Smurf Blue Pools to Six-Figure Contracts: Navigating the Highs and Lows of Pool Service

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, Wayne and Steve explore the concept of "local summers" or "False Fall," where locals close their pools on Labor Day regardless of the temperature. Steve discusses the intricacies of securing contracts with corporate properties and governmental agencies, even quoting a client hundreds of thousands of dollars for six-figure pool service contracts, a process that took him two days to complete. He notes that 90% of residential pool service companies operate on handshakes rather than contracts. Wayne questions whether contracts or handshakes are easier to manage, leading to a discussion about the differing dynamics between working with corporations versus residential clients and the challenges of handling contracted and uncontracted accounts.

Steve also shares a story about people not reading instructions, highlighted by the no-call/no-show attendees for his CPO classes who claimed they "didn't get the memo." He recounts a humorous incident where a customer turned her pool "Smurf blue" and blamed him for the mishap. Wayne adds his perspective, sharing experiences from his 31 years with a test kit company, emphasizing that even though the instructions were written at a third-grade level, many people still struggled to follow them correctly. This episode dives into the nuances of business relationships, client interactions, and the challenges pool professionals face when customers don’t follow instructions.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 11:03 Discussion Continues
• 22:06 Deep Dive
• 33:09 Key Insights