www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
Pool&SpaIndustry APR 2011 SPN
27 AN ISLAND FAMILY BUSINESS
Isle of Wight SPATA and BISHTA member R W Eccott & Sons run a thriving business which has diversified dramatically recently from its roots as just a pool builder to be a real industry ‘all rounder’
Although founder Roy Eccott and his wife are still directors, the thriving island business is run by sons Martin and Vincent and Roy’s brother-in-law John who continues to build a diverse pool and spa business with a new retail showroom and which now offers skills as diverse as pool construction, maintenance and repair through to hot tub installations, saunas, steam and wet rooms. It’s a business which is proud of its SPATA membership.
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Originally, Eccott & Sons was a swimming pool company but like so many specialist businesses has diversified.
“Now though, we are a much more diverse business, swimming pool constructors, maintenance, repairs and service calls. We install, maintain and service hot tubs and, if we can, assist with non Catalina brands, although it not always the case as there has been a massive increase from hot tubs bought on the web that are not compatible with the UK markets. “We have brought in saunas, both traditional and new infrared options and include steam and wet room installation something which is very popular with local hotels and holiday centres. “We have been lucky to seal contracts with our local council, holiday parks and hotels which are year round and help through the lull in the winter period, when outside pools have been closed for the season. Holiday rental accommodation on the island is very busy from May through to September for regular servicing, which keeps one technician busy throughout the week. This year Eccott have two new pool constructions costing £49,000 and £125,000 confirmed with another £125,000 job in the pipeline. Hot tubs are also strong favourites with customers. “We joined forces with Catalina hot tubs, which has broadened our sales,” he adds. “This year is a big one for us,” adds Martin. “We have increased our work force from four full time staff to six. 2011 is also the year the NatWest Island Games are being held on the Isle of Wight so we are looking forward to a large rental prospect for saunas, with the benefit of being able to sell on at reduced rates. These will only get used for 10 to 11 days maximum, and
he phrase family business could have been invented for the Eccott family on the Isle of Wight.
The Eccott family’s move
into a new showroom and shop was part of a complete overhaul for the Isle of Wight business
“It’s essential that companies like ours are kept in touch with new legislation, industry developments and news”
with the recession people are always looking for a bargain.
“When we moved into our new showroom and shop, we overhauled our company to include email, electronic payments, increasing stock levels, more gifts and toys – of which we only kept a few and were mainly seasonal but we are now selling year round.
A major development this year will be the launch of the business first website,
www.isleofwightpools.co.uk, which is being set up now and should be ready for April ready for the summer season.
“SPATA and BISHTA have always been important for us. Originally the support we got from SPATA was always of the highest quality and more recently BISHTA has helped us as well. It’s essential that companies like ours are kept in touch with new legislation, industry developments and news and that’s the role both organisations play – they act as a commerce for the specialist pool builders.” Roy Eccott first began as a plasterer’s apprentice in 1959 and by 1969 he had his own pool company.
Roy has been privileged enough to work on some famous pools, in his 50 plus years in the trade. The aftermath of wartime austerity was over, and 60s affluence and the decadence associated with new celebrities was just taking off.
“The marble lining to pools was a new thing on the market,” said Roy. “There was an agent who looked after all the stars, and he rang me one day and asked if I’d take the swimming pool work on. I said ‘yes’, but went home and said to the wife ‘I’ll never hear from him again,’ but come Monday morning, the agent rang back.” The first on his list was George Harrison, who wanted a pool on an estate at Esher in Surrey when he’d just met Pattie Boyd, who he later married. And that was that.”
Word of Roy’s designs got round, and he notched up a significant number of household names, John Lennon following the example of his fellow Beatle and Wendy Craig was his most recent client on the mainland. “I’ll sit down one day and write a book about them all.” In the early 70s Roy installed a pool at the home of Paddington Bear author, Michael Bond – not in the shape of a bear though, just rectangular!
Shortly afterwards the Eccott family moved to the island, although Roy had already built pools for customers here, and some he still services for subsequent owners to this day.
i FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
F R W ECCOTT & SONS ( 01983 401800 :
www.isleofwightpools.co.uk
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