As the warmth of summer starts to fade into the cool embrace of autumn, many homeowners say goodbye to their outdoor living spaces. But what if the season’s end didn’t have to mean the end of outdoor enjoyment?
For families eager to extend their backyard relaxation — and for spa retailers looking to sustain their sales momentum beyond the summer rush — the solution is simple: outdoor heaters. These additions not only bring warmth and ambiance but also keep the chill at bay, ensuring that hot tub experiences can continue year-round and possibly improve the bottom line for retailers.
Showroom success
Kirk Jenkins, president and co-owner of Pool & Spa Center at Watertree in Rapid City, South Dakota, says these heaters are a simple, effective solution.
“They look good, they don’t need a lot of maintenance and they’re an easy item to deal with,” he says. “They don’t take up a lot of space, you can drop ship them and they can fill in those weird spots in the showroom where nothing else will fit.”
Displaying them in patio setups sells them. “It gives customers an idea of what their backyard can look like,” Jenkins says. Plus, he adds, “There aren’t many places here in South Dakota with displays like that,” which gives his business a competitive edge.
In central Las Vegas, Proficient Patios and Backyard Designs also displays outdoor heaters to great advantage.
The company’s design center — a 25,000-square-foot retail outlet — features eight vignettes artfully arranged to showcase the company’s comprehensive line of outdoor products and backyard construction services. And when daylight saving time ends and the cooler months arrive, “we fire them up and take them outdoors,” says president and CEO Matt Lane.
Styles to suit every space
Outdoor heaters are available in a variety of styles to match homeowner needs. These range from portable and freestanding models to wall, flush and ceiling/hanging mounts that fit into structured spaces. They also vary by fuel source; for example, electric (infrared radiant, which heats people and objects, not air); gas, which easily taps into an existing natural gas supply line; and propane, which is highly portable.
Adding substantial, well-designed outdoor heaters is a marketing strategy that spa retailers should consider, says Frank Mello, vice president of sales and marketing for Bull Outdoor Products. Bull just launched its first outdoor heater, the Bull Power Warm Heater, a 48-inch infrared, dual-mounted outdoor model, which can be installed flush or on a structure. This heater is eco-friendly, energy efficient, sturdy and “in line with the quality of everything we do here,” he says.
With a second Pool & Spa Center location in Spearfish, South Dakota, Jenkins carries the “better looking, more robust” brands. These are manufactured by Outdoor Order, based in Torrance, California. It offers four models: the Prism Quad, an 8-foot-tall triangular tower featuring radiant heat and ambient light; Axis, a collapsible heater that gives the glow of a fire pit in a portable form; Curve, an infrared model with a cantilevered design where the heating element goes directly over dining or lounging areas; and Halo, a mushroom-shaped heater.
“We sell a lot of the traditional Halo, which offers the most heat in its radius,” he says.
Proficient Patios and Backyard Designs features Bromic Heaters, a brand known worldwide for its quality and design aesthetics.
“Probably 90% of our heater business is Bromic,” Lane says, although he does carry AEI for budget-conscious customers.
His vignettes display a variety of heaters, from ceiling and wall-mounted products to small patio tabletops and portable varieties. For installations, he relies on Bromic’s Platinum Smart-Heat and Tungsten Smart-Heat lines (electric, as they’re easier to hook up than gas). A new, popular product from Bromic is the Tungsten Smart-Heat Portable heater, which has a freestanding design, black matte finish and stable base.
With the variety of outdoor heaters available, spa retailers can find options that fit their bottom line and customers’ desires.