LOOKING BACK AND HOW THINGS ARE GOING
Our construction season is well underway and we have paused to take stock of how things are going. Coming into 2021 our hope was that this season would be less challenging than 2020, which was by far the most challenging year we have faced as a business.
PANDEMIC CHALLENGES FOR POOL AND LANDSCAPE COMPANIES
On balance 2020 was a year of enormous demand coupled with overwhelming supply chain issues for pool and landscape professionals. At the same time pandemic shutdowns restricted the industries’ ability to meet production targets, demand surged to an all-time high. On any typical day in July of 2020, CCS Pool & Landscape received more new pool inquiries than we would have averaged in a typical month in prior summers. Looking at the North American pool market, permit applications were up as much as 100 – 250% in some areas. That is an astonishing increase in this industry. Locally, fiberglass pool shells, steel in ground pool kits, above ground pools, pool heaters and hot tubs and even interlock pavers have been selling faster than the products can be produced, with lead time stretched to 6 months or more on some pool and landscape construction materials.
Like most in the industry, our fiberglass pool installers and steel pool builders fought the entire working season for the parts and materials to complete our projects. We experienced materials backorders, discontinued products, sharp price increases, and delivery delays, on top of losing weeks of our short season to mandated shutdowns.
We endeavored be supportive of the legitimate concerns among our labour force, recognizing that the impacts of this pandemic create challenges that extended far beyond the workplace. We wore a lot of hats, juggling childcare and school aged kids working from home… It was quite a year, and we are proud to say that while it was not easy, 2020 was a very successful season and we have completed some stunning backyard transformations. What a treat for our clients to have an escape just outside the patio doors. An oasis where one can forget about some of the stressors of the day, relax and spend time with the people that matter most.
POOL CONSTRUCTION
Today, as the world slowly shifts back to a new normal, the record-breaking demand continues. Materials warehouses and supply yards are working furiously to keep products in stock, but shortages abound throughout the industry. So much so that some manufacturers have streamlined their operations, cutting entire categories of materials from their assembly lines to focus on increased production for the highest demand products.
We have been fortunate that overwhelming majority of our materials have arrived, and our clients have been understanding and flexible when we’ve had to make a substitution to get the job done. It is our pleasure to know, that when our clients are looking back on their construction experience, it will very be from their pool side lounge chairs or cabana, relaxing and enjoying a beautiful view. Whatever it takes to get there, leaving a project for our clients' to enjoy is our favorite part of this business!
