Megan Kendrick

Peak season has a way of consuming every hour. But to stay profitable year-round — and enter spring in a stronger position — companies need to already be thinking ahead instead of just surviving the rush. Our feature on early buy strategy looks at how service companies are approaching preseason purchasing with far more intention than chasing discounts. The best deal for your business could look like saving on warehouse space, better terms or less down time during the season.

For many pool professionals, Memorial Day marks the point when the season shifts. Demand accelerates and the pace of day-to-day work changes almost overnight. At the same time, May is Water Safety Month, which should be a reminder that as activity increases, so does the responsibility that comes with it. That balance between opportunity and responsibility runs through this issue. We begin with builders — specifically, service companies moving into construction.

Credibility in the pool service industry is earned, not automatic. The women featured in this issue exemplify that truth. Each year, our Power Women feature is one of the projects I value most because it’s a chance to recognize women who are building real careers in the pool industry. I never finish reading these interviews without picking up something useful and being reminded how much stronger the industry is when leadership is built on experience.