Eagles Pool Services: A growing pool business tackling the big projects

by brittney_cutler_2 | December 15, 2021 9:49 am

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By Brittney Cutler

Eagles Pool Services first opened its doors in 2007 and has slowly evolved into a thriving business. With eight more employees jumping into the industry over time, the company has fully committed to providing installation and service for pools, spas, and hot tubs.

Pool & Spa Marketing recently spoke with Cory Eagles, owner of Eagles Pool Services in Riverview, N.B., to learn more about the shop’s culture, some recent projects they have been working on, how the industry has been affected by the pandemic, and what he sees for the future of the business.

Pool & Spa Marketing (PSM): What makes your company unique?

Cory Eagles (CE): The one thing I seem to do differently from other companies is, I usually meet up with the customers at their houses, do site checks, as well as talk with the customers from the start. So, we tend to be more personable with our customers. We’re more project co-ordinators than just pool installers. We work well with subcontractors and help to co-ordinate the jobs. We seem to have the go-to people who work well with us.

PSM: How large is your shop?

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CE: Our retail space is about 78.97 m² (850 sf), which is sort of a small space. We also have a personal garage space where we keep overstock and those sorts of things. Our service guys are usually the ones who start there in the morning, and two of our employees run the showroom.

PSM: What type of pools and hot tubs do you primarily install?

CE: We primarily install vinyl-liner inground pools, as well as some fibreglass, and for spas we install Jacuzzi hot tubs.

PSM: Does your shop perform renovation work?

CE: Yes, we usually get around one or two renovations a year. We’re currently redoing one right now, and it’s probably around a 40- to 50-year-old pool that we’re working on. We’re digging in around the sides, putting some new drainage in, and some backfill.

PSM: What type of projects have you been working on recently?

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CE: This past summer, we’ve been doing quite a bit. We also do some commercial work, and we’ve got a couple of pools for a campground. Not so much this year, but last year we did a hotel pool for the Hilton. Most recently, we’re just finishing up some stuff right now, so our focus is mostly inground vinyl pools this year.

PSM: How much of the pool installation process is handled in-house?

CE: A good majority of it. We sub out the digs and all the finished concrete work, we do the grout mix for the pool bottoms, and we usually sub out the landscaping.

PSM: What equipment does your company currently use to complete projects?

CE: We have a one-ton dump truck, three vans, and our own trailer for hauling. As far as other equipment, we have pressure testers, leak detectors, and basically any other pool equipment we might need, we already have to help with pool and spa projects.

PSM: What does your planning and design process involve?

CE: We first start with meeting up with the customer and looking at the backyard. We discuss ideas with the customer to get a good place to start. Next, we use the pool studio to put in a little bit of our artistic ability to map out exactly what and where the customer wants for their pool or hot tub installation.

PSM: How is technology changing the business?

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CE: I think technology is changing the business quite a bit. But I find with our area, it’s a little slow to catch on with some of the technology, so we try to keep up with it as much as possible. I think just about everybody here is using variable speed pumps and automation is becoming more frequent, rigid plumbing, that sort of thing. I think it’s definitely important, something you have to work towards to keep on top of, especially with this kind of business.

PSM: What is the key to staying successful in this industry?

CE: I would definitely say perseverance. Just keep at it, have a good business name, and have some good contacts to use them when you need them the most.

PSM: What are the future plans for your business?

CE: When I first started this business, I was asked what would be expected of the business in the future. Not that this will be anywhere in the near future, but possibly having alternate locations and spreading out in the country.

PSM: How has COVID-19 affected your business operations? How has the shop coped through the various stages of the lockdowns?

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CE: Extremely busy. A lot of double-, triple-checking orders and making sure we have everything we need, making sure everything is ordered properly, and making sure everything is there. We may have had to switch some things around a little bit, kind of go from job to job to work with what you’ve got, as well as trying to keep the customers in the loop of what is going on—all while trying to keep everyone happy, all at the same time. The workload has probably tripled since the pandemic first started. Probably one of the hardest things to deal with was staffing. All my guys are great and work efficiently, but it’s really hard to find people to add to that.

PSM: How has the shop adapted to the surge in homeowners looking to create a backyard staycation? What is being done differently now in terms of shop operations to handle the increased number of projects compared
to pre-pandemic?

CE: One thing we did recently, partially due to lack of supply and such, but we recently stopped installing above-ground pools, just to give us some more time to deal with the bigger projects we have, such as the inground pools and bigger jobs.

 

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/features/eagles-pool-services-a-growing-pool-business-tackling-the-big-projects/

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