Hottubbers rejoice! According to Pool & Spa Marketing magazine,2011 promised to be a big year for hot tub sales, with more Canadians buying hot tubs than even in 2009 – and much more in the off-year of 2010.
” Despite the rocky hot tub market in 2010, most manufacturers are forecasting a moderate sales increase in 2011 thanks to more families ‘staycationing’ and looking to replace their older hot tubs,” says the magazine.
Hot tubs are one of the more affordable luxury items a Canadian family can buy, and are particularly enjoyed when the weather is cooler in shoulder-season evenings. But people soured on hot tub purchases mind-way through 20910, as the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) was introduced in Ontario and British Columbia
“At that point, the entire Canadian hot tub market fell during the months of August, September and October,” said Doug Gillespie, general manager of Hydropool Hot Tubs. “A lot of it had to do with the HST coming in, as it created the perception that consumers would have to pay more for a hot tub.”
People typically keep their hot tubs for seven years, so this means that in the short term there will be a bigger market for replacement hot tub covers. Indeed, Hot Tub Covers Canada president Gordon Duesburry reports that business has already doubled over last year.
New hot tub owners should watch this blog, as we offer everything from solid hot tub maintenance and safety tips to the more whimsical side of hot tubbing.
Tags: economy, hot tubs, HST, sales, staycations
