We Build Dreams

by Derek Proffitt, Harbor Bay Pools, Inc.

The word “recession” has been utilized quite a bit lately and carries with it an obvious negative connotation. Even if unfounded, it carries such weight that it can stop savvy consumers in their tracks from parting with otherwise expendable dollars. While this can cause a chain reaction which could prove to be a self-fulfilling prophecy, we as a professional community still have more control over the outcome than we seem to realize.

As builders, we all know that the majority of raw materials and wholesale products steadily continue to increase in price. Why is it then, consumers continue to believe that these are the times when the “deals of a lifetime” should be available? There exists a small portion of the industry which is satisfied to succumb to this whim and do what they are able to create a price driven market.

Is that really why any of us ventured into the pool business? At what unknown costs to the consumer are we appeasing their under-educated request? Shoddy materials? Underpaid, unhappy, uninspired workers? Poorly engineered hydraulics? Drab aesthetics?

For those who take the higher road and continue to work within the parameters of what has defined them for so long as true artisans, the evolution at hand can appear as a curse to their true purpose. I urge you to remember that the power of a curse can only be as strong as the power you lend to it. No one would have ever asked Michelangelo for a deal on a mural just because the Euro dropped in value. It is our duty as the leaders in our industry to educate the consumer and ensure that they make decisions they can still be proud of and happy with for years to come. Any practices otherwise shall surely fall to the wayside over time if kept in the minority of what the public is subjected to.

We, as reputable builders, hold the power to expect more from our customers by not allowing less from ourselves. Those consumers who are still currently able to indulge in a luxury such as a swimming pool are most likely in that position due to an ability to make sound investments and good long term decisions. We should feel fortunate that this is the target market we are left with, and should revel in the glory that can only be felt by providing the victor with the spoils.

I urge you all to hang out your banners boldly and proudly and exclaim with confidence, “There are no half-off sales here. We build dreams. We give your family a place to get to know one another again. When the vision of what you long for is brought to fruition and you immerse yourselves in the silky waters, the joy with which you are overcome will not be quantified in dollars and cents but in unforgettable and priceless moments. We are your pool builders.”