Lakewood, NJ – The largest U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heaters hosted its 2012 Eastern and Western Master Dealer Kick-Off Meetings earlier this month in Orlando and San Diego, respectively. Dealers and distributors of Aquatherm Industries’ solar pool heating systems participated in two day-long seminars focused on updated sales and marketing techniques and the introduction on several new Aquatherm products and certifications. Meetings were concluded with an awards dinner, where Aquatherm’s elite group of Master Dealers was recognized for their service to the industry and outstanding sales achievements.
Morning sessions were packed with updates from Aquatherm’s engineering department, centered primarily on the manufacturer’s recent ISO 9001:2008 registration. Last year, Aquatherm became the only solar collector manufacturer in the United States to earn the distinction of ISO registered. ISO (International Standards Organization) is recognized around the world as the leading quality management systems standard. In addition, Aquatherm products are now certified to the strict customs of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). This certification comes just one year after Aquatherm became the first manufacturer of solar pool heaters to meet the strict safety, durability, and toxicity standards set forth by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). To date, Aquatherm’s solar pool heating systems remain the only US-made products of their type to be NSF-listed.
Afternoon sessions, which were led by Aquatherm’s Sales and Marketing Team, presented Dealers with updated techniques and materials to help increase appointments and close more sales. A heavy focus was placed on Aquatherm’s retooled sales presentation materials and the use of social media as a marketing tool. Aquatherm Sales and Marketing Manager, Molly Friar, gave a live demonstration of the company’s new online Dealer portal, The AI Network, which she explained is designed to “provide Dealers an additional layer of support as well as play host to product literature, certifications, artwork, as well as the latest corporate and industry news.”
At the culmination of each meeting, Dealers were recognized for both sales achievements and brand loyalty throughout the years. Dave Sizelove, Aquatherm President/CEO, proudly noted “our average Master Dealer has been selling Aquatherm Solar Pool Heating products exclusively for 15 years.” At the Orlando meeting, which was co-sponsored by Aquatherm Solar Supply in Fort Myers, Stilwell Solar of Estero, FL accepted the award for “Top Dealer in the Nation” for Aquatherm’s Solar Industries® line of solar pool heaters; Central Florida Solar in Orlando took home the “Top Dealer” award for the manufacturer’s other flagship brand, Ecosun™ . Across the country, Mark Naylor of Mark Naylor Solar Specialists (San Diego, CA) was recognized as “Top Salesman in the Nation” for the 8th year in a row.
# # #
Aquatherm Industries is the largest manufacturer of solar pool heating systems in the United States, the only U.S. manufacturer of NSF listed solar pool heaters, and the only US solar collector manufacturer to achieve the ISO 9001:2008 quality standard. Aquatherm manufactures several of the industry’s leading brands of solar pool heating collectors, including the Solar Industries and Ecosun collectors. Aquatherm’s entire manufacturing process takes place at its 50,000-square foot technology center in Lakewood, NJ – the most modern facility of its kind in the world. For more information on Aquatherm Industries, its products or its dealer network, contact Molly Friar, Aquatherm’s Sales & Marketing Manager at 1-800-535-6307, extension 226 or by email at mfriar@warmwater.com.
