Episode #145 Hot Tub History with Terry Valmassoi
In this episode of The SpaRetailer Podcast, host Megan Kendrick interviews Terry Valmassoi, CEO of MasterSpas, as he nears retirement after 50+ years in the hot tub industry and 30 years at MasterSpas. Valmassoi shares his plans to spend more time with his wife in Charleston while remaining a partner and board member, and he addresses persistent rumors by stating MasterSpas has never been in talks to sell. He recounts growing up in Southern California, entering the spa business at 16, starting early retail and manufacturing ventures, working at L.A. Spas, and collaborating with Waterway before moving his family to Tennessee and then Fort Wayne to help launch MasterSpas with Bob Lauter. They discuss building culture through trust, navigating 9/11, the 2008–09 recession (with swim spas helping growth), COVID shutdowns and supply chain strain, rapid hiring expansion and innovation including the Michael Phelps partnership, water-care advances, cold tubs and saunas.
Show Notes with Timestamps:
00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:46 Retirement Plans
04:13 No Sale Rumors
06:48 Early Life Background
08:33 First Spa Job
09:52 Retail to Manufacturing
13:25 Hydrospa Boom Years
18:30 Hydrospa Exit Lessons
23:26 LA Spas Florida Move
24:31 Waterway Startup Era
27:31 Bill Holmes Legacy
31:27 Meeting Bob Lauter
34:03 Moving to Fort Wayne
34:55 Launching the Factory
36:11 Kevin Richards Origin
37:27 Partnership with Bob
40:30 Building Culture and Team
44:41 Early Operations Systems
50:26 Hard Times and Rebounds
52:36 Pandemic Growth Surge
57:22 Swim Spa Factory Deal
59:45 Most Fun Moments
01:01:23 Michael Phelps Partnership
01:06:16 Innovation and New Lines
01:10:33 Retirement and Legacy
