54 “The hot tub industry is an easy-to-enter and
SPN JUN 2012 TradingUpHotTubs
easy-to-leave industry. So in the good times there were too many products and too many brands. Sales were good but perhaps too many sales were at the low end of the market. The good news from this is that consumers who made cheaper buys now have a real enthusiasm and love for hot tubs. Four or five years later those purchases give us a great opportunity to go and sell up and get people to be aware of the huge recent technological developments in the hot tub market.” Dealers are aware that customers are better
informed and demanding and need to be re- assured that for the level of expenditure they are getting the benefits of the latest technology. The therapeutic benefits of jets, more
powerful, more strategically placed and now even more economical with water, was and still is the great development which allows models to fit not only a purchaser’s body size and shape but also their individual requirement for where the jets should be placed. Alongside this is also a developing and high
quality spa maintenance business as hot tub owners look to take special care of their investment. The units are feats of engineering and need the quality service and maintenance akin to expensive cars. Dealers looking to sell an upgrade have no
shortage of benefits to highlight. The uneconomic hot tub of the late 1990’s
which compared to today’s models might seem something of a basic, functional product. In its place is a more efficient, more reliable, well insulated, energy efficient unit which represents a sound investment and which will last for years and years when it is serviced and maintained as it should be. Kevin Sanger from Elite Spas in Somerset says; “It is amazing
Investment in technology has led Elite to be
certain about their hot tubs
how much people buying a hot tub know now. They are incredibly well versed in what’s on the market but also what the options are in terms of technical details.” A recent survey found that
someone who owns a hot tub is four times more likely to renew and get a new model than make the first decision to buy one. In other words once people have a hot tub then they’ll
Marquis Spas have put much of its focus on improvements to therapeutic benefits of hot tubs
“A recent survey found that someone who owns a hot tub is four times more likely to
renew and get a new model than make the first decision to buy one”
keep it – and upgrade it looking for more and more tempting accessories and technology. Alongside this, the technology improvements
have led manufacturers and distributors to be more confident about the warranties they offer customers. Elite Hot Tubs are agents for the Texas based
Sunbelt Spas and their business has blossomed on the back of innovation and quality. Here again investment in technology has led Elite to be certain about their hot tubs and the company offers five year parts warranty against electrical or plumbing defects and a 25 year full structural warranty on all products. Isobel Rickards Sanger of Elite adds: “Spas
have come a long way since we have been in the industry. We now have energy efficient electronics, eco friendly manufacturing processing, frog feeder systems to reduce the daily chemical maintenance, high quality, reliable ozonators, and jets which use a lot less water for therapy (we have just had some designed especially for Sunbelt to maximise water therapy). But we feel the best innovation has come in the cabinet technology, from old redwood cedar cabinets to state of the art long fibre moulded cabinets which will last 25 years plus with zero maintenance. So the choice for the educated customer is vast.
Sunbelt Spas, use technology to make their hot tubs custom built. Every seating arrangement is carefully thought out so each
individual has their own uncrowded space from head to toe. Jet types and placement are carefully considered to give each seat its own unique ‘feel’ and range of massage sensations. “We expect people to move around in our
spas, sampling each seat and savouring the different massages from neck and shoulders, to back and thighs, calves, ankles and feet. Sunbelt Spas are designed to be low-maintenance as well as high-pleasure. That low maintenance includes everything from temperature settings to filter cycles, to the ozone generator and front-access filter system that keeps your spa water clean and clear.” Marquis Spas has put much of its focus on
the therapeutic benefits of hot tubs, with the US makers at first shying away from ‘bolt-on extras’ that have turned some spas into ‘entertainment zones’. The company retains that philosophy, focusing
on water quality and therapy but it has introduced light and sound to its products as optional extras. Marquis Spas, exclusively distributed in the UK
by Golden Coast, has replaced its ‘Reward’ model with the ‘Wish’ spa which incorporates new design features, with a low-level jet to provide lower body massage and a multi-jetted ‘Captain’s’ chair that offers a seating position with unparalleled hydrotherapy. Marquis can also provide the ultimate with its
‘Show’ hot tub that provides those wanting entertainment as they relax. The ‘Show’ incorporates ‘one-touch’ pop-up directional stereo sound, a video screen that is stored in and
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