcasts and articles; launched 30 Under 40 for SpaRetailer; started the Hot Tub Hall of Fame; and behind the scenes, have been working on a new website, which will be coming soon. And of course, the backdrop to all of that are the big life milestones that everyone experienced. I threw a lot at them this year, and they knocked it out of the park.
I am thrilled to share our first recipients of SpaRetailer’s 30 Under 40 award.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room — hot tub sales are not great right now.
I love writing about women in the hot tub industry. And what a treat it was to visit Rita Rowlen and Kara Weed in Wichita, Kansas, for this article.
I know we’ve made succession planning our default theme of the year at SpaRetailer, but as more and more businesses are bought and sold in our industry, it feels like we’ve chosen well. And this issue underscores the importance.
We are only a month into 2024, and it’s already been a busy one for the hot tub industry.