During my visits to the Pool Stores, talking to Pool Store Owners & Store Managers, it is easy to perceive their concern around Online Sites competition. In a social media world and with the accelerated growth of e-Business, it is a valid concern, but instead let’s focus on understanding how the pool

Stores should compete with their online stores counterparts and potentiate their advantages.

Customers like the convenience of the Internet, the flexibility to search for the lowest price and the advantage of researching online reviews. On top of that, the cost structure of the online store allows them to provide a very competitive price.

But local Pool Stores still have significant advantages which are very hard to overcome even by the best online sites.

Let’s take the case of the Recreational Pool Market, Pool Stores have significant advantages that need to be leverage to increase sales and provide the best experience.

Fortunately for Pool Stores, 80% of the owners do self-maintenance, this means the pool owner will visit their local pool store frequently to test pool water & look for chemical mix advice.

Latest statistics show that over 60% of chemical and 40% of accessories are bough at the local pool stores, other 30% in the mass merchant and just 30% in the Internet pool stores.
No doubts these numbers will change as time goes by. Younger generations are more familiar buying online but the advantages of a local pool store will not be replaced.

THE LOCAL STORE POWER:
Customers will continue to shop at their local store because they want to be delighted with THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE, the one you can only offer with experienced personnel that is knowledgeable and provides guidance and advice in terms of Pool Maintenance.
Store Owners need to identify what continues to attract customers to their local store: A beautiful Store front and a well-designed layout, the possibility to touch and hold the product, having stock so customer can buy the product immediately. An important differentiator is a great customer attention and personal service. Those are benefits that an online store will not be able to provide. Again, knowing the products will differentiate your service at the store, your experience and advice to your customers is highly appreciated.
You need to be informed about your vendor’s price policy, check how your vendor support a Minimum Advertising Price (MAP), this will make the products price neutral. The use of Digital experience devices such as video displays, simulators, and even access to the Internet are key to provide your customer a great shopping experience.

An evolving Store able to provide THE BEST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE is your competitive differentiator.

Sources: pkdata - APSP: The Inground Pool consumer

To have crystal clear water is the ultimate desire of any swimming pool owner.

When your pool water becomes cloudy, not only does it looks less inviting but you could run the risk of exposing you and your family to an unwanted health hazard.

There are several causes for cloudy pool water. 
Let’s talk about your pool's exposure to the environment and how it can be cleaned continuously with minimal effort.

Your pool surface is a big area that's always exposed to the environment; dust and debris are continuously falling on the surface and staying there floating.   

Although screen enclosures can be of great help to prevent outside leaves from falling in your water, pools that are "protected" by screens are also impacted by bugs and dust that continuously fall in the pool. Not to mention when rain stars falling. All the bugs, dust and fine particles that fall through the screen and mix-in with your pool water need to be cleaned up. Part of it is cleaned by your pool's filtration system, but a good part keeps floating on the pool's surface. 

If you take a closer look, you'll see all kinds of small bugs and debris floating about the surface. Those dust particles add up and get mixed-in with your pool water and impact the clarity of your pool.

The proper functioning of your pool's filtration system is key to keep cleaning the water as it passes to through sand or microfiber filters.

 Automatic Pool Cleaners (Pool Vacuum Cleaners), help pick up bigger leaves and debris that make it all the way down into the pool's floor, but smaller (lighter) debris will remain floating until the wall skimmer eventually catches it.

 Pool water clarifiers on the other hand, help to coagulate or group small particles in the water into big chunks therefore improving the ability of sand filters and the automatic pool cleaners to capture them. 

Careful maintenance is the key to preventing cloudy pool water. Regularly check your pool's chemical levels, keep your pool filters clean at all times and eliminate those floating particles.