2020 was a very different year for the pool and hot tub industry. Many consumers confined to their residences turned their focus and dollars on improving life at home. As a result, demand for new inground and aboveground swimming pools and hot tubs was off the charts in some areas. The 2020 PHTA Market Report, now available FREE to members, summarizes the current state of the residential inground and aboveground pool and hot tub segments in terms of product sales, ownership characteristics, geographic patterns, and more. Download your copy!

As part of the PHTA Quarterly Pulse Study, respondents identified their top five business concerns in Q2:

1) Availability of products/supplies
2) Finding qualified employees
3) Economic conditions
4) Maintaining profit levels
5) Employee performance/quality

You can find the results of each Quarterly Pulse Study on the PHTA website. And remember, if you complete the survey, you can benchmark your results against your industry peers.

Award-winning designer Jason Brownlee, ASLA, SWD Registered, returns to the virtual classroom to teach D211: Elements of Design. In this course, you will discuss the fundamental elements (e.g., line, color, and form) and principles (e.g., unity, balance, and scale) of design and use your new understanding to design beautiful spaces that connect with the surrounding environment.

The registration deadline is Thursday, September 9. Class begins September 13.

At this year's World Aquatic Health Conference, one of the educational tracks attendees can follow is Water and Air Quality. You can attend up to 10 sessions within this track, covering topics like Legionella, guidance for public pools during COVID-19, good indoor air quality, and filtration. Check out our Schedule-at-a-Glance to find the sessions most relevant to you!

Instructor Kirk Bianchi will be teaching GENESIS® D111: Small Space Design. With more people wanting their own pool, hot tub, or spa than ever before, available space is playing an important role in design and construction. In this course, you will learn about solutions for small spaces (small outdoor spaces, spas, indoor projects, balconies, water features) and recognize how to incorporate multiple features into the outdoor space.

Is it time for your CPO renewal? Have you been waiting for the opportunity to take the CPO Certification Course in person? There are two opportunities coming up! The CPO Certification Course is being offered both at WAHC on October 12-13 and at PSP/Deck Expo on November 14-15. Don't let your CPO certification expire! Register today.

PHTA is starting to schedule our webinar series for the fall and winter. If you have ideas for webinar topics, we would love to hear them! Please send the title, seminar description, learning objectives, and speaker bio to Katie Junkers, PHTA Director of Education, at kjunkers@phta.org.

Stay on top of what others in the industry are talking about. This week in the myPHTA Online Community, the newest discussions are about:
– At my wits' end with a pool and looking for help
– Mechanical room corrosion
– Quarterly Pulse Studies

Does your current General Liability policy cover "Pool Pop Up"? Probably not. The thought of something as heavy as a swimming pool popping out of the ground is hard to conceive, but it happens more often than one might believe. The effect of hydrostatic pressure is not unusual.

Your customers' homeowner policy more than likely has an Exclusion for this type of event. The homeowners will be relying on you for protection.

Don't be left holding the bag. Aqualine Insurance can help. Contact Brandon Riggs at briggs@aqualineinsurance.com or 949-421-3522.

Pool and Spa News
It can seem daunting, but follow these tips to help achieve OSHA compliancy – and avoid fines and potential liabilities.

AQUA Magazine
When the future of their company is at stake because of personal crisis, what can family members do to help ensure their business stays afloat?

Forbes
The customers of today make buying decisions based on their own customer experiences and the experiences of those they listen to. It makes sense that the best investment a company can make is to improve their customer service.

AQUA Magazine
The prudent pool tech would deal with common hazards before they become a problem. The situations described represent common hazards that pool technicians see in the field.

Pool and Spa News
Find out what some pool professionals are saying when they talk about the chemical shortages and how they are mitigating the repercussions. 

Aquatics International
Aquatics facilities would be wise to address this essential in-service building block as they continue to reassemble their lifeguard teams.