Despite shortages in supplies, rising fuel and chemical prices, and overall inflation in day-to-day goods, there are still many ways to grow a pool and spa business organically from within. Whether it be increasing a business’s reach with an e-store, having your service department help with retail sales, adding new services and product lines, or adopting automation tools included in pool and spa industry software; all these methods provide managers with systems to seize opportunities to grow their business and increase profits moving into the 2023 season.
Tip 1: Be ready to handle more customers
Consumer expectations are at an all-time high, especially for convenient and timely service. If a business cannot currently meet the expectations of a growing number of customers, it needs to first put a plan in place to better position itself to take on more business before figuring out how to attract new clients.
For example, a business should implement efficient software and systems to help save time and ensure accurate record-keeping. Having a software program with industry integrations is key to making daily tasks quick and easy to execute. It’s also important to establish clear and consistent communication protocols with field technicians using tools like mobile service apps that are also integrated into your business software. And remember that offering clients their preferred payment method, with an online bill pay or mobile option will keep business moving smoothly with additional business. These strategies will help enable pool and spa businesses to have additional bandwidth to set themselves up for growth, success, and satisfied customers.
Tip 2: Let service expand retail
For many pool and spa businesses, service work is the bedrock of their business. Build on that foundation by seizing the opportunity for extra revenue from retail sales and upselling. Since service teams interact with customers daily, they can help customers get the most out of their pools by offering supplies and accessories from your retail operation as well.
Tip 3: Embrace e-commerce
By taking the time to improve a business’s e-commerce store and digital marketing efforts, retailers can provide customized offers to clients by knowing who bought what and when. This information is extremely helpful when trying to increase sales this winter and for next season as well. In addition, a powerful, integrated e-commerce site can potentially help alleviate supply chain issues, which are likely to continue in the coming year. Lastly, a robust e-commerce and payment system will enable retailers to quickly add products and services to their e-store and generate new winter sales immediately. This could also include down payments for products and services that are not available until next spring.
Tip 4: Do not miss upselling opportunities
Make sure to choose or use a software system capable of providing upselling alerts to remind staff to talk to customers about products they may also want or need. These are all essential tools for assisting employees trying to make a sale. To further encourage staff, consider creating incentives for high-performance sellers. Create a sense of competition by tracking sales through the software daily, weekly, or monthly. Keep it fun and lighthearted, and watch your business grow organically in 2023!
