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BUSINESS
Economy only has slight impact on pool businesses' busy season
HUNTINGTON -- Even in the down economy, local pool businesses have been making the best of what they've got.
Matt McPeek, owner of Barbi-Lin Pools in Ashland, said they have been doing OK.
"The numbers are down a little, but not too bad," he said. "We've seen the people who are unsure about their jobs holding on to their money."
Greg Macri, owner of Holiday Pools in Huntington, said they have been doing great.
"I think the main reason we've been faring so well is because of our service and our pricing," Macri said. "We've been around 37 years, and we've tried our best to keep prices as low as we possibly can and to have things in stock."
While sales have dipped slightly, McPeek has noticed some people have been delaying pool repairs.
"But, in the end, people are going to do what they want to do. Economy or not, if they really want their pool fixed, they're going to do it," he said.
McPeek said they have kept prices the same for the customers, instead of raising them.
"We tried to help them in that way, we didn't want to raise our prices," he said. "I think the biggest trouble this year has been the weather. We haven't had a real summer yet because of all the rain. It's kept numbers down, too."
Sid Cooper, owner of M&S Pools in Huntington, says commercial work keeps them going.
"We do mostly commercial things, like state parks and hotels, so even if it rains cats and dogs outside or if the economy is good or bad, we do fine," Cooper said. "We deal with places that are open seven days a week for 365 days a year. They need us."
Cooper said residential companies in the United States were not doing as good as the commercial companies.
"With residential companies, the first two quarters each year are flat, when they're not really doing business. Then, in the third quarter, sales will start to pick up. In the fourth quarter they're good, and then they start winding down," Cooper said.
Macri said when it's summer, the customers want things, and they don't want to wait, so it is best to keep things in stock as much as possible.
"We try our best to keep it all in stock. We want the customers to be happy, and we try to have things in stock and give it to them at the best possible price we can give them," he said.
Macri said when it comes to the pool business, the most important things are to satisfy the customers and keep your prices reasonable.
