In our restricted, pandemic times, the on-site servicing of swimming pools and spas is considered an essential service, and that’s meant businesses such as Jim’s Pool Care have been able to keep trading throughout the Covid-19 shutdowns.
Every franchisee has kept working, following the Government guidelines, except for those in extreme Stage 4 lockdowns, where only emergency services are allowed.
Franchisees have adopted strict protocols around site visits including sanitising and safe distancing from clients, explains Brett Blair, GM and divisional franchisor of Jim’s Pool Care.
“Calls for assistance continued to pour in through our national call centre and we were there to offer help to pool owners, real estate offices and tenants.
“We had clients who had lost work and some needed to reduce the amount of attention given to their pools, but franchisees were also reporting growth in some areas of their business, so generally our businesses are adapting to ‘the new normal’.
“Many of Jim’s services are sole operators, working in a contactless way with zero contact with customers.”
Adapting to the new situation was an important part of sustaining business, explains Blair.
One pivot was the new Test & Balance service which helped many pool owners who previously took a water sample in a bottle to their local pool shop but were now self-isolating.
Instead, the Jim’s Pool Care mobile service takes the tool kit to the home. Franchisees can provide a digital analysis of the water chemistry on site and adjust the water balance if necessary with the appropriate chemicals to ensure a safe and healthy pool. Cleaning duties however are not part of this service but left to the owner to implement.
Behind the scenes the business adapted its communications methods to ensure franchisees are kept informed.
The franchisor set up its own national cabinet which met weekly by Zoom to monitor how the team was dealing with the implications of the Covid crisis. Regional franchisee meetings and supplier-led national training sessions are also taking place virtually.
Jim’s Pool Care, SPASA the national industry body and key industry franchise brands are meeting regularly to work with Government to help draft a path forward.
“We just don’t want to see thousands of green pools in Victoria as weather warms causing another he
alth problem, but we are following all Government directions at the moment,” Blair says.New franchisees joining
The pandemic has been a catalyst for some potential franchisees to take the leap.
“We have experienced a huge increase in enquiries from people looking to change direction in their working lives and wanting to learn more about what our Pool Care franchise has to offer,” says Blair.
“We already have newly trained franchisees commencing their businesses in local territories and many more coming through our system.”