When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Matthieu Selva, European Director for Pool Equipment, is realistic about the challenges the industry faces in 2023 but points out that there has never been a better time to choose Pentair.
“Let’s face it, our industry has enjoyed some stellar years,” reflects Matthieu. “Despite, or rather because of, the pandemic, the demand for home improvement was unprecedented. Affluent consumers forced to stay at home, embarked on a home-improvement spending spree from which the pool sector, like many, benefitted. Those days now seem a long time ago as we come to terms with the new normal: inflation causing low consumer confidence, concerns over droughts in Europe and, above all, worry about spiralling energy costs caused by global events. It’s a triple whammy for the pool builder.”
Smart, Sustainable Pool products are transformative
However, Matthieu believes the industry is resilient. “It has been here before and can bounce back, but for some it will mean a change of pitch and a return to some traditional ways of selling. You could say we will need to get ‘back to basics’: identify the new needs, align with new solutions, master the pitch and win over customers on a value proposition rather than price.”
In terms of reducing energy, chemical and water consumption, Pentair has been way ahead of the curve. For over a decade it has been investing heavily in developing products that address today’s demands for optimal efficiency and sustainability.
Anyone close to Pentair in recent years will be familiar with its leitmotif: to create the ‘Smart, Sustainable Pool’. Matthieu is in no doubt that this proposition will increasingly chime with the mood and that Pentair’s smart, sustainable pool products will be transformative.
You get what you pay for
To misquote Benjamin Franklin, “the bitterness of high running costs will remain long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten,” and Matthieu believes that is the message to take to market. “Of course, purchase price is important but, as always, you get what you pay for. If consumers are worried about whether they can even afford to run a pool, it doesn’t matter how cheap a component is, they simply won’t invest. Our most successful partners have been looking beyond price for some time now. They have been focusing on return on investment, efficiency, and quality, and that’s where Pentair pool products literally blow others out of the water.”
“Our smart, sustainable pool products have been evolving over years and we will have more to shout about in 2023,” continues Matthieu. “In water filtration our variable Speed pumps like IntelliFlo3 can help pool owners save up to 90% in energy costs compared to conventional single or two-speed pumps. In heating, the Pentair IntelliTemp Inverter Heat Pump is our most efficient heat pump ever. And for water treatment, automation products like the new Speedeo Connect are without parallel when it comes to reducing chemical, water and energy usage. They are all part of a Pentair product portfolio that is already saving their owners millions of kilowatt-hours every year and have led to Pentair receiving the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Partner of the Year Award, for the ninth consecutive year*.
Pentair Support network continues to grow
“It is not just products in which Pentair has been investing,” explains Matthieu. “While we may have a comprehensive catalogue of outstanding pool equipment, we appreciate it is not always easy, especially for smaller pool builders, to convince customers that a price premium for quality will pay dividends over time. It’s why we have been investing heavily in our partner support network too. It continues to grow, with access to education and training on all the latest in pool efficiency. From our efficiency calculator to our technical support hotline, we are there for our pool partners. Whether it’s a simple task like specifying the heating load for a pool through to navigating the new EN17645 Environmental Performance Standards … Pentair technical support are there to help.”
There has never been a better time to choose Pentair
Matthieu ends on a note of reassurance, “There is no doubt that there will be challenges and uncertainty in 2023 and we will all need to adapt how we operate. But I am certain of one thing: the demand for reduced energy, chemical and water consumption will only grow. Smart, sustainable pool products are the way forward. Those in our industry who can deliver on that promise will thrive so there has never been a better time to choose Pentair.”
*The Agency estimates that since 2005, Pentair’s VS pool pumps alone have been responsible for saving consumers $3.6 billion in operating costs.
