Redefining pool experiences: Hobaica family’s 50-year journey in pool industry

by arslan_ahmed | February 1, 2024 4:08 pm

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By Jason Cramp

Nestled in the heart of Easton, Massachusetts, Easton Pool & Spa Inc. stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Hobaica family. Brothers David and Robert Hobaica, second-generation owners, have seamlessly woven innovation into the fabric of a business that began more than 50 years ago under the visionary leadership of their father, Henry.

In the pool industry, where trends ebb and flow, Easton Pool & Spa has emerged as a distinguished name. It is a far cry from the modest beginnings in 1972 when Henry set out to transform the backyard recreation landscape.

His journey into the world of pools began in the late 1950s, but it was not until the 1990s, after acquiring a residence in Florida with a small swimming pool, that the foundation for a business concept took root. Intrigued by the lower maintenance and operating costs of smaller pools without sacrificing the quintessential allure of a traditional counterpart, Henry dreamt of bringing this concept back north. As a result, the blueprint for what would later evolve into a widely embraced trend—the precast plunge pool—was conceived.

Fast forward to the present, and the Hobaica brothers have not only upheld their father’s vision but propelled it to new heights. With more than 80 years of collective experience in the industry, David and Robert have fine-tuned the concept of the precast plunge pool, introducing it seamlessly into the Easton Pool & Spa business model. Enter Plunge Pool Concepts (PPC), the result of their commitment and innovative spirit.

Also located in Easton, Massachusetts, PPC stands as a prominent manufacturer in the realm of precast plunge pools, guided by the leadership of David, Robert, and company president, Tim Dooling. Their influence is evident in the innovative strides they make, reshaping the future of the pool industry with each plunge. Going beyond the ordinary, PPC’s offerings provide clients with one of the market’s most expansive and customizable precast plunge pools. What distinguishes PPC is not solely the pool’s size but also its patented, modular design which helps ensure a prompt installation process without compromising quality and durability.

Pool & Spa Marketing (PSM): What distinguishes your company and sets it apart from its counterparts in the industry?

David Hobaica (DH): PPC’s plunge pools are more than just a pool; they are an experience. The new way to pool encompasses our mission to develop innovative products that open a wide range of options for those who thought pool ownership was never a possibility. The team that developed the PPC Plunge Pool has more than 100 years of combined experience in building, maintaining, and servicing pools, ensuring the end product would be as user-friendly and efficient as possible for the customer.

Our main goal is to ensure every single one of our authorized dealers is fully trained in the installation of our pools from start to finish to provide a turnkey and worry-free installation experience for the customer. Some plunge pool companies require the homeowner to do a lot of the co-ordination, but at PPC, we want the homeowner to sit back, relax, and enjoy the experience.

PSM: Could you describe the range of services your business provides, including but not limited to spa installation, maintenance, repair, and other related services?

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DH: PPC is a manufacturer and wholesaler of precast concrete plunge pools, where every pool is produced in a climate-controlled environment to ensure consistent quality. In addition to our line of premium precast plunge pools, we also offer a line of lightweight composite fibre pools for those tricky sites that make crane access more challenging. With 16 authorized dealers, PPC is well-equipped to serve homeowners across a wide geographical expanse. Currently servicing the majority of New England, along with areas in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Illinois, and most recently, southwest Florida, our network ensures our innovative plunge pools are accessible to a diverse range of customers and markets. In addition to these two pool brands, we also created a line of custom therapy plunge pools, including hot tubs, cold plunges, and dual hot/cold plunge options. We have the capability to completely customize these spas to fit almost any size requirement. It is our mission to ensure there is a solution for every homeowner and yard restriction.

PSM: Can you provide insights into the experience and expertise your company has in the installation and use of products such as RENOLIT ALKORPLAN, a decorative and watertight polyvinyl chloride (PVC) reinforced membrane or liner for pools, particularly in the context of pool renovation or new installation projects?

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Robert Hobaica: RENOLIT has been one of our premier partners since the beginning of PPC. Our standard “Plunge Plus” package comes finished with RENOLIT ALKORPLAN, and we’ve established a well-trained crew whom we can rely on to then pass along those skills to our authorized dealers at our bi-annual RENOLIT training we host at our headquarters. In addition, we sent our sales engineer to Barcelona, Spain, to be fully trained in the installation of RENOLIT ALKORPLAN in our plunge pools.

PSM: Can you share some information about the types of pools and hot tubs your company specializes in?

RH: We specialize in plunge pools of all kinds. We currently offer precast plunge pools, composite fibre plunge pools, and custom-sized hot tubs/cold plunges. Our goal is to ensure there is a fit for every homeowner’s needs. Our expertise in the pool industry has allowed us to create the most efficient and user-friendly plunge pool possible.

PSM: What recent projects has your shop been actively involved in?

DH: PPC is heading south. We’re actively expanding our operations into southwest Florida. This is the first of many stops in building an authorized dealer network that spreads across the nation, especially in communities with statistically smaller lot sizes. We also signed a licensing deal with The Shaw Group in Halifax, N.S. They have started manufacturing plunge pools using our design and support in more research and development (R&D) of the product. The Shaw Group has started to create an authorized dealer network throughout Atlantic Canada. We are confident this collaboration will continue to grow PPC into more markets of the world.

We also donated a “Plunge Plus” pool to Easton Pool & Spa for its second annual “Plunge Pool Raffle” benefiting local veterans. Easton Pool & Spa partnered with the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center (CIVOC) and raffled off a
2.1- x 4-m (7- x 13-ft) plunge pool, which raised more than $60,000. Supporting our veterans is important to us as at PPC as our dad, Henry, served in the U.S. military.

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PSM: To what extent does your shop handle the pool/spa installation process in-house?

DH: As the manufacturer of the products, we do not install the pools. Our authorized dealers are fully trained and offer turnkey installation services for our pools. We try to make the installation process as smooth as possible for our authorized dealers by offering frequent training classes and on-site assistance through our sales engineer whenever needed.

PSM: How has your business evolved and adapted since its inception, and how has technology influenced your operations, encompassing aspects from design and planning to maintenance and customer communication?

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DH: Our business has completely transformed and grown since its inception in 2020. PPC was originally Plunge Pools by Easton, which was a smaller division of Easton Pool & Spa that produced and installed plunge pools. After realizing the growth potential and unmet needs of some homeowners, we decided to take it to the next level. In 2021, we launched Plunge Plus and separated it from the Easton Pool & Spa company. Easton Pool & Spa then became the first authorized dealer of “Plunge Plus” pools. In 2022, we expanded our network of authorized dealers. In 2023, we launched PPC, the parent company to “Plunge Plus,” alongside the launch of “Quantum Composite Plunge Pools” and “Wellness Therapy Plunge Pools.” In only three years since inception, we have 16 authorized dealers along the eastern seaboard and offer three brands of premium plunge pools.

Technology has been our greatest advantage as we continue to create and market our innovative product portfolio in this new and growing category of the pool industry. Being an early entrant, we have been able to use social media to organically spread our message and reach a large audience, educating the world on the benefits of a plunge pool.

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PSM: What is the key factor in maintaining long-term success within the industry?

RH: The key factor in maintaining long-term success for us is to continue providing high-quality products. It is our mission to continue to provide top-notch training to our authorized dealers which, in turn, results in customers never having to worry. Dealer support and customer service are key facets in ensuring the longevity of our brand and product portfolio. Offering a range of high-quality products with outstanding customer service from every angle is at the core of our strategy for success.

PSM: Apart from the hurdles the pandemic presented, could you describe one of the notable challenges your company has encountered and the strategies you implemented to surmount it?

RH: Meeting the demand for our product has been our biggest challenge to date. Our pools have gained organic traction across the country very quickly, and many areas do not yet have an authorized dealer to support those interested parties. Turning away customers is never something a business is happy to do, so we’re working hard to build our network of authorized dealers to service as many areas as possible.

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/business/redefining-pool-experiences-hobaica-familys-50-year-journey-in-pool-industry/

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