Swim Spa Offerings In Todays Hot Tub Market - An Industry Review

First introduced to the UK some ten years ago, swim spas were initially slow starters. But with modern day life attracting a seemingly endless obsession with healthy lifestyles, swim spas are at last catching on with the Great British public.

Despite the gloomy economic challenges, swim spas are bucking the trend and enjoying an increased market share. Promising sales figures show the sector is gathering pace, not quite a deluge but a steady counter flow.

"2009 has seen a substantial increase in the sales of swim spas" confirms Stephen Crabb of Catalina Spas, "this is the best year ever, we could never have predicted the current level of sales". Stephen believes the economic downturn has come with a silver lining for increased swim spa sales that are selling for their cost saving appeal.

"A swim spa costs substantially less than installing a pool and due to its compact size, lends itself easily and inexpensively to be enclosed. Running costs are also likely to be substantially less than a pool and the customer has a greater choice, benefiting from more features and functions".

Isobel Rickards Sanger of Elite Spas agrees, "since entering the pool and spa industry in 2001, our swim spa sales have increased dramatically year on year".

SWIM SPA GROWTH

"The current economic climate has not had a significant impact or halted that growth as 2009 has already exceeded our expectations".

Alex Kelmsley of Waterstream UK is also enjoying increased sales, "the swim spa market in the UK is still quite niche although I see it starting to encroach into the swimming pool market as people look for value for money and a product they do not have to leave in their house when they move. Interest is picking up strongly particularly with people looking to put them inside cabins".

Anthony Schneikert of Maxx Spas UK says the increased amount of product choice has been fundamental in raising awareness of the all singing all dancing product. As more brands have decided to manufacture a swim spa, this has created a market place which previously did not exist".



"We are finding some dealerships are still selling swim spas at a good rate, due to end users wanting to invest the money they have into the home property and its only one of the guaranteed investments in today's shaky markets".

Stephen Weller of Master Spas Europe says the high number of swim spa players has resulted in a collapse in not just consumer prices but also in trade margins. "Swim spas and fitness pools were one of the best kept secrets by way of high profit sales in the UK market for ten years but the market has now become flooded over the last three years".



"The market is still evolving around price and Internet promises, at the moment with tank and jet units, the market is swamped by Chinese copies and unaccountable sellers of products similar looking and performing to North American models".

"It is now an over crowded niche market to be avoided by the non specialist and you should only display if you have a genuine quality product with points of difference".

Anthony Schneikert agrees, "as swim spas go, the Internet has been a mecca for Chinese swim spas falsely branded as US manufactured products damaging the market as a whole through false advertising and falsely leading on end users. On the other hand, the Internet has provided more awareness for the swim spa market to grow. By adding more information on products, this has helped the consumer understand more about the product and possibly leads them to find a local dealer so that they can wet test a swim spa".

"Swim spas are however all different once you are inside one swimming, therefore a wet test on each model is the only way to truly know the right model for you".

SWIM SPA DISPLAYS

Display units are vital to increase swim spa sales advises Don Elkington of Coast Spas. "Swim spas cannot be sold from a brochure, displaying a swim spa is the key to successful sales and further demonstration or wet tests for the consumer will be necessary".

Anthony Schneikert agrees recommending retailers to maximise their swim spa sales by having on display a demonstration model, that can be wet tested. "Many people would not spend £20,000 or more on a car without test driving it, so we believe it is the same with a swim spa. Retailers who do have a swim spa on display will have the edge on their competitors, as the buyer will always want to test if the swim spa is appropriate for them, and if it is the type of product they can see themselves using in the future".

Stephen Crabb agrees that the key to maximising swim spa sales is display. "The Internet is helpful in locating or sourcing the various swim spa options but I question if many or any are sold online. Display is vital, although they can be sold off the page there is nothing to beat the actual experience of test driving the swim spa".

SWIM SPA ADVANCES

Originally extended hot tubs offering just swimming against a fast flowing blast of water, the latest swim spa models now offer everything from jogging to rowing and only stop at making the tea! wellness is the number one factor for swim spa customers who are looking to increase their exercise by having fun doing it.

Although there are many different swim spa lengths, there is one common thread in all swim spas and that is the actual swim area between nine and ten feet. Water temperature for swimming varies between 85F -104F therefore if the swim spa is all in one the difficulty for the consumer is adjusting the temperature for their different usages.

There are swim spas that have separated the hot tub from the swimming side and they have separate heaters. These offer a much better design for sure and are much less expensive for the consumer to maintain when it comes to heating the spa.

The average running cost for a swim spa is put at about £15 weekly based on daily use of 40 minutes depending on outside temperatures. The upkeep of a swim spa is no different to a hot tub, the water must be kept clean and balanced at all times and water level should be kept topped up so that optimum water flow and filtration is achieved.

Stephen Crabb warns about close attention to details. "Do not be fooled by price, it is important that as the name suggests the swim part of the spa needs to perform. If the whole thing runs on 13 amps that is why it is probably cheap, if you want performance you need power. Basic comparison criteria should include price, speed of installations, safety, running costs, convenience, all year round use, features, functions and health benefits".

"Cranes are usually the best option for installation and surprisingly inexpensive when compared to the labour involved with moving a swim spa around!".

Catalina Spas - Coast Spas - Elite Spas - Maax Spas - Master Spas - Waterstream UK

Article courtesy of Pool & Spa Industry News