Talking change and challenge Glenn Maxton of Laguna Pools Kathryn Barres sat down with Glenn Maxton in Laguna Pools’ award-wining showroom to discuss his take on the current climate of the pool and spa industry in Australia.
How did you get into the pool and spa industry and when was that exactly?
What are some of the highlights from your time in the industry so far?
I started in the pool and spa industry in late 2003. I was 22 years old and not happy with the culture and environment in my role as Junior Foreman at a Melbourne car dealership. I just couldn’t see myself doing that for the rest of my life. I had no idea what I was going to do, but I did know that I didn’t want to keep doing that! It was one of those times that change felt necessary and I knew a change would be good for me.
Winning SPASAVIC’s Pool of the Year was definitely a highlight. However, we are equally proud of winning ‘Best Innovative Pool or Spa’ award the year before.
SPASAVICTORIA
Growing up in Ocean Grove, I lived next door to a pool builder. I remember watching the build of a huge pool in his backyard and I guess that always interested me and looked like a fun job to have!
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Coming into November, at that time, I fancied the idea of working outdoors for Summer. I began calling around pool building companies, beginning with Brighton Pools, then Pacesetter Pools. They referred me to one of their contractors, who gave me a job!. I think my skills and mechanical aptitude as a motor mechanic stood me in good stead, and transferred well to pool building. I learned all the plumbing and solar and that got me my start.
Innovation is what excites me and it’s what we value strongly at Laguna Pools. I think it is the cumulative effect of constantly changing and always evolving. That’s what I love, and that’s where personal growth comes from. Most people don’t like change, so we’ve developed a culture that really embraces it.
What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced over the years? I am a problem-solver at heart and I do love a challenge! The challenge of building a business, regardless of the industry, is a difficult task and the biggest challenge is finding the right people. As a business owner I need to be constantly assessing our business’s needs.
