By Claire Sachse
When Randy Hudson moved to the Polk County area in the late 1990s, he wanted a pool and hot tub at his house. When he went to purchase both, he realized there were no service or supply companies in the area to handle his questions or needs.
And so a company was born.
In 1999, Hudson opened Blue Waters in Columbus near the courthouse on Mills St. Originally focused on servicing hot tubs and maintaining pools, the company quickly grew to include retail sales of pool supplies. By 2005, when his partner Aileen Bonnell joined the company, there were two part-time employees in the store and four service techs in the field.
“We just continued to grow,” said Bonnell.
Bonnell said that there have been challenges for the company along the way. In 2004 Hudson opened a retail store in Arden, but found that he was stretching himself too thin with the travel involved. In 2007, they closed the Arden store, consolidated inventory with the Columbus store, and moved into Columbus Plaza.
In 2013, Blue Waters moved again, from one end of Columbus Plaza to the other. At approximately 1,800 sq. ft., the new storefront at 155 West Mills St., Unit 111, allows for more retail space and display space for hot tubs, above ground pools, pool cleaning equipment, chemicals and more.
Tremendous amounts of rain in 2013 also affected the business, said Bonnell, but she added that 2014 has so far brought “stable, beautiful weather and warmth going into fall.”
The company focuses on three areas, according to Bonnell. They cater to the do-it-yourself pool owner, who wants education and supplies to maintain their own pool or spa. The service department, staffed by two service teams, handles weekly and monthly cleanings and servicings. The repair department with its staff of two, fixes all makes and models of hot tubs. Billy Ashley manages the service department and Susie DeLuciano handles retail sales and marketing.
Blue Waters covers a 35-mile radius for service calls but will travel further under certain circumstances. They are also a distributor for Bullfrog Spas, serving most of Western North Carolina. Bonnell said that the average spa sale is $7,500 to $11,000.
Bonnell said that the company is committed to the area and the community.
“We are looking forward to movement in this area with the new equestrian center which offers all kinds of new possibilities,” she said.
“We are preparing our business to take it to the next level,” said Bonnell. She added that she and Hudson are staffing the company with people who want to help build the company and make it grow. Her goal is to be able to offer full-time employment year- round for her employees in this seasonal outdoor industry.
She also said that the company is committed to their customers and is willing to go the extra mile to meet their needs.
“We’re always here to help and to accommodate their needs,” she said.
Bonnell and DeLuciano plan to attend the Southern Home and Garden Show in Greenville in late September, and have a goal to participate in at least six trade shows in 2015.
During the summer months, Blue Waters Pool and Spa is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. During the fall, they are open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday and 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The company’s website, www.cleanthepool.com, describes the products and services offered. The store’s telephone number is 828-894-0299.