Hot tub manufacturing is a competitive industry, so when you are in the process of choosing who will supply your hot tubs here are 6 things you should consider:
- Find something that tells a story. Most manufactures offer basically the same product manufactured basically the same way. Usually the only difference is in the aesthetics. If you want to be a successful dealer, don’t sell the same old “blah” that everyone else is selling. Find a spa brand that stands out. Look for something different that allows a selling story with selling features that are difficult to shop against. Remember, anything that makes you go “aha” will make your customer go “aha” too. Look for unique features like:
- Frame structure
- Protection under the spa
- Covers that come with the spa
- Insulation and energy-efficiency rating
- Cost to operate per month
- New, unique, and better technology
- History of the company. Make sure you aren’t buying hot tubs from some tiny start-up business with a 3-spas-a-year volume because, unless they are very lucky, chances are they aren’t going to stick around very long. You want to make sure the hot tub supplier you end up going with has been around long enough to know the hot tub industry and is going to be there for you long enough to support your parts and warranties through the life of your customers’ spas.
- Look online. This is one of the most important steps in deciding which hot tub dealer to go with. Not only are you seeing what kind of presence they have online (which is one of the most important tools in marketing today), but you can also access a slew of online reviews which will give you great insight into customer service, quality of support, and general customer feedback.
- Get referrals. It would be a great one-stop-shop if you could have a quick conversation with a manufacturer, trust and love everything they have to say, and sign the papers right then and there, but that’s not enough. If you want to make a great decision about which hot tubs to display in your showroom, don’t just look from answers from the manufacturers; always make sure you get referrals. See what their product is really like in working action, see what kind of support they provide their dealers, and make sure they’re upholding the warranties they offer.
- Talk to current dealers
- Talk to past dealers
- Talk to customers
- They want more than numbers. Find a supplier that realizes their goal is more than getting an order from you and making sure it ships. They know that being a good hot tub supplier means:
- Support. A good hot tub supplier will provide a strong level of support to you and your customers after a product is delivered to your showroom.
- Relationships. A good hot tub supplier knows you’re not just a “Dealer ID Number” but that you are truly part of making their team a success. A good supplier will continue to build a relationship with you and your staff after their product hits your showroom.
- Care for needs. A good hot tub supplier will take care of your needs not only from a manufacturing, but also at a dealer level. This means they will produce quality tubs that you will be proud to sell and they will provide you support to help you be successful.
- Backyard bliss. A good supplier will know that in order for you to be successful, it takes more than selling the tub and plopping it in your customer’s backyard. After the hot tub is delivered, it needs to work — and not just for a few days; we mean it really needs to work. If a customer not only walks away from your showroom happy about their purchase, but are still happy with their purchase after they’ve been using the tub for a year, then you know you’ve made the right decision about which hot tub supplier to use.
What do you think makes a successful hot tub supplier? What do you look for when you’re deciding what kind of tub to sell? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
***Look for our special feature article later this month about Bullfrog Spas and why they are a great choice as a hot tub supplier.