The Balboa Water Group executive vice-president JP Parent reflects on the 2018 season & looks forward to the new design initiative for 2019 and onwards :
I would like to reflect on our industry trends after an exceptional year of growth & excitement with spas and swim spas worldwide.
The Balboa Water Group unique position as a leader in the manufacturing of original components for the industry allows us to be at the forefront of the market even though there are sometimes several layers of distribution between the end customers and us.
European spa sales have enjoyed double-digit increases several years in a row despite moderate economic growth.
This can mainly be attributed to a wider customer base who can now afford to set up outdoor spas as more competitive prices
resulted in hot tubs being a more affordable luxury item.
As spas are becoming more mainstream, our industry started to embrace technologies that consumers are getting used to in their daily lives:
From Bluetooth audio to touchscreens, the spa equipment has progressed more in the last five years than it did in the previous twenty.
The excitement was reinforced this past year by the introduction of internet smart devices allowing the end user to be in touch at all times with his/her spa as well as the retailer and the manufacturer, resulting in exceptional after sales service and peace of mind.
The next product introductions will all be linked to the end user experience that OEMs and retailers alike want to continuously improve.
From variable speed massages to light and fountain displays, hot tubs are becoming showcases in everyone’s homes.
At Balboa, we believe in the bright future of our industry because with the assistance of the public who are our end user, we’ll never stop working at making your daily relaxation in hot water a little more pleasant and fun all the time.
JP spoke whilst attending the Piscine Global Pool & Hot Tub Event at Lyon France this week.
