At a time when tens of millions of people have lost their jobs in this post-pandemic world, it feels odd to say that the pool and spa industry, for the most part, is doing OK.
But it is. And in many cases, it’s not just OK, it’s better than this time last year. At least that’s how nearly half of our Top 50 Builders have responded in a survey where we asked how sales have been during the pandemic. In fact, more than half are expecting this year’s revenue to exceed last year’s.
That doesn’t mean the pandemic hasn’t had any negative impact on business. The vast majority — 94% — did have clients who have had to cancel their backyard projects because of the crisis. But fortunately, the number of jobs canceled were below 25% of the company’s overall number of projects.
Because of this, 29 of the 50 companies were able to retain their full staff, with no furloughs, layoffs or reduction in hours or pay. Six additional companies were even hiring more staff during this time. That’s pretty remarkable!
But it makes a certain amount of sense. With the vast majority of the country under stay-at-home orders, homeowners were compelled to really live in their homes, which painfully exposed the lack of certain design elements or amenities that would have made their time at home more comfortable. For many, that amenity is a backyard pool.
The numbers reflect this. 86% of our Top 50 Builders have had an increase in leads compared to this time last year. And 42% expect an uptick in pool building, as people invest more in their backyards — at least, until a vaccine becomes available.
That’s very welcome news during a time of such uncertainty. We’re so fortunate to be part of an industry that supports so many talented and hardworking people while providing customers with a vessel of joy and activity.
You can find the complete, exclusive COVID-19 survey of Top 50 Builders here. I’m sure you’ll agree that the results are fascinating.
And watch our site as we unveil the rest of our 2020 Top 50 Builders package, including regional insights, top 10 lists, customer service award winners, and more.