It’s a milestone year for the Western Pool & Spa Show — the big 4-0! Slated for March 15-17 at the Long Beach (Calif.) Convention Center, the 2018 event will naturally include an anniversary party, says Peter Haverlation, who has worked on the show since day one.
“It’s exciting to be part of something like this,” says Haverlation, WPSS director of registration. “For me, personally, the concept of sharing information is very satisfying. It’s an interesting process to work on it each year. When [the show] started, there was no real form of training for industry newcomers.” So to have a Southern California trade show that now boasts an extensive education program for pool and spa service technicians, builders and retailers, he says, is particularly gratifying for the organizers, all of whom are volunteers.
To celebrate WPSS reaching the four-decade mark, there will be a party on Friday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the foyer of the convention center. Festivities will feature a first — food trucks! Party-goers will head outdoors, make their food choices from the various vendors, then come inside to eat, enjoy beverages from the bar, listen to live music — and dance, if they so desire. Admission is $30 each.
Show attendance is expected to hit the usual mark of around 9,000 plus more than 200 exhibitors. Booths can be found in Convention Center Hall C’s 78,000-square-foot exhibit space. Naturally, the hall will be filled with local industry professionals, who will be joined by colleagues from other regions. Many visitors travel great distances to WPSS, hailing from Texas, Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey and Florida, to name a few. Haverlation adds that some have even traveled from other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand.
Besides checking out the wares and services of exhibitors, many show-goers will want to take advantage of the educational track, which is brimming with technical and business sessions — a number of which are brand-new. (More on that in a moment.)
Meanwhile, returning show favorites include the hourly prize giveaways, which lead up to the pickup truck giveaway on the final day. And the Product Showcase once again will feature merchandise that’s new, innovative or energy-saving.
Admission to the exhibit hall is free, but visitors must register to get show badges, which gain them admittance. Advance registration online is strongly encouraged. It’s possible to register in person at the center, but a nominal $5 fee will be charged.
To pre-register for the show and to get information about seminar fees, visit westernshow.com. For city attractions, go to visitlongbeach.com.
Seminar smarts
With 80 classes this year, 40 of which are new, there’s bound to be something for everyone. Technical, business, Spanish-language and special sessions — it’s all there. “We keep trying to do things to improve the educational program, offering different classes that the industry needs,” Haverlation notes.
“Water chemistry seminars are always filled,” he adds, and so there are quite a few in the lineup, ranging from basic to advanced. Other technical classes abound, covering a variety of topics, such as variable-speed pumps, chemical controllers, pool lighting, hydraulics, heaters and stain removal. Haverlation adds that he’ll be giving his class “Tips and Tricks for New Pool Professionals” again this year on Friday morning.
In a business vein, there are classes on managing and growing a company; how to find and keep high-end pool owner customers; ways to stand out online and win new customers; billing with software; and more.
Special sessions on tap include “California Commercial Title 22” on Friday and “CPSA/NSPF Genesis Town Hall: Future of the Alliance” on Saturday.
Other classes also expected to draw crowds are the National Swimming Pool Foundation’s two-day CPO Course and its Advanced Service Course, as well as the Genesis Renovation Class.
When it comes to the Spanish-language curriculum, the selection is even larger than last year. Now numbering 15 seminars led in Spanish, the sessions are spread out over the three days of the show. A wide range of topics are covered, including pumps, heaters, algae-free pools, business management, introduction to QuickBooks, controllers, chemical automation systems, ozone chlorine generators, basic water chemistry, variable-speed pumps, advanced water chemistry and more.
Truck fever
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the truck giveaway is a major highlight of the show, as the folks gathered in hopes of winning will attest. This year, a brand-new Dodge pickup will go to the lucky winner.
Here’s how that much-anticipated moment will arrive: Three names are drawn on Thursday and again on Friday, and four names on Saturday. The 10 finalists win prizes from manufacturers. The final drawing occurs on Saturday, at 5 p.m. Video screens in the truck giveaway area enable those who aren’t standing in the front to see what’s happening.
You must be present to win, and WPSS officials will keep drawing tickets until the winner hears their name called and comes forward.
Go, golfers
For the seventh year, WPSS will be setting up a putting green on the show floor. Golfers are welcome to try their hand at the 9 holes, and the nominal admission fee ($5) encourages many to come back again and again to try to better their scores.
The proceeds are split 50/50 between the winner and the California Pool & Spa Association, an industry advocacy group that Haverlation says is definitely needed, “what with water restrictions coming down the road.”
Show schedule
Long Beach (Calif.)
Convention Center, Hall C
March 15–17, 2018
THURSDAY, MARCH 15
1–5:45 p.m. – Seminars
4 p.m. – Exhibitors Mixer
6–9 p.m. – Exhibits open
FRIDAY, MARCH 16
8 a.m.–2:45 p.m. – Seminars
2–6 p.m. – Exhibits open
6:30 p.m. – WPSS Anniversary Party
SATURDAY, MARCH 17
8 a.m.–1:45 p.m. – Seminars
1–6 p.m. – Exhibits open
5 p.m. – Truck giveaway
