TUCSON, Ariz. — Pool contractors in Tucson are making a big splash rebounding during this pandemic. They say sales are up compared to last year even with disruptions in the supply chain.
We caught up with Omni Pool Builders and Design Co-Owner Martin Lopez at a project in Dove Mountain.
“Right now, in Dove Mountain we have 14 active with another six waiting to start," Lopez said. "And that’s just the Dove Mountain area.”
Lopez says demand is overflowing. Business is up 40% compared to the same time last year.
“Last month alone we had over 300 leads where last year we had 80, so the leads are insane,” he said.
High demand combined with pandemic-related delays in equipment and material means a big backlog of business for pool contractors across Tucson.
“The way it usually works is people start looking in January to be able to swim by summer,” said Lopez. “Now people are having to look in September to be swimming by summer. This is my 27th year of building and I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Lopez says the high demand must be thanks to low interest rates and families looking for home entertainment.
“It doesn’t make any sense other than when you talk to people they say they aren’t taking vacations anymore; their vacation will be at home with the family,” he said.
For people in this industry, a rebound means almost more work than they can handle -- and even the need for more help.
“We are very fortunate. We never lose sight of that. There are people that are out of work," Lopez said.
"By the way, if you are out of work come see us -- we might be able to use you," he added.
