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SPN AUG 2011 InMyView
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
SCP Europe’s, Eric Galais sees the growth of wellness themed products in the UK and the ‘gadget factor’ as playing key roles over the next few years
A
s Marketing Manager of SCP Europe, Eric Galais has a very clear idea of what he thinks will tempt swimming pool and spa owners of the future. His role as head of marketing across SCP Europe’s businesses, puts him in a unique position to look at what’s happening in the specialist professional market – and more importantly what the future might hold.
“I think wellness will continue to be a very big theme, probably more in the UK market than in other European countries. There are some differences in the various European markets. In Benelux and UK (as in Northern Europe in general)
He believes that swimming pools of the future will not necessarily be bigger but will rather be better equipped to make them easier, healthier, safer and more fun to use.
He also believes that technology will continue to appeal to new purchasers.
“Gadgets will be a factor as people continue to enjoy and make more of the products they buy whether it’s music and TV through the spa or the ability to call home via a modem or phone and get the heat pump to be switched on ready for when they arrive. I think this whole area of innovation is exciting and offers opportunities.” The other themes will continue, he says, to be
“We have constantly been growing our business and gaining market share over the last three years despite economic crisis all over Europe and 2010 was an outstanding year”
for example, above-ground pools are important, perhaps more linked to the smaller gardens, to a smaller summertime period. Wellness is not as big in Italy and in Spain but in the UK the whole wellness theme will continue to grow and offer opportunities mostly on equipment and maintenance of huge installed bases of spas.” He adds that the wellness themes will grow on more than just pools and spas but ancillary products such as steam rooms.
He picks out commercial pools as an area of growth and when it comes to successes in the wellness market highlights SCP’s award winning new garden leisure spa hot tub series as typical of a product which will continue to do well.
the move for energy saving products to use less electricity in the running of a pool or spa and the ongoing efforts to try and have less chemicals used in pool and spa water.
“These are important trends and as we develop we are certain to see more emphasis on solutions to these two evolutions of customers’ demands.”
SCP, a business which started as a single operation in Metairie in Louisiana, is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and spa products. SCP Europe is a subsidiary of US Pool Corporation with some 3,400 employees and more than 290 branches worldwide.
Adds Eric: “We have constantly been growing our business and gaining market share over the last three years despite economic crisis all over Europe and 2010 was an outstanding year for SCP with sales increasing roughly by 10%. In 2011 sales are already strong and we had big increases in May. It’s a bit early for us to look at the whole year but it seems that the trend is slowing down.”
The product range on offer to customers is impressive – chemicals, pumps, filters, heaters, maintenance equipment, hot tubs, spas, garden buildings, above-ground pools, in-ground pools, splasher pools, pool steps and slides, water treatment, ozone units, pool cleaners, games and inflatables, winter covers, solar covers, fibre optic lighting, saunas and steam rooms and more – including now commercial pool solutions under a brand new catalogue.
SCP, he adds, will continue to focus on three strong ideals: • Innovation in products • Exclusive products • Quality of service to customers
“We see these as all key to our precise strategy for the future and will add on to that strong delivery and logistics and the best after sales service and brand support we can.” The strategy for SCP is to continue to expand in Europe and, as Eric confirms, to offer quality products under a one-stop-shopping business profile in the leisure industry. spn
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