#319 Pool Nation Podcast - Best of Episode Customer Profitability, and Route Efficiency

Episode # 319 Pool Nation Podcast. What if your highest-paying pool account is earning you less than one that pays a fraction of the price? In this best-of Pool Nation Podcast episode, we revisit the hidden costs that can quietly drain a pool service business’s profits.

Edgar De Jesus, John “JJ Flawless,” and Zac discuss pool route efficiency, drive time, customer profitability, and why adding more accounts doesn’t always mean building a better business. Hear how one $500-a-month account earned less than a $150 account once time, chemicals, and service demands entered the picture.

We also revisit a conversation with 2023 Pool Nation Hall of Fame inductees Terry Arko and Steve Barnes about education, pool safety, and recognizing the people who have shaped the swimming pool industry—including the legacy of Bob Lowry.

Then Leanne De Jesus, Janie Flawless, and Jeanette “The Pool Girl” Horn share lessons from the 2024 Women’s Summit on leadership, confidence, understanding business financials, and finding your voice.

Whether you’re building your first pool route, managing technicians, or growing an established pool company, these conversations will challenge you to think differently about your time, your customers, and your business.

Topics Covered

• Pool service business profitability

• Pool route planning and optimization

• Drive time and operating costs

• Customer account profitability

• Pool technician pay and retention

• Pool repair opportunities and productivity

• Pool Nation Hall of Fame

• Terry Arko, Steve Barnes, and Bob Lowry

• Women in the swimming pool industry

• Leadership, confidence, and customer communication

• Pool Nation Women’s Summit

Episode Timeline

Approximate timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Pool Nation Best Of 01:00 Terry Arko and Steve Barnes and the Hall of Fame 12:00 Steve Barnes on education and pool safety 15:00 Remembering Bob Lowry 18:00 Behind the scenes of Pool Nation Awards planning 26:00 Business efficiency and partner acknowledgments 34:00 Pool route planning and the cost of growing too fast 40:00 The $500 account that earned less than a $150 account 43:00 Reviewing routes and reducing drive time 46:00 Repair opportunities and the value of minutes saved 48:00 Technician pay, retention, and route efficiency 51:00 Sponsor Break 56:00 Women in the pool industry and the 2024 Women’s Summit 1:09:00 Building community through the Women’s Summit 1:16:00 Authenticity, confidence, and finding your voice 1:21:00 Customer conversations and understanding your numbers 1:24:00 Personality styles and better communication 1:28:00 Productivity and accountability 1:29:00 Closing and Pool Nation resources

Sponsors

A huge thank-you to our visionary partners for supporting Pool Nation and helping us bring education, business conversations, and community to swimming pool professionals:

• SPPA BlueRay XL AquaStar Pool Products Natural Chemistry Raypak Heritage Pool Supply Hayward Pool Products Encore Brands Poolside Tech Pool Brain Nidec OnCore Filtration

Thank you also to Encore Coatings, featuring KOOL for pools, and U.S. Motors, featuring the Neptune variable-speed motor, for supporting this episode.

Follow Pool Nation for more conversations about growing your pool business, and share this episode with a pool pro who could use a more profitable, productive workday.

This best-of episode includes previously recorded conversations. Event announcements and dates reflect the original recordings.