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?

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.

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!

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.

What are some of the highlights from your time in the industry so far?

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.

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.

Highly Commended Award Winner 2018 - Best Pool Display Centre

If you’re looking at your business as an upward curve, there are always people that jump on and off that line at different points in time and you have to be OK with that.

I think that most people keep their companies at the size that is comfortable for them and stick to what they know. I think that avoiding challenges can really slow down evolution. Bringing in new team members, whilst at times can be challenging, can also enrich and progress a business in a really positive way.

I do believe the pool and spa industry is, at times, stuck in its ways. So I have looked for inspiration from other professionals, businesses and industries. With this inspiration, Laguna Pools has stepped ahead and created a culture that demands high performance, along with good health and well-being.

What have you seen change in consumer demand over the years?

The client of a high-end construction business puts good architecture at the top of their list. Our consumers demand that WOW factor for their swimming pool - they want an architectural feature. It’s no longer just a pool in the backyard, it has become a sculptural piece for generations to appreciate.

Another change in demand has been the desire for high-end systems and automation. Our clients want to optimise their time at home to be with their family, not to be maintaining their pools. They now really see the value of extra up-front costs in these systems and automation which allow them a better lifestyle.

We never started out as a high-end pool builder. We set out to be the best we could be and we started small. We aspired to be high-end but that can only happen incrementally. You can’t be a boutique pool builder just by saying you are one. You have to prove yourself and we have done that. What is Laguna Pools currently doing in terms of innovation? We can’t give away all our secrets but we are really proud of the new quoting software we have developed. With a couple of key pieces of input data, anyone in the business can turn around a detailed and accurate quote in a matter of minutes. This has hugely increased productivity within the sales team. Laguna Pools focuses on innovation across many areas of the business. We’ve got sound guidelines in place that ensure all our employees share our core values. All our staff are supported to develop a strong sense of holistic well-being. Ultimately, this is what supports us all to get our work done and do a good job. It’s not just about putting in huge hours, or about being fit outside of work. A company that prioritises health, performance and the well-being of their staff will always be a successful one.

How has Laguna Pools pivoted to meet recent government regulations? Laguna Pools aims to always be agile and pivot when necessary. I don’t think the new regulations have really affected us. The Government has made decisions that have caused a few industry issues, but at the end of the day, the consumer pays for the changes. So unfortunately, new regulations really only drive the costs up.

Where do you see the industry heading?

I think the industry, with added future regulations, will require more and more administrative work. This may challenge smaller businesses, but with 17 staff at Laguna Pools we have a strong admin team so I think we are well placed to manage this. I also believe that remote monitoring of pools will also see some really exciting progress for the industry over the next few years.

Team turquoise - where did that term come from?

We talk internally about ‘Oozing Turquoise’, the colour within our logo. This is one of our core values and how we celebrate our diversity. Laguna Pools staff feel that they can be themselves and be individuals. It’s not just one-size-fits-all. This is what makes our workplace unique and such a fun and creative space to work in. I believe employees shine because they have the support and encouragement to be themselves.

“We all need to embrace change. By keeping the bar high, constantly changing and challenging each other, it is better for the consumer and ultimately this benefits the industry.”

Do you think owning a pool is still a great Australian dream?

Absolutely it is.

Is there anything you would like to convey to the Victorian pool and spa industry?

I think everyone in our industry needs to keep challenging themselves. We all need to embrace change and evolve. By keeping the bar high, constantly changing and challenging each other, it is better for the consumer and ultimately this benefits the industry.

So keep challenging yourself – that’s when the magic happens!