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SPN JUN 2012 Pool&SpaIndustry
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk BEACHCOMBER’S HORSHAM BASE
Home Counties Pools and Hot Tubs are owned by the man responsible for bringing Beachcomber hot tubs into the UK market, a company which, as founder members of BISHTA, remain passionate about the hot tub market
C
raig Trusson is a classic poacher turned gamekeeper.
Craig is the owner and Managing Director of Home Counties Pools and Hot Tubs who are official dealers in Surrey for the popular Canadian made Beachcomber hot tubs.
It’s a complete switch round for the man in charge of the Horsham based company, who are founder members of trade association BISHTA and although an all round pool and spa
growth following its acquisition of the Norcal specialist business – a search which took him around all the top trade shows in the United States. “It’s true we walked the floors of all the shows in the US and then we had the good fortune to meet Keith Scott, the founder of Beachcomber hot tubs. We got on straight away and found we could do business together and that was the basis of adding the range to the growing SCP profile,” adds Craig.
“I think consumers recognise the importance of BISHTA as a trade association and it helps us as a sales tool as we reassure consumers about the credibility of specialist hot tub companies who belong to the association”
company have a big investment and expertise in hot tub sales.
It was Craig who in his previous role as Sales Director of SCP in the UK was assigned with the task of searching for new products as SCP looked for
Now Beachcomber is an important part of the Home Counties business which Craig owns and they have installed over 400 hot tubs since they started working with the Canadian company. “It’s 23% of our business so it’s significant for
us but it also brings in other business benefits such as servicing and water treatment products.” Home Counties Pools and Spas celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2013. It was started by Peter Burkitt as a basic pool building company and like many other specialist businesses it diversified and added servicing and then a retail division. Peter recently sold the Horsham business to Craig. Hot tub sales through Horsham have in recent years averaged up to 55 a year but things are tougher now says Craig. A dedicated and award winning showroom typically displays 10 Beachcomber hot tubs across four different models to offer a wide a choice as possible. Home Counties also offer a supply and installation service for the- Endless Pools range of exercise pools. “I think hot tubs are still very much on people’s wish list but the economic climate has changed. There’s no doubt about it. We are used to selling tubs on finance and I think with the uncertainty about employment in the market many customers are nervous about making such an investment. It’s still a very good business but things have changed in terms of the perceptions of what customers are prepared to invest in.” The role of BISHTA has always been important for Home Counties.
“We’ve been involved from the start,” adds Craig. “I think consumers recognise the importance of BISHTA as a trade association and it helps us as a sales tool as we reassure consumers about the credibility of specialist hot tub companies who belong to the association.
“Regrettably, the internet is being used as a shop window for unscrupulous sales of poor quality imported spas and we urge customers to tread carefully. I think when it’s clear we are founder members then you’ve got the customer reassured.
“We always tell customers to make sure they try before they buy and offer them a wet test at our Horsham hot tub showroom.” spn
i FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
F HOME COUNTIES POOLS AND HOT TUBS ( 01403 259755 :
www.poolboy.co.uk
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