In many ways, builders are the front line for the entire pool and spa industry, especially when it comes to looking at overall market growth. After all, builders are the ones who design and install the industry's primary products; they also refurbish existing installations so those vessels continue to generate service and retail activity.
As such, it's fair to say as the builders go, so goes the rest of the industry. That may bode well as the 2017 AQUA State of the Industry Builder Survey drew the strongest, most positive response in five years.
It's an upbeat, forward-looking builder nation embarking on the summer of 2017. There is a clear willingness to expand creative design, work across different business categories and use a growing set of design and presentation media evident in the SOI survey. These trends paint a picture of a confident industry on a steady upward curve.
Industry Spotlight: Sponsored by The Great American Waterfall CompanyThe 2017 State of the Industry survey revealed the continued growth of the pool industry "beyond the water's edge," and water features are among the products leading the way. AQUA spoke with Aaron Dixon, president of Great American Waterfall Company, this year's SOI Builder Report sponsor, about where he sees this growing sector headed and what builders can do to capitalize on the opportunities water features present. AQUA: What steps can a builder take to maximize or raise the budget of a project to become more profitable? Builders must connect with and understand their clients' needs — beyond what the clients are able to express — and then deliver on a vision that amazes them. We believe this means a move to a fresh view on interacting with water through custom, high quality water features that can be easily installed. At Great American Waterfall Company we can work with a builder through design consultation and fabricate a custom feature that meets their exact needs. AQUA: What design trends in water feature elements do you see? There are a few that come to mind immediately. The move towards non-linear, curved (radius cut) applications in both sheer and rain features is becoming more prominent. Also, lighting water in many different forms is seeing a big push as technology improves and it finds its foothold in water feature applications. Finally, we are seeing the use of spillways and spouts (scuppers) being used in a variety of ways and form factors. We believe that as technology and innovation begins to increase, customers will look for more custom products. At Great American we are constantly looking toward what's next and how we can provide value to our customers. AQUA: What features are gaining popularity? Without a doubt we are seeing more and more designs with some aspect of lighting included — more specifically LED lights. As these applications gain more popularity we believe designs will begin to focus on the way the light interacts with different surfaces, and this will lead to more custom fabrications. We've also seen an increased interest in how features work together as a whole. AQUA: Water features are often associated with the custom high-end of the market. Are you seeing water features being used in more middle class projects? Perhaps with package pools or fiberglass pools? Definitely. We believe exposure to what is possible will drive this trend forward in the coming years as well. Quality in production and customer service will be key as these applications become more common. While custom features aren't seen as often in package/fiberglass pools, we do see a move in that direction as consumers become more aware of the possibilities. AQUA: How would you like to see the pool industry change in the next 5-10 years? We've seen innovators taking a fresh look at the design and application of water features in recent years. We'd like to see that trend continue and for the industry to continue to innovate. At the same time, we believe that quality, consistency and customer service are key to a great experience and want to see those priorities continue to grow in the industry as a whole. We believe that custom water features and innovative design are the future, and we look forward to working with our customers to deliver inspired solutions. The future is exciting! |
