2009 President’s message :

 Those companies that run on sound business practices have obviously also experienced the ‘bite’, but will survive and come out much stronger. What is happening is in fact cyclical, and it does have the benefit of ensuring that the industry is ‘cleaned up’ by means of the disappearance of the poorly funded and poorly trained operators. This will in the medium to longer term ensure that the paying customer gets the quality of work that they are paying for.

However, it is not all gloom and doom.The financial institutions are again offering 100% bonds to, admittedly, only certain sectors of the market. This is though, a huge step towards a return to good business and I trust that we will all take heart at these slow but sure signs of a turn around.

I wish you all a quick return to happy days.
VASBYT!

~ Neil Cloete

About the NSPI :

The National Spa and Pool Institute (better known as the NSPI) is a watchdog organisation which has the interests of the industry as a whole at heart. This means it is there for the benefit of pool builders and other members as well as pool owners.

Formed in the Western Cape in July 1972, the NSPI owes its origins to the American NSPI, formed two decades earlier than ours.

The world’s swimming pool industry started in the USA, but ours was not far behind. Our first swimming pool company of note was Penguin Pools, formed by Dr Michael Finn in Johannesburg in 1956.

In Cape Town, Tony Goldie was an industry leader who joined the American NSPI after a trip to the US in 1968; and it was he who was instrumental in launching an institute here.

Today there are more than 100 members and the numbers are growing annually. Tony is an honorary life member of the South African NSPI.

From the start, the idea has been that the NSPI will provide pool owners with ‘peace of mind’. Only companies that have been in business for at least two years, trading under the same name, may join.

They must also pass stringent financial checks. No company with a judgement against it may join, and the owners and directors must undertake to abide by a strict code of ethics. Both big and small companies operate under the umbrella of the NSPI, and every pool construction type is represented – concrete, gunite, fibreglass and vinyl.

THE NSPI CODE OF ETHICS

• Strive continually to gain respect for the industry at all levels – national, community, local.

• Establish the highest possible standards in relation to health, safety and public welfare in the installation, maintenance and operation of swimming pools.

• Support all efforts to improve swimming pool products and service; establish and maintain standards and encourage the research and development of new materials and methods.

• Design and build in a manner compatible in every respect with public health and safety, and comply with all applicable laws, ordinances and regulations.

• Advertise and sell on the merits of products and refrain from attacking competitors or reflecting unfairly on their products, services and business methods.

• Fulfil all contractual obligations. Offer a reasonable warranty of products and services and honour such warranties, either written or implied, where justifiable.

• Advertise ethically in the bona fide prices and products and refrain from the use of unethical advertising methods. Reveal all material facts; avoid concealment of information and avoid the use of advertising innuendoes which might be misleading.

• Uphold the concept of free enterprise and service to the public.

STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE