Two Valley residents are making a splash with their on-demand, above-ground pool business.
Now Pools, founded in 2020 by Matt Young and Ross Novotny, has more than 100 clients for its subscription-based pool service and is seeing gains in revenue growth, prompting a potential business expansion into other markets.
Now Pools' subscription service installs above-ground pools in customers’ backyards typically within 48 hours. The company provides weekly maintenance to ensure proper water chemistry for the pool and removes it at the end of the rental period.
“We're selling the hassle-free experience to clients. There are above-ground pools that clients can purchase from a retail location and set up," Novotny said. "However, that’s just the beginning of the challenge in owning an above-ground pool. You have to understand how to maintain it, how to balance chemicals, where to buy chemicals. There's a lot of other things that go into this … if you've owned one of these pools before, you kind of understand all the headaches that go in into them, and we really take care of that."
Novotny and Young's idea for Now Pools was sparked after the two friends sought an activity to keep their kids occupied during the summer without incurring the expense of an in-ground outdoor pool.
“We both have families and enjoy our yards in the wintertime, playing games, soccer and cornhole. But in the summer, we felt like we needed something to do with our kids outside and there's not a whole lot of options," Novotny said. "The idea of losing our yards in the wintertime was not very appealing for us, and being able to have something temporary in the summertime to enjoy, but then get our yards back in the wintertime was the genesis of Now Pools."
Company eyes expansion through partnerships
Now Pools’ on-demand pool service was a hit during its first summer of operation as the company rented out its entire inventory of pools to Phoenix-area customers, Novotny said.
Since then, the company has strengthened its relationships with pool manufacturers to ensure it has enough inventory at its Valley warehouse to keep up with demand. In addition, Now Pools has seen repeat customers and its target market has expanded beyond families with children, Young said.
“Professionals without kids are also utilizing the service if they’re just busy and want a place to relax in the evening," Young said. "I think the market has been quite bigger with a much more broader appeal than we initially thought."
While Now Pools is experiencing annual revenue growth, the company did not disclose specific financial figures.
In addition to its above-ground pool service, Now Pools also offers an on-demand spa service through its subscription-based model, which has been popular in winter months.
What's more, the company sees several expansion opportunities in its future, whether it be operating in other cities or partnerships with companies in the pool industry.
“The sky's the limit. Strategic growth is important, but we're fielding calls from (customers in) nearly every state," Young said. "I think the strategy is finding the right brand partner, or expanding in the Tucson market or Las Vegas,” Young said. “We’re in talks with folks to do that and there’s a larger market in Phoenix that can be served with increased logistics.”
