The Fabulous Spa Babe (ha)

Is what they call me and for as long as I can remember (and it’s been awhile) people ask me how I got into this business.  Just about everyone falls asleep near the beginning, I think it’s because they expect to hear that "oh my father did this" or "it’s my husband’s business and I learned from him," or even "I went to trade school because of my passion for hot water."

When I started off in the spa biz, spas were pretty new on the scene.  It was the early 80′s when I walked into SPA WORLD in Tampa and began this adventure. 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. 

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 not currently involved but participated at 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.   I’ve also enjoyed teaching various industry seminars on spa trouble shooting, as well.   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. 

NSPI changed its name and structure several years ago and is now known as The Association of Pool and Spa  Professionals..

A lot of time has passed since i originally wrote this.  We’ve grown emmensly and gotten knocked back a bit with the current economy but are still alive and well, still helping folks fix their own hot tubs and save a bunch of money, still selling hot tub parts, equipment and spa packs at a discount. Visit us or call anytime!  we are located  North of Bearss Ave, Tampa, in Lutz Fl Right off north 41. 17420 N 41 Suite 111 Lutz Fl 33549

Check out the Bests Below SpaPartsNet.com BEST PARTS EQUIPMENT AND TECH SALES SpaTechs.com Find a Spa Technician in Your Area SpaForums.com Discuss your problem, upload images or just read through lots of great tech info on many common systems. 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

My personal blog while a bit off the wall is located here