Economic Insights for Pool Professionals

What if I told you that the pool industry is sitting on a goldmine of opportunity while simultaneously facing its biggest challenges in decades? In the latest episode of Talking Pools Podcast, host Rudy Stankovich delivers a masterclass in industry economics that every pool professional needs to hear—whether you're a solo operator or managing a fleet of service vehicles.

Through a compelling tale about mentorship and a deep dive into industry data, this episode reveals why some pool pros are thriving while others are barely staying afloat. More importantly, it shows you exactly what separates the winners from the strugglers in today's competitive landscape.

The Power of Mentorship: Lessons from Chlorine Carl

The episode opens with a delightful parable about Chlorine Carl, a seasoned pool pro who reluctantly mentors a rookie named Benny. This story isn't just entertainment—it's a blueprint for industry growth that most professionals are ignoring.

Carl had been in the game so long his left sock had a CPO certification. He could eyeball a green pool and tell you the pH, the calcium hardness, and what the homeowner had for breakfast.

— Rudy Stankovich, Talking Pools Podcast

The transformation that occurs when Carl starts teaching Benny reveals a fundamental truth about the pool industry: knowledge hoarding is killing our growth potential. When Carl finally embraces his role as a mentor, something remarkable happens—he doesn't just build Benny's business; he elevates his own.

By helping Benny, he didn't just build someone else's business. He leveled up his own. He had more time, more referrals, and more respect in the community.

— Rudy Stankovich, Talking Pools Podcast

This isn't just feel-good storytelling. It's economics in action. When experienced professionals mentor newcomers, they create a network effect that benefits everyone—more skilled technicians mean better service quality, which elevates the entire industry's reputation and pricing power.

The Economic Reality: Margin Squeeze and Market Pressure

Stankovich doesn't sugarcoat the current economic climate. Drawing from his analysis of industry reports, he paints a picture of an industry caught between rising costs and competitive pressure—what economists call a classic margin squeeze.

What we're looking at is a textbook case of fragmented industry dealing with scarcity, rising costs, and labor constraints. Claring costs are up. Material delays are reoccurring. Margins tighter than last year's swim trunks.

— Rudy Stankovich, Talking Pools Podcast

The data reveals that while revenue numbers might look impressive on paper, profit margins tell a different story. This economic pressure isn't just a temporary blip—it's a fundamental shift that requires strategic adaptation.

Labor costs present another significant challenge. The industry isn't seeing wage increases due to improved productivity; companies are simply paying more for the same work output. This creates a double burden: higher costs with no efficiency gains, compounded by the difficulty of finding qualified technicians in the first place.

The Data Gap: Flying Blind in a Numbers-Driven World

One of the most striking insights from the episode concerns how little data-driven decision making occurs in the pool industry. While other service sectors use sophisticated forecasting models based on weather patterns, consumer behavior, and market sentiment, pool professionals often operate on intuition alone.

Stankovich points out a critical blind spot: most industry surveys only capture data from the most technologically advanced segment of the market. This creates a distorted view of the industry's actual health and challenges.

If you're only surveying the tech forward folks already using your app, you're not reporting on the industry. You're reporting on your customers.

— Rudy Stankovich, Talking Pools Podcast

This data gap means that many pool professionals are making crucial business decisions without understanding broader market trends, competitive positioning, or even their own operational efficiency metrics.

The Sustainability Blind Spot: A Regulatory Reckoning Coming

Perhaps the most urgent warning in the episode concerns the industry's apparent indifference to sustainability trends. While other sectors are proactively adopting green practices, the pool industry seems largely oblivious to the environmental accountability wave sweeping through regulations and consumer preferences.

Stankovich warns that this oversight could prove costly. Energy audits, water reclamation incentives, and green chemical certifications aren't just possibilities—they're inevitable regulatory requirements. The question isn't whether these changes will come, but whether pool professionals will be prepared when they do.

This represents a significant business opportunity for forward-thinking operators. Early adoption of sustainable practices could provide competitive advantages and position businesses as industry leaders rather than regulatory laggards.

Vertical Integration: The Path to Disruption-Proof Business

The episode's most strategic insight concerns the threat of industry disruption. Equipment manufacturers are increasingly selling directly to consumers, bypassing traditional service providers. This trend threatens pool professionals who compete primarily on price rather than value.

The solution? Vertical integration and value creation that can't be easily replicated. This means controlling more of the customer experience—from product sourcing to service delivery to technician education. It also means developing expertise and service capabilities that manufacturers can't duplicate through direct sales.

Companies that fail to differentiate themselves through superior service and expertise risk being reduced to low-margin commodity providers in a race-to-the-bottom pricing war.

Training Revolution: From Trial-and-Error to Systematic Development

The episode reveals a stark contrast between traditional training methods and what successful companies are implementing today. The old model of "shadowing and trial by error" is giving way to documented processes, standard operating procedures, and structured learning programs.

Veterans who are thriving in the current market share several characteristics: they've built comprehensive documentation, established clear SOPs, and created systematic training programs rather than relying on informal knowledge transfer.

This systematic approach to training isn't just about reducing callbacks or improving service quality—it's about creating scalable business models that don't depend entirely on the owner's personal expertise and availability.

Actionable Strategies for Pool Professionals

The episode provides several concrete steps that pool professionals can take immediately:

• Build Your Own Metrics: Start tracking service calls, callback rates, and customer satisfaction data. Use this information to identify patterns and improve operations systematically.
• Invest in Documentation: Create written procedures for common tasks and service scenarios. This reduces training time and ensures consistent service quality.
• Embrace Mentoring: Actively seek opportunities to teach and guide newcomers. This creates network effects that benefit your entire business ecosystem.
• Prepare for Green Regulations: Research sustainable practices and equipment options before they become mandatory requirements.
• Focus on Value Creation: Develop services and expertise that can't be easily replicated by equipment manufacturers or automated systems.

The Road Ahead: Opportunity Disguised as Challenge

Despite the challenges outlined in the episode, Stankovich's analysis reveals significant opportunities for pool professionals willing to adapt and evolve. The current market disruption is creating space for differentiated service providers who can deliver superior value.

The companies that will thrive in the coming years are those that view current challenges as catalysts for improvement rather than obstacles to survival. By embracing systematic training, data-driven decision making, and proactive mentoring, pool professionals can build businesses that are not just surviving but thriving in the new economic reality.

The episode makes clear that the pool industry stands at a crossroads. The path forward requires leaving behind outdated practices and embracing a more professional, systematic approach to business operations. For those willing to make this transition, the rewards promise to be substantial—not just in terms of financial success, but in building a more sustainable and respected industry for everyone involved.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Lock It Friday
• 02:30 The Tale of Chlorine Carl and Mentorship
• 08:45 Industry News Roundup
• 12:20 Economic Analysis: The Economist's Perspective
• 18:10 Data and Statistics: What the Numbers Really Mean
• 23:30 Industry Veteran Insights: Boots on the Ground Reality