Episode 158: State of the Pool Industry with Scott Frost of Fluidra

Episode Summary: 

Today, we sit down with Scott Frost, who has served as Senior Vice President of Sales for North America at Fluidra for almost three decades. 

Since its founding in 1969, Fluidra has grown into a well-respected multinational group in the pool and wellness industry, operating in more than 45 countries through its subsidiaries with a team of over 6000 employees. Fluidra’s portfolio includes a number of prestigious brands such as Jandy®, AstralPool®, Polaris®, Cepex®, Zodiac®, CTX Professional®, and Gre®. 

Scott says that, after over 28 years, nothing compares to this particular crisis. He speaks on how the pool industry has been impacted by the pandemic since the beginning of 2020 and what opportunities emerged in the new normal among the radical changes that the industry has undergone as a whole. 

However, Scott also notes that there are more positives than negatives in the long run and that one of the most important ways for companies to thrive is for them to have open, honest communication with their customers as everybody continues to navigate these uncertain times. 

Topics Discussed: 

• 01:05 - An introduction to Scott Frost 
• 05:32 - The past year was both “an exciting and challenging time” 
• 11:05 - Tackling challenges and rethinking just-in-time systems 
• 16:03 - How the pandemic has influenced Fluidra’s decisions 
• 18:33 - Why no other crisis compares to this one 
• 19:45 - The pandemic’s positive effects on the industry 
• 25:44 - The pandemic’s negative effects on the industry 
• 28:15 - Texas freeze effects 
• 33:25 - Suez Canal, trucking, and freight effects 
• 35:47 - How manufacturers are alleviating supply chain issues 
• 40:11 - How to help customers navigate these tricky times 
• 48:34 - How dealers can adjust consumer expectations 
• 52:06 - How Scott sees the industry recovering 

 

 

 

Sponsors: 

• Fluidra 
• Pool Pro Mag 

Connect with Guest: 

• Episode Webpage 
• Website 
• Facebook 
• Instagram 
• Twitter 
• LinkedIn 
• YouTube 

 

Connect with Pool Chasers: 

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Facebook Group 
• Twitter 
• YouTube 
• Patreon 

 

Key Quotes from Episode: 

• “Just-in-time” only works if you have historical basis to understand what the future will bring, and there is now such a lack of understanding of what the future holds. 
• A positive from the pandemic is that I’m now spending a lot more time talking about the convenience and the fun of owning a pool. It’s put us on the radar. 
• We’re in the backyard entertainment business. 
• The easy thing is to react to what the consumer wants. “I need my pump fixed,” or “I need my pool cleaned.” That’s reacting. Being proactive and looking at your business with a proactive approach is a good practice.