The hot tub industry thrives on problem-solvers, innovators and community-builders — and nowhere is that more evident than in this year’s Power Women. From family legacies to surprising pivots, they share a common thread: a commitment to people. Their stories reflect resilience, reinvention and the belief that there is room for anyone willing to learn, grow and lead with integrity.
It may be scaling your business, navigating market uncertainties or being thrust into a leadership role.
Whatever the catalyst, many spa retailers eventually realize they can’t — and shouldn’t — do everything alone. At that point, they begin exploring coaches, peer groups or professional communities that offer the experience, perspective and accountability for personal and professional growth.
Sauna sales are up like never before, with roughly 1.5 million U.S. households now owning saunas and adoption growing at about 5% annually as more consumers invest in at-home wellness. Residential saunas accounted for nearly 60% of market share in 2024, and North American sauna revenue topped $255 million in the same year, according to industry research.
Jackie Glover, Credit manager, MAAX Spas
Ann Spires, president, Essentials Spa Supplies
Susan McPhie, Vice president of business development and general manager, SilkBalance
Maggie Wood and Katie Brown, Hansen’s Pool & Spa
Power Women: Nimisha Patel and Zena Shah, Galaxy Home Recreation
2025 Retail Stars
When Fred Bachmann’s store won the Locksin-Thompson Dealer of the Year Award at the annual Watkins Wellness conference, he was stunned. The honor recognizes dealers who have shown excellence, leadership and pretty darn good sales.
When the founders of Great Bay Spas & Sauna approached Jamie Burson in late 2019 about buying the company, he was caught off guard. He’d been with the New England retailer since he was 20, working his way up from the warehouse to sales and management, and had always dreamed of owning the business. But when the opportunity came, it suddenly felt real.
When Fiesta Pools & Spas opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1956, backyard pools were still a novelty, and the hot tub industry as we know it hadn’t even been born. Nearly 70 years later, the company has become a community fixture — a legacy Travis Hogan stepped into when he purchased Fiesta in 2004 at just 28 years old.