Education and Growth: Wayne with Natalie Hood

In an industry where relationships and education drive success, one company is making waves by combining grit, dedication, and a passion for excellence. On this episode of Talking Pools Podcast, host Wayne sits down with Natalie Hood from The Grit Game to explore how this relatively new manufacturer representative firm is transforming the pool industry landscape through innovative education programs and unwavering commitment to their partners.

The Birth of The Grit Game: A Name That Defines Purpose

What's in a name? For The Grit Game, everything. The company's moniker isn't just clever branding—it's a philosophy that permeates every aspect of their business approach. As Natalie Hood explains, the name emerged from a simple but profound conversation between company founders Johnny and Lacey.

Johnny's been in the industry for about almost 20 years now, and he was sitting down one day chatting with Lacey, and they were trying to discuss what they should name the company. And all of a sudden, Lacey said, grit. Do you have grit? And from there, that's kind of where it stemmed off.

— Natalie Hood, Talking Pools Podcast

This concept of "having grit" goes beyond mere determination. It represents the willingness to go above and beyond, to push through challenges, and to deliver exceptional results for both manufacturers and pool professionals. In an industry where technical expertise and relationship-building are paramount, The Grit Game has built its entire culture around this principle.

Explosive Growth in Under Three Years

Perhaps nothing illustrates The Grit Game's success better than their remarkable growth trajectory. Starting as a small team with big ambitions, the company has experienced exponential expansion that speaks to both market demand and their effective business model.

The grit game has not even been around for three years. And I know when, you know, the beginning of this year, I know Johnny had a conversation with Lacey and a few others. And he said, you know, I really want to bring on six new representatives in the United States, possibly Canada. He has hired numerous people each month to include myself.

— Natalie Hood, Talking Pools Podcast

The numbers tell an impressive story: from a handful of people to close to 30 representatives and support staff, expanding across multiple territories including Florida, Midwest, Northeast, West, South Central, Southeast, and Canada. This growth isn't just about quantity—it's about strategic expansion that ensures comprehensive coverage and localized expertise.

What makes this growth even more remarkable is the quality of service they've maintained throughout the expansion. Their representatives are on the road six out of seven days, conducting countertop displays, table days, and building relationships with customers and manufacturers alike.

Revolutionizing Education in the Pool Industry

One of The Grit Game's most significant contributions to the pool industry lies in their educational initiatives. Under Natalie Hood's guidance, the company has developed a comprehensive education program that addresses a critical need in the industry—accessible, quality training for pool professionals.

The education program currently features five classes covering various manufacturer products, including API and LevelSmart. What sets these courses apart isn't just their content quality, but their accessibility. All courses are available completely free of charge on The Grit Game's website under the education certifications section.

And what's really cool is they're all free. Completely free education, right? And so, you can access the course for about 30 minutes or so. You go through and you can also receive Grit Game CEUs, which is pretty cool.

— Natalie Hood, Talking Pools Podcast

This educational approach serves multiple purposes. It provides valuable training for pool professionals, helps manufacturers ensure their products are properly understood and utilized, and establishes The Grit Game as a thought leader in the industry. The company is also working toward offering accredited continuing education units (CEUs), which would further enhance the value of their educational offerings.

The Representative Model: Expertise Across All Partners

The Grit Game operates on a unique representative model that ensures comprehensive coverage and expertise. Rather than limiting representatives to specific product lines, the company trains all their reps to be knowledgeable about every manufacturer they represent.

This approach offers several advantages for customers and partners. Pool professionals can work with a single point of contact who can address questions about multiple product lines, streamlining communication and service delivery. It also means that regardless of which representative a customer encounters—whether at a trade show or during a local visit—they'll receive knowledgeable assistance.

The company's website features an intuitive system where customers can select their territory and find both the manufacturers represented in their area and the specific representatives covering their region. This transparency and accessibility reflect The Grit Game's commitment to making it easy for customers to get the support they need.

Strategic Partnerships and International Expansion

The Grit Game's growth isn't limited to adding representatives—they're also continuously expanding their manufacturer partnerships. Recent additions include Isari, a tile company based in Spain that offers an impressive collection including gold options and sparkling designs.

This international partnership represents more than just product diversification; it signals The Grit Game's ambition to become a global player in the pool industry. By partnering with European manufacturers while maintaining strong relationships with domestic companies, they're positioning themselves to serve the evolving needs of the North American market.

The company's partnership approach emphasizes deep relationships rather than surface-level representation. As Natalie notes, the team makes it a point to truly understand each manufacturer's products, enabling them to provide meaningful support and education to customers.

The Power of Industry Experience and Relationships

Success in the pool industry often comes down to relationships and experience, and The Grit Game benefits from both. Natalie Hood's background illustrates the depth of experience within the organization—from her early days as a competitive swimmer training for the Olympics to her work as a water safety instructor, lifeguard, and eventually her involvement with CPO certification programs.

You know, as you know, I started out as a swimmer since I was age six. I started out for the Olympics. I was a water safety instructor. I was a lifeguard... it's been really fun learning this side, right? The manufacturing side. Working with products.

— Natalie Hood, Talking Pools Podcast

This diverse background brings valuable perspective to The Grit Game's operations. Having experience across multiple aspects of the pool industry—from competitive swimming to safety instruction to certification programs—provides insights that benefit both manufacturers and customers.

Looking Forward: The Future of Pool Industry Representation

As The Grit Game continues to grow and evolve, they're setting new standards for what manufacturer representation can look like in the pool industry. Their combination of extensive territorial coverage, comprehensive product knowledge, free education programs, and genuine commitment to going above and beyond creates a model that other companies will likely study and attempt to replicate.

The pool industry, while specialized, is relatively small, which makes relationships and reputation even more critical. The Grit Game's rapid growth and positive reception suggest they've identified and filled a real need in the marketplace—for manufacturer representation that goes beyond traditional sales to include education, support, and genuine partnership.

Their plans for continued expansion, both in terms of representatives and manufacturer partnerships, position them well for the future. As the pool industry continues to evolve with new technologies, changing consumer expectations, and increasing emphasis on education and professionalism, companies like The Grit Game that prioritize these elements are likely to thrive.

For pool professionals looking to stay current with industry developments, access quality education, and work with representatives who truly understand their challenges, The Grit Game represents a new model of manufacturer representation—one built on the simple but powerful principle of having the grit to go above and beyond in everything they do.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
• 05:30 Natalie's Background and Role at The Grit Game
• 12:15 The Origin Story Behind The Grit Game Name
• 18:45 Free Education Programs and CEU Offerings
• 25:20 Representative Model and Territory Coverage
• 32:10 Company Growth and Future Expansion Plans
• 38:45 Manufacturer Partnerships and International Reach