New England Spas, a hot tub dealer in Massachusetts, celebrates the career of prolific salesperson, Dave Hagopian. Hagopian joined New England Spas in 1998, more than 24 years ago. In that time the company says he has sold more than 3,000 hot tubs and generated more than $26 million in revenue.
“During a wonderful run of 24 years, Dave Hagopian has performed like a superstar and helped to build the family of New England Spas teammates and customers,” says Norm Coburn, New England Spas’ owner and president, “It has been an absolute pleasure working with so many tenured staff, especially in view of the current employment situation. I appreciate Dave’s ongoing support, loyalty, reliability and relationship over so many years.”
Before joining New England Spas, Hagopian owned a health club for many years. After feeling the urge to make a career change, he responded to an employment ad in the newspaper that caught his attention.
“I wanted to do something different, and I am so glad that I came to New England Spas,” Hagopian says. “I have absolutely no regrets. I’ve had a great career with a great company. I wouldn’t have stayed this long if I didn’t love it.”
While much has changed since 1998 when Hagopian started in the hot tub industry, Hagopian’s passion and motivation for selling spas has remained the same. “I like the challenge when you are in front of a customer to try to close them,” Hagopian says. “It’s the same rush as when I first started my career. I came into work every day ready to sell like I had zero sales that month, even if I had already sold many spas. I treated every day like I was starting from scratch.”
Hagopian also credits the supportive and professional atmosphere at New England Spas for his success. “New England Spas provided me with the right tools,” Hagopian notes. “I had the opportunity to attend many trainings at the start of my career and I learned a lot. I also had the right environment to sell in — clean, organized showrooms showcasing our great products.”
While his sales numbers impressed his employers, for Hagopian, it has been the people he has met and the relationships that he has forged — with colleagues at other dealerships, his teammates at New England Spas and with customers — that he feels made his career in the spa industry so special.
Hagopian fondly remembers the friendly competition against hot tub salespeople at other dealerships across the country, “There was a gentleman on the West Coast that I would go back and forth against for the top salesperson position,” Hagopian says. “He was the top guy on the West Coast, and I was the top guy on the East Coast. We were neck and neck on the leaderboard for several years. Getting that top position, and the bragging rights that came with it, was an accomplishment to strive for.”
According to Hagopian, the camaraderie of the New England Spas team made his years with the company particularly enjoyable, “I have so many great memories of working with the team in the showroom, taking trips to conferences and trainings,” Hagopian says, “The teambuilding was great, and I even went to multiple weddings of New England Spas employees.”
Hagopian even met his wife, Ro, in a New England Spas showroom in 2000 when she came in to shop for a hot tub. He sold her a Sundance Altamar, and 22 years later they’re heading down to Florida to enjoy their retirement together.
“I am really proud to be a part of New England Spas, and to have helped to build the company,” Hagopian says.
Demonstrating that the feeling is certainly mutual, New England Spas awarded Hagopian its first Lifetime Achievement Award, which came in the form of a bronzed duck wearing sunglasses, and a plaque commemorating his spa sales and revenue achievements. “I wish Dave and his wife many years of health and happiness together,” Coburn adds. “N.E. Spas, and I will always have fond memories of growing up together with team members like Dave!”