It looks as though Summer has finally arrived and we couldn't be happier about it. We hope your phones are ringing and you are keeping busy during this peak time in our industry.

In this edition of the Bulletin we give you a complete wrap-up of the huge Summer Pool & Spa Expo. We also include some must-read industry related news, alert you to the serious issue of workplace bullying and announce the 2014 Industry Training Seminars. Don't forget to start practicing your golf swing and register a team for the annual Golf Day.

At the end of the Bulletin you will see the SPASA Vic Calendar of Events – 2014. We urge you to save these dates in your diary. While all meetings and events will be confirmed with notices closer to the date this provides you with an indication of when activities are planned.

Until next month, happy reading.

Wether it was the string of sizzling hot Melbourne days, the new TV commercial or the World Record attempt by Chloe McCardel visitors once again flocked through the doors to the SPASA Pool & Spa + Outdoor Living Expo - the most popular expo of its kind in Australia. 

Attendance figures show an increase of 15% from 2013 and SPASA Members have reported very strong consumer interest, with many sales taking place during the 3-day event.

Brendan Watkins CEO of SPASA said “The huge growth in attendance at this years show demonstrates to us the passion that Victorian’s have for pools and spas and spending as much time outdoors as possible. People want their own backyard oasis - it’s now more attainable than ever before. Exhibitors have reported that sales levels and enquiries are the best they’ve seen in years which is a very encouraging sign for the industry”.

Michael Reed from Liner Specialists said "there has been a good quality of people through the door, most of them genuine leads" while Jim Petrakis of Heliocol Solar Pool Heating believed that "the quality of leads has been excellent with great traffic all three days of the exhibition".  

According to Cliff Cooke from Cooke Industries "The show has been sensational - a lot of people attending, asking a lot of good questions and the visitors seem very excited.  The show is world class.  The quality of stands is fantastic - great to see the vibrancy across the whole hall".

Pauls Edwards from Jacuzzi was delighted with the results stating "To date this has been one of the best shows we have had in years, Friday was better than last year, so far both Saturday and Sunday very good leads.  Really happy with the show, visitor attendance and sales results.  Lots of leads".

The SPASA stand was kept busy with a steady stream of queries regarding the Awards of Excellence Program, Australian Standards and the role SPASA plays in the success of the industry. Thanks go to Carolyn, Rose, Asher & Rowena for keeping up with the eager consumers.  

Once again the Seminar Series provided a wealth of professional advice to help ensure consumers get it right. Many thanks to all volunteer presenters for your time and sharing your knowledge to help the whole industry, Ted Martin - Compass Pools, David Kirkpatrick - Outdoor Creations, Rob Kruber - Spa Industries, Brendan Watkins - CEO SPASA, Ian Barker - Ian Barker Gardens, Sunbather, Scott Wynd – TLC Pools, Pieter Nelson – Blu Pools, Cliff Cooke - Cooke Industries and Callum Ross - Astral Pool.

RECORD BREAKING NEWS!

While most of us were tucked up in bed at midnight on Saturday Australian ultra-marathon swimmer Chloe McCardel embarked on swimming a distance equivalent of one and a half crossings of the English Channel. 

With thanks to Leisurescape Spas and The Pool Enclosure Company (TPEC) she successfully set a world-first record by swimming non-stop for 16 hours in a swim spa. Chloe completed her swim in a spa that was 4 metres long by 2 metres wide. 

It was a special moment for Chloe, as she was forced to abandon a swim from Cuba to Florida last year when jellyfish stings left her in excruciating pain.

After finishing the SPASA swim Chloe said "I'm not tired yet; I want to go out and party" and stated that "The spa was very luxurious. I'm used to being thrown in the elements, like wildlife, box jellyfish, and sharks and freezing cold water and big waves. But here it's beautiful, it's controlled; we control the water temperature. It's balmy."

We congratulate Chloe on her outstanding accomplishment. Chloe is now contemplating her next challenge, a 200-kilometre ocean swim later this year and we wish her the best of luck.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR BEST STAND WINNERS!

Stand award recipients are recognised for their excellence in stand design and presentation.Congratulations to the following exhibitors:

Best Stand 36m2 and Over Free Design
Just Spas –  Winner (Joint) & Spa World – Winner (Joint)
Endless Spas – Finalist
Leisurescape Spas – Finalist

Best Stand Under 36m2  Free Design
Remco Australia - Winner
Pool Water Products – Finalist

Best Display Booth Stand
Laguna Pools and Spas – Winner
Cooke Industries – Finalist

Best Outdoor Living Display
Entanglements Metal Art Studio – Winner
Yarrabee & Castlemaine Stone – Finalist
Shane Clifford Design - Finalist

 

With our 2014 Industry Training program dates finalised, now is the perfect time to invest in the success of your business. Skilling your staff is good for business and good for your workforce.

Take a look at the courses on offer and make sure you put the dates in your diary. 

Date	Time	Course	Cost
April Mon 7th	9am - 4pm	What Is The Pool & Spa Industry? A Vital Industry Overview	Members $65 Non Members $115
April Tue 8th	8.30am - 4.30pm	Pool Construction Essentials	Members $135 Non Members $235
April Thu 10th	9am - 4pm	Hydraulics – Basic	Members $135 Non Members $235
April Fri 11th	9am - 4pm	Hydraulics – Advanced (*Prerequisite - Hydraulics Basic)	Members $135 Non Members $235
May Tues 13th	9am - 4pm	Chemistry – Basic Members	$135 Non Members $235
May Thu 15th & Fri 16th	9am - 4pm	Chemistry – Advanced Students must attend both days (*Prerequisite - Chemistry Basic)	Members $270 Non Members $470
May Tue 27th & Wed 28th	9am - 4pm	Country Chapter Training: Echuca Chemistry – Basic and Advanced Students must attend both days	Members $270 Non Members $470
Sept Mon 15th	8.30am - 4.30pm	Pool Construction Essentials	Members $135 Non Members $235
Sept Tue 16th	9am - 4pm	Hydraulics – Basic	Members $135 Non Members $235
Sept Wed 17th	9am - 4pm	Hydraulics – Advanced (*Prerequisite - Hydraulics Basic)	Members $135 Non Members $235
Sept Mon 22nd	9am - 4pm	Chemistry – Basic	Members $135 Non Members $235
Sept Wed 24th AND Thu 25th	9am - 4pm	Chemistry – Advanced Students must attend both days (*Prerequisite - Chemistry Basic)	Members $270 Non Members $470
Oct Fri 10th	9am - 4pm	Chemistry – Basic	Members $135 Non Members $235

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take advantage of the member discount and book now. Download the booking form here.

4 DAY SPECIAL 5% discount applies to any one student attending four days - $513 Non Members $893
7 DAY SPECIAL 10% discount applies to any one student attending seven days - Members $787.50 Non Members $1372.50

If you have any questions or feedback regarding the 2014 program contact Rowena on 9501 2038.

SPECIAL MEMBER OFFER:
SPASA, in conjunction with Enterprise Care, are offering all members a discounted policy and procedure manual to cover their responsibilities around Workplace Bullying.

Do you have a Workplace Bullying Policy? Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) legislation in Australia requires employers to systematically address the risks of Workplace Bullying in their organisation, and to apply a risk management process to identify and control incidents of Workplace Bullying.

This newly updated Workplace Bullying Policy and Procedure manual can be instantly applied to your organisation to ensure that all staff, contractors, consultants, service providers, clients, customers, members, constituents, stakeholders and visitors, when engaged in your organisation's activities, are aware of what constitutes Workplace Bullying, and agree to behave in a manner consistent with your organisation's values.

The Workplace Bullying Policy and Procedure is provided as a WORD template document, which can be edited and customised to your organisation's requirements. It can be implemented immediately to ensure that all persons within your organisation are aware of their rights and responsibilities in regards to Workplace Bullying.

To purchase a copy of this policy through Enterprise Care:
Click here; browse through the publications catalogue; select one or more publications for purchase (Workplace Bullying Policy can be found under Compliance & Risk Management); press the BUY NOW button; type in SPASAVIC14 in the box below Redeem Voucher; and press the APPLY VOUCHER button; a 20% discount will automatically be deducted from the total purchase price; press the CHECKOUT button and follow the prompts on screen to finalise purchase.

Note: Discount Voucher code can be used multiple times.

Calling all golf enthusiasts! Come and enjoy a round of golf at Kingston Links (Corporate Avenue, Rowville) on Friday March 14, and compete for the prestige of being SPASA's best golfer.

Kingston Links is a magnificent facility which boasts 100 per cent Santa Anna Couch fairways. These are world-class tournament grasses. The course’s signature hole is the 165-metre third hole. Overlooking the great lake, with a backdrop of the Dandenong Ranges, this challenging hole offers a severe sloping green and intimidating water hazard. How will you go?

To express your interest please complete the booking form.

We are excited to be delivering a top-class golf day for the industry. We look forward to seeing you at Kingston Links!



Exclusive Event Sponsor

  

Online reviews have become a popular way for consumers to find out more about the goods or services they buy from a business.  Business.gov.au says as a business owner, you have a responsibility to not post fake or misleading reviews about your products or services on your website, or any other online review site. 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a new guide to help you avoid possible fines from posting misleading reviews online. The guide gives practical suggestions to help you reduce the risk of misleading your customers:

·         be transparent about commercial relationships
·         don’t ask others to write reviews about your business if they have not tried your products or services
·         removing or editing negative reviews can be just as misleading as posting a fake review.

It’s important to remember that fake online reviews are in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.  Making sure reviews on your website aren’t misleading can help you avoid unwanted fines and comply with the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.  Breaches of the Act can lead to penalties of up to $1.1 million. 

Learn more by downloading the guide Online reviews: a guide for business and review platforms on the ACCC website. Head to the ACCC website for advice on managing online reviews.

Want more information on running an online business? Visit the Online business topic on www.business.gov.au. 

In news from across the Tasman, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment New Zealand are making changes to The Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987. The Act which aims to promote the safety of young children by requiring pool owners to fence certain swimming pools has helped to reduce the number of young children drowning in home pools from more than 100 in the 10 years to 1982, down to 30 in the 10 years to 2012.

The Government is changing the Act to strike a better balance between protecting young children from drowning in home pools and making the Act more workable for pool owners and local councils.The changes are estimated to reduce the risk of young children drowning in home pools by six drownings every 10 years.

Here are some of the changes:

• There will be clearer requirements for restricting access to swimming pools.
• Councils will be required to inspect swimming pools at least every five years.
• Child-resistant spa pools will no longer require an additional means of restricting access.
• Retailers will be required to inform people who purchase spa pools and portable pools of their obligations.
• Portable pools will be exempt if they are shallower than 300mm – a depth of pool that is generally practical to empty after each use.
• Garden ponds and other water hazards will be exempt if they are not intended for swimming.

The changes take into account 392 submissions received from safety groups, the pool industry, local councils, pool owners and others during public consultation.The changes will take effect after the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 has been amended.

For further information visit www.dbh.govt.nz.

In BOONE, North Carolina USA, a business executive who managed a Best Western hotel has been incited on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of three hotel guests poisoned by carbon monoxide.

A grand jury returned the three counts against Damon Mallatere, president of Appalachian Hospitality Management. The jury also indicted Mallatere on one additional count of assault inflicting serious bodily injury on another hotel guest who was poisoned but survived.

Investigators have determined that carbon monoxide from the swimming pool water heater seeped up from a corroded exhaust pipe into the room. “It appears the conversion was not properly performed, and this led directly to extremely high levels of carbon monoxide being produced by the pool heater,” attorney Paul Culpepper of Hickory said.

Failure to do your job properly, they said, does not generally meet the elements of involuntary manslaughter – which requires that someone acted recklessly and with disregard for the consequences.

Article courtesy of www.heraldonline.com. To read more on this story click here.

Featuring profiles on various members of the association.

Coulson Tiles is one of Australia’s largest importers and wholesalers of tiles for residential and commercial applications, with offices and warehouse facilities in the major centres of Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane. They have a strong national distribution network for all categories of ceramic and mosaic tiles and service tile retailers and specifiers in all States and Territories.

Coulson Tiles has the strength and stability to facilitate the requirements of tile retailers and their project specifiers by drawing from a huge library of currently available ceramic tiles, plus a proven capacity to rapidly source and/or develop new project specific tile products and options.

The end result is a range of tiles in vogue with current trends matching global inspiration with Australian tastes to suit varied climatic conditions and compliment lifestyles.

In this edition we catch up with Victorian Sales Manager, Steven Usher who fills us in on what Coulson can offer and a typical day in his world.

What does your business offer?
For Swimming Pools we offer an extensive range of glazed pool mosaic tiles in a range of colours, sizes and designs. We also offer some glass mosaics in the same colour tones as our glazed mosaic tiles. Our most popular colours are in the Blue and Green shades however others are available.

What are the most exciting & challenging parts of your business?
Two things that fall into the category of exciting and challenging for us are:
1. Increasing our market share in all states and across each product category that we import
and
2. New product developments. Sizes, looks, formats. Keeping up with the trends and ensuring we are the first to the market with those trends.

What’s a typical day in your world?
Much of the day to day tasks involve problem solving and helping support our Sales, Customer service and Warehouse staff in various forms so that we can provide the best possible products and service levels to our customers and their clients. This is an area we are constantly trying to improve on all of the time and has always been a key focus for me over the years.

What's something you have always wanted to do?
I have always wanted to travel and go to any and every major sporting event around the globe. Work seems to get in the way though...ha ha.

Bonus question... Boardies or Budgies??
It has to be boardies. 

View Coulson Tiles for more information on their product range. 

The Board of SPASA warmly welcomes new members to the Association.

New Provisional Members:

Franklin Landscape & Design Pty Ltd
Address: Sandringham, VIC, 3191
Principals or Directors: David Franklin
Membership Category: Restricted - provisional
Website: www.franklinld.com

Ashtown Landscapes
Principals or Directors: Shawn Townsend
Membership Category: Associate - provisional
Website: www.ashtown.com.au

Outdoor Creations
Principals or Directors: David Kirkpatrick
Membership Category: Associate - provisional
Website: www.outdoorcreations.com.au

Green Energy Needs
Principals or Directors: Paul Gramaconi
Membership Category: Supplier/Manufacturer - provisional
Website: www.greenenergyneeds.com.au

Annual Golf Day - Friday 14 March 2014, Kingston Links Golf Course

A Vital Industry Overview - Monday 7 April, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill -

Pool Construction Essentials - Tuesday 8 April, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill

Hydraulics (Basic) - Thursday 10 April, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill

Hydraulics (Advanced) - Friday 11 April, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill

Chemistry (Basic) - Tuesday 13 May, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill

Chemistry (Advanced) - Thursday 15 & Friday 16 May, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill

Country Chapter Training Echuca - Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 May, Rich River Golf Club Resort, Echuca

Country Chapter Meeting - 6pm, Wednesday 28 May, Rich River Golf Club Resort, Echuca

Spa & Pool Show at MCEC (Winter Show) 2014 - Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 August, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, For bookings contact Vee at AEE on 9676 2133

Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner - Saturday 30 August 2014. Our Gala Dinner is being relocated, we've outgrown the NGV - our new venue will be announced soon. You'll love it. 

Pool Construction Essentials - Monday 15 September, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill

Hydraulics (Basic) - Tuesday 16 September, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill

Hydraulics (Advanced) - Wednesday 17 September, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill

Chemistry (Basic) - Monday 22 September, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill

Chemistry (Advanced) - Wednesday 24 & Thursday 25 September, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill

Chemistry (Basic) - Friday 10 October, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill

SPASA AGM - Wednesday 12 November. SPASA, Notting Hill.

Partner Association Events

SPASA Australia - Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner - Thursday 17th July, Crowne Plaza, Gold Coast in conjunction with SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show - Booking forms can be found at www.spasa.com.au NOW!

Queensland– AGM ~ 26 March, Golf Day ~ 22 August, Trade Show & Awards of Excellence Dinner ~ 23 August 

Western Australia – Pool, Spa & Outdoor Living Expo ~ 8-9 March, AGM ~ 8 April, Golf Classic ~ 25 March, Awards Night ~ 26 July, Get Ready for Summer Expo ~ 13-14 September

South Australia – AGM ~ 19 March,  Awards of Excellence Dinner ~ 6 June, Pool & Spa Show ~ 5 & 6 July, Golf Day ~ 3 October

      

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