The International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo (PSP) has announced its partnership with SpaRetailer magazine to launch the SpaRetailer VIP Program. The program will take place in conjunction with the 2016 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo, to be held in New Orleans. Education begins on October 30, 2016, and the exposition on November 2, 2016. Both conclude on November 4, 2016.
The VIP Program, sponsored by SpaRetailer, incentivizes spa retailers and distributors with $3 million or more in annual sales to attend the exposition through a nomination and qualification process. Qualified VIP nominees will receive free expo passes, exclusive discounts on the Conference Super Pass, access to the VIP lounge on the show floor and several other perks. Additionally, 25 nominees will be selected for the exclusive Hosted Buyer program, which includes up to two nights’ hotel accommodations per buyer.
“Buyers can be nominated by themselves, a colleague or a vendor through at the event website,” explains Tracy Garcia, show director. “This exciting partnership with SpaRetailer made perfect sense considering their strong foothold in the spa retail segment and the event’s ability to build strong relationships between manufacturers and buyers.”
The exposition drew 11,556 total outdoor living professionals in 2015. This year’s exposition will feature 525 manufacturers and suppliers and over 137,600 square feet of exhibits.
The nomination process will begin July 26, 2016. For more information about the program, email info@poolspapatio.com.
COMPANY NEWS:
Evosus Expands Offices
Evosus has updated and expanded its Vancouver, Washington, office space. The offices now comprise two floors, with expanded collaborative workspaces for the development of new products as well as new desk areas for its client services, marketing and sales departments. A high-tech design firm created the office space, ensuring Evosus had the needed technological upgrades to continue its growth.“We are excited to now have the training space and technological advancements necessary to make Evosus a leading high-tech company in our various market segments,” says Corey Holton, founding member of Evosus.
Master Spas at U.S. Olympic Swim Trials
At the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in June attendees could participate in the Michael Phelps Swim Spa Challenge as well as receive swim instruction at the Skill Center Clinics at the USA Swimming Aqua Zone. In the Master Spas area at the USA Swimming Aqua Zone, a 100,000-square-foot fan experience area outside the U.S. Olympic Trials-Swimming at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, participants swam against the current in a Michael Phelps Signature Swim Spa by Master Spas. Master Spas estimates that over 3,000 individuals took the challenge during the event. At the booth swimmers could also get one-on-one training from experienced swim coaches through the industry-leading programming of Michael Phelps Swimming.
Natural Chemistry Rebrands
Natural Chemistry has changed its corporate name to NC Brands. The company purchased SeaKlear in May and pool cleaner manufacturer Red Leopard before that. The new name is an umbrella that covers all the company’s brands.
“Having added two strong brands to our portfolio over the past year with the acquisition of SeaKlear and Red Leopard, now is the ideal time for the company name change to reflect this expansion,” says Kate Thielscher, president of NC Brands. “It removes category limitations and allows us exciting opportunities for growth.
Watkins to Manufacture VacuSeal
Wallingford, Connecticut-based, Hot Tub Products LLC, owners of the patent for VacuSeal Covers, has signed a license agreement with Watkins Manufacturing to allow Watkins to manufacture VacuSeal covers for fitness systems. VacuSeal is a cover/lifter system that moves the cover in a single motion.
Watkins demonstrated the VacuSeal at its Hot Spring and Caldera dealer meetings in January.
“Dealer reception to the VacuSeal was very positive,” says Mike Dunn, executive vice president of Watkins. “We’re extremely excited about the current launch of our new fitness systems and believe there is a need for multiple lifting systems that are consumer friendly. Though we will be offering a variety of lifter options, the VacuSeal System offers an outstanding and economical solution for a customer to remove and replace the cover on their own, along with minimizing the need to reposition the cover after closure.”
NEW HIRES/PROMOTIONS:
New VP of Sales and Marketing at AquaFinesse
Chris Lacy has joined AquaFinesse as the vice president of sales and marketing for the water-treatment manufacturer. Lacy has spent 33 years in the pool and spa industry at various companies including Polaris Pool Systems, Baracuda International/Zodiac Pool Care Systems, Inter-Fab, and SeaKlear. He replaces Bob Snodgrass, who is now senior vice president at AquaFinesse.
Evosus Adds to Support Team
Evosus Business Management Software has hired Andre Parker to its support team. Parker has more than 20 years of experience with client desktop support.
New Employees at Haviland
Haviland Pool & Spa Products, makers of seven pool and spa chemical lines, has added three employees. Jim Gray joins it as the southeast regional sales manager. Gray has worked in the industry for more than 40 years, and will oversee the company’s southeast distribution network and supply sales and service support.
Benjamin Gaeth joins the company as the engineering manager, where he will oversee engineering at all of Haviland’s facilities.
Christine Olmeda is a chemical process engineer. She will lead efforts to ensure sound engineering principles are used in the design and improvement of chemical processes, continuously improving the safety and quality of those processes.