Features

  • Joe King — Hot Tub Hall of Fame

    ByMegan Kendrick

    Joe King’s life in the pool and spa industry began before he even had a driver’s license. As a teenager, he worked alongside his father, servicing swimming pools and learning firsthand the value of clean water, customer trust and hard work. That experience planted the seeds for what would become King Technology, officially founded in 1979 by King and his father, Lloyd, who had invented a brominator small enough for a hot tub.

  • Alice Cunningham — Hot Tub Hall of Fame

    ByMegan Kendrick

    In 1977, Alice Cunningham and her late husband, Blair Osborn, took a leap of faith. Leaving behind successful careers — Cunningham as a U.S. Department of Labor administrator and Osborn as a mechanical engineering professor — they founded Olympic Hot Tub in Seattle. With no business experience and little precedent to follow, they launched one of the first dedicated hot tub companies in the Pacific Northwest and helped create a new category in the American home experience.

  • The Jacuzzi Family — Hot Tub Hall of Fame

    ByMegan Kendrick

    The story of Jacuzzi is an American dream realized through water and wellness. It began in the early 20th century, when seven brothers from Casarsa della Delizia, Italy, immigrated to the United States. Settling in California, the Jacuzzi brothers — Valeriano, Francesco, Rachele, Candido, Giocondo, Gelindo and Joseph — channeled their mechanical knowledge into aviation and agricultural pump technologies, founding Jacuzzi Brothers Inc. in 1915.

  • 2025 Hot Tub Hall of Fame Inductees

    ByEditorial Staff

    The Hot Tub Hall of Fame was established in 2024 through a partnership between SpaRetailer magazine and the International Hot Tub Association. Created to celebrate the pioneers and visionaries of the industry, the Hall of Fame shines a spotlight on the people whose passion and dedication have shaped the way the world experiences hot water. Honorees come from every corner of the hot tub world.

  • The Hot Spot for Retail Success

    ByEditorial Staff

    Each year, the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo brings together the industry’s top professionals, brands and educators for a week of networking, innovation and hands-on learning. In its return to Las Vegas, the 2025 event promises even more opportunities to discover the latest products, connect with peers and gain insights to strengthen your business.

  • The Hot Tub Hustle

    BySeraine Page

    Want to host buzzworthy events that get your hot tub customers bubbling with excitement? Great sales events don’t just happen — they’re planned. From special partnerships to high-energy expos, we’ll break down how to generate buzz, engage your community and make your next hot tub event a standout success.

  • Speed to Lead

    ByChelsea Kowalski

    If you don’t respond to a customer inquiry within five minutes, you’ll likely lose the sale.

    “[Retailers] are leaving money on the table if they neglect it,” says Cole Taylor, owner of Southern Leisure Spas and Patio in Flower Mound, Texas.

  • Let’s Make a Deal

    ByBethany Branscum

    In today’s uncertain economy, hot tub retailers are facing a delicate balancing act: How do you meet customers where they are financially, protect your margins and keep sales flowing? Emily Chin, head of retail services for Wells Fargo, says the answer often lies in optimizing your financing strategy.