The Fabulous Spa Babe...

In that time so called "portable" spas were just beginning to trickle out and were somewhat of a novel thing.  The permanently installed spa was in its heyday.  Howard Evans, founder of Spa World, taught me how to size pumps and equipment to numbers of jets and Fred the Sales Manager taught me drafting and a few sales techniques.  I did pretty good.  After a year I was asked if I wanted to work for a new affiliate company "Bay City Enterprises."  Bay City was a wholesale distributor of spa related items.  The whole spa scene was so new, the swimming pool wholesalers just didn't realize the potential at that time. In fact specialty distributors for spa equipment exist to this day!  I started at Bay City with Mike Flynn.  My job was to travel the state calling on spa dealers.  I  would teach them all about portable spas, how to save money by buying shells plumbing them and assembling them in house. I sold them all the plumbing and equipment to do it.  We had a great line that included Jacuzzi, Len Gordon, Vulcan, Catalina, Ramco and  Raypak Gas heaters (still love'em) and all the hot items of the moment!  Man, we had everyone buying acrylic spa shells, cabinets and components!

There was no way I could sell these products without being an expert so I became one to advise people properly.  I was promoted to Vice President and had great access to all the manufacturers in the business.  While we were going to town turning over spa shells, pumps, heaters, controls and so forth into the marketplace I realized a big void in the service end of things. Believe it or not...it exists to this day!  The dealers were at war with each other, and if you, the spa owner tried to call someone other than who you bought the spa from, for service,  forget it.  You would have been informed that "jeeze if only you'd bought that spa from us we could help you, but, you chose to buy your spa from that slob up the street so suffer!"  Hmmmmmmmm, I thought.

I quit Bay City (Howard and I weren't exactly seeing eye to eye anyway) and called all my dealers and all the manufactures and said, I'll do your spa repairs."  Well, buddy I was in business.  I got set up for warranty with everybody, got my Florida Swimming Pool and Spa Service Contractors license and worked my tail off right away.  Anyway, that was when the real learning started.  It consisted of putting on the thinking cap, pulling from what I knew to be true and teaching myself thru intense observation and study, all the ins and outs of electrical troubleshooting as it pertains to spas and spa controllers. I daily learned things  that added to my knowledge and experience base.

Membership in our trade association NSPI,  didn't hurt either.  I've actively participated for (Gawd I hate to say) over 20 years!  I'm currently involved at the all three levels: Local (Tampa Bay Chapter, President 2001-2002, 2002-2003) State (FPSA Board of Directors, for a LONG TIME) and National (Member, National Service Council.)   As a memeber of the National Education Committee, I  edited and created a lot of the content for the NSPI published, first text ever for aspiring pool and spa technicians "Basic Pool and Spa Technology."  My first chapter was the aptly named "Controls, Controllers and Control Systems." This text is currently in its 3rd printing and I've worked on revisions ever since the original.  GRRRRRR.  I've also enjoyed teaching various industry seminars on spa trouble shooting, as well.  I currently (2003) am serving a  second year as  President of the Tampa Bay Chapter.  I can't think of any one thing that has been more beneficial in developing my leadership and  professional skills than being a part of this organization of top notch  pool and spa professionals

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In September of 2002, Spa Babes Inc aquired several new websites! Please feel free to visit them.  There is a lot of technical information at spasupport, more spa parts at spapartsnet, spa tech listings at spatechs.com and of course.. spa covers at USA spacovers...one of the easiest places on the net to purchase a new cover for your spa. 

That's the end of the story.  You can wake up now and feel confident as you order that pack, part or pump that The Fabulous Spa Babe knows her stuff!  I'm also more than willing to share it!  If you have questions pertaining to anything you don't see here, or if a page is linked to a subject you're interested in and it's not up yet, please feel free to call or e-mail your questions to me.

Barbara Langford
President
Spa Babes Inc
babe@spababes.com