The new websites are, www.yourpool.co for people looking for information about buying or owning a swimming pool, www.yourspa.co for people interesting in hot tubs and spas and www.yoursauna.co for those interested in finding out more about saunas and steam rooms.

The websites include articles written by reputable suppliers, engineers and retailers and also feature a contact list of trusted suppliers across the UK. The sites are designed to become a one stop shop and the authoritative source for information, advice, guidance and hints and tips from those who know the facts in the industry.

All three websites also offer the facility for consumers to ask questions if they can’t find the answers they are looking for on the sites as well as request quotes for projects. The quote facility is designed to collect information on project specifications, Golden Coast will then pair the customer with a local retailer who can then provide a quote for the job, based on the information provided through the website.

Golden Coast has been researching and developing the concept of the consumer websites for nearly two years. The company launched the first of its consumer websites, www.yourpool.co in September 2011. By December the site has already generated in excess of 8,000 page views and includes a selection of articles from more than 20 different swimming pool suppliers.

The other two websites launched at the start of December and include more than 40 separate articles and links to suppliers across the UK. The aim will be to continually upload relevant and interesting articles to all of the websites to provide a one stop of resources for all pool, spa and sauna information.

Golden Coast will be looking for even more industry businesses to get involved with the websites to ensure all three sites offer the most comprehensive collection of information on the internet, all in one place. The objective of the sites, says Golden Coasts Managing Director, Jamie Adams is to, “make it as easy as possible for consumers to find out everything they need to know to help making the buying decision easier and better informed.”

The launch of the consumer websites follows the overhaul and relaunch of Golden Coast’s corporate website, www.goldenc.co and its new industry website www.wetleisure.co.

Golden Coast has invested heavily in researching, developing and launching the new suite of websites and online presence. Investing in this area represents a big shift for the family run company, Jamie Adams said, “We have been in the industry for 35 years, and quality is at the heart of everything we do. We spotted a gap in the markets for an authoritative and impartial resource for consumers and decided that we should develop websites in this area to provide factual information and encourage consumers to find their local suppliers.

“In addition to the websites we have also invested in social media and an overhaul of our approach to marketing, which we hope will help us move forward and help us continue to grow in what is undoubtedly a difficult time for the industry.”

Any trade companies interested in being involved with the consumer websites are asked to contact Adam Clark, Sales Manager at Golden Coast on 01271 378100 or adam.clark@goldenc.com

We’ve got some breaking news on that hosepipe story in this newsletter, but what can our wet leisure industry do in a climate like this?

Not only is it raining, but it’s the wrong sort of rain. (Heavy downpours tend to run off dry land; light drizzle is what is needed to restore the groundwater that we rely on, particularly in the South East.)

And the economic forecast is no brighter.

So why isn’t everyone being affected the same way?

The wet leisure industry is large and diverse.

It can be divided up into pools, spas and saunas but there is also a domestic and a commercial sector, a price-conscious middle ground and the top end of our market, plus quite distinct areas and regions across the UK.

Each sector has different strengths and weaknesses and if we know what they are, we can play to our strengths or even diversify into an area that is holding its ground or even growing.

£I Billion pounds worth of pools.

SPATA estimate the UK residential pool market to be worth £500 million per year and the commercial and public sector to be about the same again.

There are an estimated 7,000 commercial pools in the UK. Those commercial pools aren’t covered by the hosepipe ban. Do all your customers who run hotels or health clubs know that?

It’s true that good summers and warm weather prompt impulse purchases of above ground pools and some of those people new to pool ownership will, in time, upgrade to something more expensive.

But high end, luxury pool installations remain steady and constant. A £50,000+ pool isn’t an impulse purchase brought about by a sunny day or two; and it’s probably going to be indoors or under an enclosure anyway.

Have you explored working in the top end of the market in your area? (There are some insights on that here.)

There are almost a quarter of a million families in the UK who know what it’s like to enjoy being able to swim in their own pool at home.

They are not going to give up that pleasure. It is those people who are driving the increasing demand for add-ons that make it more economic and practical to continue using their pool.

They are in the market for cartridge filter systems that save water by never needing to be backwashed; the MultiCyclone that saves energy and water; pool covers and enclosures; heat pumps and solar thermal energy installations.

Do your customers know that you are at the forefront of modern ecological and economical technologies and have the products and support to prove it?

We believe in the pool industry in the UK and we have launched YourPool.co to help inform and grow that market.

We believe that at any time, but especially in tough times, a business needs good planning, good marketing and great selling to stay on top and that’s why we launched WetLeisure.co to give you access to constantly updated advice and tips on all those aspects of your business.

Stop press!

If you are on LinkedIn, then you can join our UK Wet Leisure Industry Group and there is some breaking news about how the hosepipe ban has been interpreted in some areas and possible exemptions for some pool customers.

But what else is happening across the industry?

Spas and hot tubs escape the hosepipe ban.

Hot tubs and spas aren’t covered by the hosepipe ban and are certainly less affected by the weather; for many people the best time to enjoy their hot tub is on a cold and cloudy day.

The economic downturn has certainly had its affect and the hot tub market has become a tougher business.

However, there are some encouraging signs. YourSpa.co , which is our constantly updated consumer guide to hot tubs and spas, more than doubled its traffic last month so there is plenty of interest in this sector of the wet leisure industry.

Swim spas are the closest alternative to a full size swimming pool and they are showing a steady growth.

Accessories that make spas more enjoyable like covers, cover-lifters and spa steps are also showing good business.

The hot tub market in the UK is a highly competitive one so you have to be offering good value by backing up your sales with the best possible service and you have to be letting your customers know that with the best possible marketing. WetLeisure.co carries some marketing articles that will be of particular interest to spa dealers.

Saunas and steam rooms? Surely we are all looking to relax a little?

When we conducted our Wet Leisure Industry Survey last year, the respondents who dealt in saunas were the most relaxed and optimistic group. (Perhaps they are always using their own products?)

Untouched by the weather, the sauna business isn’t even seasonal. Of course the economy has an impact, but the stresses and strains of modern life can make people value quiet relaxation even more.

YourSauna.co has seen a steadily growing amount of traffic and steam showers are such a fantastic product that it is only a matter of time before they really take off.

So does the future look bright?

Economic downturns don’t last forever and droughts break.

Having said that, there are lessons to be learned for all of us.

Issues regarding water conservation, renewable energy, eco-awareness and energy efficiency are going to become more and more important. We need to seek out those products and make sure our customers are aware of them and their benefits.

We live in a business culture where good marketing is a given and only truly smart marketing gives you an edge. Everyone in your business needs to be involved and feel involved in marketing the business in order to see it grow.

We need to be more flexible and more innovative, break bad habits and establish new ones. Perhaps diversification is the way forward; selling spas alongside pools can make perfect sense, surely there are other ways of utilising your customer base and business reputation as well?

Please get yourself registered on WetLeisure.co because all of our Golden Coast customers will automatically have their information displayed on each of our consumer sites; YourPool, YourSpa and YourSauna.

Please visit our new B2B web shop, www.GCTrade.co.uk . it’s free for anyone to browse but in order to place an order you must have an account with us and be given a unique log in. Just use the link above to apply for an account or to contact us.

And please, if you have any thoughts you’d like to share about any issues raised in this newsletter then use the comment box below.

Save 33% on 2 great offers

• Buy 28 (2 boxes) of Swimmer Pool Refresh  and get 14 (1 box) free of charge

• Buy 60 (2 boxes) of Swimmer Spa Refresh and get 30 (1 box) free of charge

To place an order

To place your order, call the sales office on 01271 378100 send us an e-mail at orders@goldenc.com or why not use our new B2B Web Shop GCTrade.co.uk

Why use refresh?

Bathers, young children and rain all introduce waste products into your pool or hot tub water. As these waste compounds build up they become a source of food for bacteria and algae encouraging their growth and making your pool water unhealthy and cloudy. Organic wastes will react with chlorine creating chloramines (combined chlorine) that have an unpleasant pungent odour and are irritating to eyes and nose. Oxidising or shock dosing destroys chloramines and organic wastes helping to keep your pool comfortable for bathers.

It’s so simple, it begs the question – “Why hasn’t someone thought of that before?”

Well, DEL of France has and through Golden Coast, has introduced an innovative solar powered swimming pool cover that once retracted can be moved by just one person out of the way to free up the area around a domestic swimming pool.

High performance

The ‘Moove’O’, as it is known, is a high performance energy saving, solar-powered, automatic pool cover, ideal for either new, existing or renovated pools. It can cover pools between 2.5 and 5 metres wide and 11 metres in length. A manual version is also available.

Solo operation

The clever device needs no guide rails but can be be moved into position or rolled away easily by one person thanks to a its ‘coupled wheel’ design. Made from lacquered, moulded aluminium that will not rust, the unit uses all the quality materials for which DEL covers are renown together with a range of DELs thermo-slats in four colours: white, beige, grey or blue with all but the blue being available in matching end stands.

Added safety is achieved with the use of either a ‘Push Lock’ or ‘Quick Lock’ locking device, both of which secure the cover when in place for additional protection.

10% extra on all Moove’O orders during May

To place an order

To place your order, call the sales office on 01271 378100 send us an e-mail at orders@goldenc.com or why not use our new B2B Web Shop GCTrade.co.uk

In the early hours of Sunday 3 June 2012, Dominic will take to the road on his bicycle and start his journey from Barnstable to Looe in Cornwall. Expecting to arrive at around 9am, Dominic will then have a short rest before getting back in the saddle for the return cycle at 9.30am, this time with around 500 other cyclists including his brother, Jamie, all raising money for North Devon Hospice.

Having previously taken part in the Coast to Coast Challenge, which is an annual charity ride from Looe to Barnstable in aid of North Devon hospice, Dominic decided to add in his own personal challenge so he could also raise money for Devon Air Ambulance.

The total distance Dominic will cover will be around 170 miles and he expects it will take around 15 hours to complete both legs of the journey. Commenting on his forthcoming cycle challenge, Dominic said, “I’ve never covered this kind of distance before, the most I’ve achieved is 100 miles with a Coast- Coast challenge a couple of years ago so I’m really pushing myself with this ride. But that’s why I’m doing it, by challenging myself hopefully I will inspire people to sponsor me for one of the two great charities I’m riding for.”

As well as raising money for the Coast to Coast Challenge’s nominated charity, Dominic is using the first leg of his journey to encourage people to also donate money to the Devon Air Ambulance, a charity that is particularly close to his heart. A couple of years ago Dominic was airlifted off Crow Point by the Devon Air Ambulance after a water skiing accident. Dominic suffered a Whiplash injury, causing temporary parlays and was completely reliant on the air ambulance crews to transfer him to hospital as ambulances couldn’t reach the beach.

Dominic added, “The Devon Air Ambulance crews were amazing and I really wanted to do something to raise money for them by means of a thanks you for what they did for me. I decided that the through the night leg of the cycle challenge would be a great way for me to do something a bit extra and raise money for them, whilst the official Coast to Coast Challenge will enable me to raise money for North Devon Hospice.”

Please visit his Just Giving page to find out more or to make a donation to either of his charities.

After he finishes the event Dominic is looking forward to relaxing in his hot tub, he said, “I have no doubt that after 15 hours in the saddle and 170 mile on the road I’ll be pretty exhausted. The thought of getting home and jumping into my hot tub will certainly keep me going through the difficult stretches.”

What are the facts?

Seven water companies across south and eastern England are introducing hosepipe bans from Thursday, 5 April 2012.

These are:

Anglian Water, which covers much of the east of England (its Hartlepool Water subsidiary is not affected).

Southern Water; which has customers in both Kent and Sussex.

South East Water, which covers areas in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.

Sutton and East Surrey; which operates in east Surrey, and parts of West Sussex, west Kent and south London.

Thames Water, which covers parts of Greater London, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Kent.

Veolia Central, which covers parts of northwest London, Surrey, Beds, Bucks, Herts and Essex.

Veolia South East, which covers southeast Kent.

In these areas, the hosepipe ban means that swimming pools cannot be topped up from a hosepipe although customers can fill or maintain a pool “using a hand-held container filled with water drawn directly from a tap”.

Hot tubs and spas are not covered by the ban and can be filled in the usual way although Swim Spas come into the same category as pools.

There are precise definitions of the legislation that applies to our industry here. As you can see, new pool builds and commercial pools are exempt as are pools having a new liner fitted or undergoing refurbishment.

What are the rumours?

Some water authorities have misunderstood the Act and told people that hot tubs and spas are included in the ban and can’t be filled or topped up either. That isn’t true.

The BSPF are in discussion with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), who agree that it has been miscommunicated and are working to rectify the situation but regrettably the damage has been done.

Of course, this Temporary Use Ban raises the spectre of a Drought Order which would then affect commercial pools but not public bathing facilities, however such an order has only come into force once in the last decade.

So what do we do?

The first thing to do is to make sure that your customers and potential customers know the facts rather than listen to the gossip.

The drought is certainly newsworthy and affects everyone in some way so it’s a situation where some form of PR or a press release is an ideal response, and you will find some tips and advice on how to do that if you follow either of those links.

You should also contact your customers directly and make sure that they know what the situation is, how it will affect them and what you can do to help.

Practical advice and opportunities.

This drought has raised a lot of topics to the fore that we should perhaps have been looking at more closely already.

Saving water and therefore, if your customer is on a metered supply, saving money should be an issue that our industry makes everyone aware of.

There are the obvious benefits of pool covers in saving water from evaporation and limiting chemical and energy use as well. Are all your customers aware of those facts and could any of them benefit from upgrading their pool cover?

There are new products on the market that can save water such as the MultiCylone. Now has to be a great time to promote a product that has such topical advantages. Combining the MultiCylone with a cartridge filter will give your customer one of the most efficient set ups that there is.

We also have an offer on a range of repair products to stop leaks and wastage including the new Swimmer Leak Sealer.

The drought has also prompted a lot of discussion on our WetLeisure forum on LinkedIn and it is interesting to see how this problem has brought up a lot of great ideas on how the industry might move forward.

We face some challenges this year but there are opportunities too. We may have droughts in other years to come but people aren’t going to want to give up their pools or stop aspiring to one, particularly if we have long, hot summers. People love to swim.

Our industry will adapt as it always has and products and practices will change and improve. Even a lack of clouds can have a silver lining.

And speaking of improvements…

We at Golden Coast are pleased to announce the launch of our new B2B Web Shop, www.GCTrade.co.uk

It’s free for anyone to browse but in order to place an order you must have an account with Golden Coast and be given a unique log in by us. Just use the links on the site to apply for an account or to contact us.

So spring is here and summer is on the way. The season begins. Our last newsletter had a checklist of things designed to help you promote your business and make the most of 2012. If you missed that, there is a link to it here.

All the best and if you have any thoughts you’d like to share about any issues raised in this newsletter then please use the comment box below.

Swirl Away II

A new Acrylic Surface Cleaner – A long lasting, silicone based formulae that cleans, shines and protects the spa surface and offers UV protection by reducing the harmful effects of the sun.

Swirl Away

Spa Plumbing Cleaner –  A simple but very effective product to clean away accumulated and unseen deposits of oily grime, micro-organisms, and other foreign matter from inside a spa plumbing system.

A clean deal

Buy 6 bottles of Swirl Away Spa Plumbing Cleaner at your normal trade price and get 6 Swirl Away II, normal SRP £13.26 each + vat  for just £5.83 each

To place an order, call the sales office on 01271 378100 or send us an e-mail here at orders@goldenc.com or why not use our new Web Shop GCTrade.co.uk

All orders are supplied complete with a counter top display for your showroom.

Easy installation

Used as a pre-filter and fitted in-line between a standard pool pump and the main sand or cartridge filter, the MultiCyclone can be installed during the construction of a pool or retro-fitted to an existing system.

Requiring no power to run and having no moving parts to wear out, incoming water to the MultiCyclone passes over a diverter plate and enters multiple hydro cyclones that generate a strong centrifugal effect.

Trapping dirt

As the water swirls, sediment of up to 100 microns in size is spun out and spirals down before being trapped in the sump. At the same time, the cleaned water spirals up and out of the MultiCyclone before passing through the main filter. Captured sediment is then removed simply by opening a valve and flushing it away using just 15 litres of water

Saving water

Capable of saving more than 7,000 liters of valuable water each year, reducing filter maintenance and extending the life of the media, the MultiCylone has to be one of the greatest innovations to be introduced to the Wet Leisure Industry in the past decade.

Order the MultiCyclone here

Watch the MultiCyclone in action here

In addition to the MultiCyclone, we offer a range of products that can be used to help customers save water on either new build or existing pools, including;

Drainage channel              Saves the water splashed out of the pool
Solar covers                        Reduce water loss to evaporation
Leak sealing products      Repair cracks and leaks and keep the water in the pool
Cartridge Filers                  They never need backwashing

For further details or to place an order, call the sales office on 01271 378100 or send us an e-mail here at orders@goldenc.com

From now until the end of April, we’re offering an additional 10% discount on a range of leak detection and repair products, for both structural and plumbing repairs.

An additional 10% discount:

1189188050 Swimmer Leak Sealer 1Ltr £19.61
1675918029 Rotabond 2000 Sealant / Adhesive £19.93
1100188060 Leakmaster Tester Syringe £7.30
1100188065 Leakmaster Leak Location Dye £11.31

For further details or to place an order, call the sales office on 01271 378100 or send us an e-mail here at orders@goldenc.com

Prices shown are SRP and subject to VAT. No maximum order limit. Offer expires 30 April 2012.

Each winner will get VIP tickets to the epic event, free travel and accommodation, a wide range of hospitality and entertainment, including a private booth in the Le Mans Village and shuttle transport to strategic points of the race.

DEL Covers will also welcome the winners for a full guided tour of their factory, based in Rennes, France.

And the winners are: Nigel Pars of Alma Tron Pools, Gary Love of Traditional Pools Ltd and Mark Roberts of MR Pool Services Ltd.

Nigel of Alma Tron Pools says, “I would just like thank all the Golden Coast staff for their support over the past years, special thanks to Clive & Glen who have always been very helpful and gone the extra mile to make sure we have received a first class service. Our customers have been over the moon with the DEL Covers we have recently installed. On a personal note I am looking forward to the Le Mans trip as I have never had the opportunity to go before and being a motor sport fan this is a dream come true.”

Gary Love, Managing Director of Traditional Pools Ltd says “Winning this prize is really the icing on the cake in our trading relationship with Golden Coast. They have been critical in turning around our business and their service is second to none. The experienced team at Golden Coast really know their stuff. They keep us informed of new products and services that will improve our offer to customers. They always deliver for us, with expert, professional advice and on the very odd occasion something isn’t quite right they work really hard to solve any problems.”

Mark Roberts of MR Pools in Wootton Bassett is equally thrilled; “Over the past few years I’ve done more and more business with Golden Coast and they are always a pleasure to deal with. The DEL Covers are a very good product too and our customers are very pleased with our installations. And I can’t wait to go to Le Mans, what a fantastic prize!”

The Le Mans Classic FIA World Endurance Race takes place from 6-8 July. The winners will be accompanied by Shaun and Dominic Adams from Golden Coast and Nicolas Rouxel from DEL.