Pool & Spa Marketing

on the cover

As in the U.S., the number of Canadian spa/hot tub manufacturers continues to decline, falling from 13 in 2008 to 11 in 2009. Five of those companies will continue to produce 85 per cent of the spa/hot tubs manufactured in Canada. Until the market picks up, manufacturers will continue to sell through non-traditional retailers and other outlets in an effort to maintain production levels and penetrate tight markets. Although the Canadian economy is seeing some signs of recovery, the U.S. market will continue to shrink, as will the European market, impacting export sales for Canadian spa manufacturers. However, from a retail perspective, the Canadian spa market should stabilize by the third quarter of 2009.

June 2009

Page 10

TURNAROUND EXPECTED AFTER TURBULENT YEAR
Canadian spa and hot tub sales decline in 2008.

Page 14

SPA FRAGRANCES
The essence of aromatherapy.

Page 18

PORTABLE SPAS
Consumer priorities shift to wellness.

Page 24

SPA CHEMISTRY
Taking a green approach to marketing.

Page 26

CREATING DURABLE POOL AND SPA DECKS
Wood-plastic composite decking goes mainstream.

Page 32

PLANTS & POOLS
The thorny issue of what works and what doesn’t in the backyard.

Page 38

BALANCE AND PROPORTION
A rectilinear approach to backyard design.

Page 40

DRAINAGE IN THE POOL ENVIRONMENT
Long-term solutions require a collaborative approach.

Page 46

HAZARD PREVENTION
Putting procedures and systems in place can minimize losses.

Page 50

SURVIVING A MAJOR CRYPTOSPORIDIUM OUTBREAK
A personal account.

Page 58

HOW TO CLEAR A SWAMP POOL
Eliminating hazards in poorly maintained water.

Page 66

AQUA-BLUE POOLS, SPAS & BATH FIXTURES
A family business 25 years in the making.

June 25, 2009 Headlines

Birthday blast for Canadian associations

The Canadian swimming pool and hot tub industry will recognize 50 years of serving the Canadian business during the Canadian Pool & Spa Conference & Expo, to be held in Toronto this December.

Clearing up HRTC confusion

The temporary Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) contained in Canada's 2009 federal budget is generating a lot of interest, but there is still confusion about what it does and does not cover.

Olympic champion Michael Phelps dips his toe in Canadian waters

Swimming Canada, the national governing body of competitive swimming, welcomed eight-time Beijing gold medallist Michael Phelps to the Canada Cup series, which took place June 18 to 21, 2009 at the Olympic Park Pool in Montreal, Que.

Toronto school pools to soak up the sun

Several Toronto schools may soon be using solar power to heat their pools, if the Toronto District School Board has its way.

Spain hot for pools, says study

Blessed with a warm climate, strong tourism industry and a culture that embraces swimming, Spain expects 20,000 to 25,000 swimming pools to be built in 2009, even in the midst of a worldwide economic downturn that has hit the country particularly hard.