Leading hot tub brands heading for Lyon
Andy Slater- 8 years ago
Piscine Global will turn up the heat on the booming European wet leisure industry when leading hot tub and swim spa brands join forces with their pool counterparts in Lyon this week.
During the four-day Piscine Global event at Eurexpo, running from Tuesday to Friday, there will be a strong exhibition presence from the French contingent that is once again expected to exploit home advantage in the flourishing market. Two years ago almost 17,000 visitors from more than 100 countries visited the world’s leading wet leisure showcase and this time round the 2016 edition will be providing a major platform for manufactures and their distributors to target hot tub and swim spa dealers, along with their pool specialist counterparts, as part of their exhibitor strategy to capitalise on the growth in the market and extend their European presence in the New Year.
Canadian manufacturer Coast Spas will be joined by a host of USA manufacturers who are lined up among the international exhibitors to provide stiff competition to the large percentage of French companies. These include hot tub and swim spa brands such as Artesian Spas, Caldera Spas, HotSpring, L.A Spas, and Vita Spa.
Hungary-based European manufacturing heavyweight Wellis has been amassing British dealers in the last couple of years and is seeking to enhance its thriving retailer networks across the continent with its ‘Made in Europe’ credentials during Piscine Global 2016. Holland’s Passion Spas will also be exhibiting in Lyon among the growing presence of Chinese-manufactured brands striving to gain a greater share of the market. Both have made strong commitments to their British network in recent years by exhibiting at the UK Pool & Spa Expo, which has been renamed as the Hot Tub Living Expo, and will also be making successive appearances at SPATEX 2017.
Following his recent appearance at the Hot Tub Living Expo, Richard Hart and his busy Aqua Warehouse Group exhibition team will be promoting ‘Made in the USA’ credentials for two booming brands that have gained strong loyalty from their respective thriving L.A Spas and Vita Spa retailing networks in the UK.
They will also be highlighting enhanced products and new model launches from USA manufacturer MAAX Spas, which has worked hard with Aqua Warehouse Group to gain dealer confidence and increase its UK market share since acquiring the L.A Spas brand for its hot tub and swim spa product portfolio alongside its Vita Spa stable.
“Our success as a distributor for Vita Spa over many years has paid off and we have very strong dealer loyalty due to our commitment to them,” said Richard.
“We’ve now repaid the faith that MAAX Spas has shown in us by helping their UK-based L.A Spas dealers to increase their sales this year.”
Richard also reported that his Aqua Spa Supplies division, which showcased its products at the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation exhibition at the Birmingham NEC last week and will also be appearing at SPATEX 2017 is helping hot tub and swim spa dealers to capitalise on booming demand for accessories.
“Accessories are becoming very popular and a growing aspect of the wet leisure market,” said Richard.
HotSpring and Caldera Spas producer Watkins Wellness will also be aiming to build on its iconic status in the market and growing European presence during the exhibition by once again promoting enhanced product ranges and the fact that the USA brands have achieved sales with a foundation of strong dealer loyalty.
“We know that when we bring dealers on board that they will stay loyal because of the high quality service and technology that we offer them,” said European Marketing Supervisor Tim Vanderbruggen.
“In the UK we have a good group of dealers and we are very pleased with how they are performing.”
Earlier this year Coast Spas invited its loyal band of thriving authorised retailers to stay at the beautiful Hotel Barrierre located in the French countryside of Colmar as part of one of two IDM events. During Piscine Global the Canadian manufacturer will be promoting the success of Coast Spas France, run by husband and wife team Richard and Valerie Fillol; and a host of new product enhancements, including the ‘Coastal Smoke Cabinets’ with the industryfirst nine inch-wide shiplap.
“Coast Spas dealers now have many new features available on our 2016 spas and swim spas,” said Coast Spas Marketing and Communications Manager Oran Wakelam.
Wellis distributor and Superior Spas Managing Director Rob Carlin has reported double sales growth in the UK for the European manufacturer.
“All of our dealers have recorded good sales this year and I can’t believe how well it’s gone so far with the support from Wellis,” said Rob
European distributor of Artesian Spas Victoria Wrigglesworth who has been promoting a bumper crop of product enhancements for the booming hot tub and swim spa ranges from May Manufacturing believes that dealers can gain valuable information from leading wet leisure specialists who will be attending the exhibition.
“You can gain a tremendous amount of information at international trade shows, because such a large number of brands are all under one roof with high-ranking members of staff,” said Victoria.
