It’s clear that major market buyers such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot and BJ’s, your typical wholesalers, are starting to infiltrate the pool industry by selling large quantities of pool chemicals. The Problem with these companies is the lack of knowledge, plain and simple. Try asking John Doe behind the counter at Sams Club how many bags of shock you should put in your pool to get rid of the algae. Try asking Jane Doe stocking shelves if Chlorine or Baquacil is right for you. It’s a waste of time and can also be a waste of money.Other Department stores such as Target are starting to dive into the pool business by selling pool toys and inflatables. Which how can your blame these distributors, they are making tons of money by selling in such large quantities. It makes it very hard for the local pool store to gain an edge on the market. The pool industry starts to ask questions like “what can we do to set ourselves apart from the rest.” Chemicals are chemicals but knowledge is right now about the only thing these big retailers and wholesales don’t have. As I mentioned before, try asking someone at BJs the use for Chlorine stabilizer or calcium hardness. A guaranteed dumb look will appear.The average customer will always try and save money (thats what coupons are for.) Everyone knows that and know one knows it better than Wal-Mart. Unfortunately for small business owners, Wal-Mart has the power to sell things lower than the suggested retail price because of their buying power. That puts small businesses at a lost. They don’t have the power to pose such a low price to attract buyers. Lost leaders really become a lost.So as a consumer myself, I always look for the best price but sometimes the lack of knowledge that comes with the product is not always worth it. I’d rather spend more money on something when I know that I can always talk to someone that knows it.Home Depot now sells spas. Of course they are cheaper but after the sale, you cant buy parts for it (I know from experience) there is no one to call if something goes wrong, it’s just a nightmare.So just a thought, next time to go to shop for pool chemicals take into consideration that you are dealing with your family’s safety. So dont look for the cheap and easy way out. Learn as much as you can from the people who know. Heck that’s why I started this blog, just to inform the consumer so they don’t put themselves in jeopardy.
You know what's best? Just talk to the consumer honestly. He or she knows that the outlay for the product may be less at the big box but they do not realize that the product offered at the big box is either a lower strength or lower weight packaging. I know that Arch chemicals (makes HtH for Walmart) uses 47.6% and 54.6% available chlorine calcium hypochlorite for Walmart due to storage and price concerns and also offers 10 ounce sizes. While the product I carry is a full 16 ounces and 65% and 75% available chlorine levels. With this information I can explain why my chlorine is actually less expensive than the product from Walmart, and it truly is. We can discuss the non polyquat algecide they sell, the list goes on. Information is power., Some customers are going to shop at the big box no matter what you do, that's fine, welcome them with open arms when they need a water test or to solve a problem and you will win. Offering alternative sanitizers can help as well but the key in all of this is know your product and the product of others and you can do no wrong!.
Buying groups have tried to address these issues for the most part with very limited success. I happen to represent a program that was speciffically designed to address these types of issues. Many of the members in the group have had tremendous success by utilizing the concepts we've developed. Best of all it is free to join to learn more visit my page and check out MyBluePool just click on my name at the top of this comment.
Or you could sell alternative sanitizers that Wal-Mart does not offer, like Ozone. You can sell your customer on the safety of cutting back on chemicals. The store will clear about 12 months worth of chemical profits on the sale of one Ozonator. Plus, the pool owner will still have to purchase some chemicals (30-50%). And since you "willingly" sacrificed your chemical sales for the safety of your pool owner, maybe they will spend the money saved on grills, chairs, lights or other pool equipment.
I also agree we refused to do business with the Mega Marts and Wholesale Stores for this very reason. There are way too many variables that could simply go wrong.
Maybe one way to gain back business is to offer Pool Care Clinics on weekends teaching your customers how to properly care for the swimming pool. I would especially highlight a product explaining the features and benefits why no pool owner should be without.
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Maybe one way to gain back business is to offer Pool Care Clinics on weekends teaching your customers how to properly care for the swimming pool. I would especially highlight a product explaining the features and benefits why no pool owner should be without.