In this time when we all could use as much good news on the economic front as we can get, there comes some upbeat seasonal data courtesy of one St. Nick, dateline the North Pole.    Mark Hulbert, a widely read analyst for the Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch, wrote an interesting column this week describing what market watchers now call “The Santa Claus Rally.” Seems ...

photo courtesy Randy Beard | Pure Water Pools There's something wonderfully empowering within the concept of renewal. The idea that we always have an opportunity to improve the way we do things, that each day is a new beginning and that future is never lost so long as we believe we can make it better — such meditations always light a fire in my heart. As ...

The dates for the 2012 APSP Industry Summit have been set. The gathering will take place on August 14-15, 2012, in Chicago, and feature a full day and a half of seminars and workshops.  The centerpiece of the Summit is consumer research, sponsored by the Manufacturers Council, and being conducted by the Harrison Group of Waterbury, Conn., throughout the year leading up to the event. According ...

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has presented Carvin DiGiovanni, APSP’s senior director, technical and standards, with the Exceptional Service in the Public Interest award. DiGiovanni received the award on Friday, December 9, for his work over the past several years with the FBI to increase awareness in the pool, spa, and hot tub industry of the chemicals sought by terrorists.  Among these chemicals are hydrogen peroxide and ...

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has presented Carvin DiGiovanni, APSP’s senior director, technical and standards, with the Exceptional Service in the Public Interest award. DiGiovanni received the award on Friday, December 9, for his work over the past several years with the FBI to increase awareness in the pool, spa, and hot tub industry of the chemicals sought by terrorists.  Among these chemicals are hydrogen peroxide and ...

  Watkins Manufacturing, a leading maker of hot tubs, announces the acquisition of the assets of American Hydrotherapy Systems (AHS). With the purchase of the Ontario, California-based AHS, Watkins adds roto-molded Freeflow Spas to its portfolio of Watkins spa brands that includes Caldera Spas and Hot Spring Spas. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “The addition of Freeflow Spas to our family of quality hot tub ...

photo courtesy --> It's no secret that the staggering economy has caused customers to spend money more carefully. But there are other forces affecting the buying habits of pool and spa customers, including the rise of the Internet, lack of consumer confidence in retail staff as the trusted source of information, and consumer misperceptions of specialty retailers vs. other pool and spa supply sources. Endeavoring to ...

Green usually isn't a word you want to hear in association with pools, but Repurposed Materials might have a way to change your mind about that. With a motto like "Repurposing and reusing waste and byproducts of industry," you know this company is as green as it gets. Unlike most recycled materials, however, the products sold through Repurposed Materials come ready to use, just the way ...

Well, I'm glad that's over with. Economically, 2011 will be categorized along with the two or three before it under a single heading . . . help me here . . . malaise? . . . melancholy? . . . funk? I still talk to some people who are selling lots of big pools to the relatively few people who can afford them, and a lot ...

Well, I'm glad that's over with. Economically, 2011 will be categorized along with the two or three before it under a single heading . . . help me here . . . malaise? . . . melancholy? . . . funk? I still talk to some people who are selling lots of big pools to the relatively few people who can afford them, and a lot ...