Olympic Hot Tub returns to Lake Union, where 40 years ago in 1977 Blair Osborn & Alice Cunningham introduced hot tubs to Seattle eventually growing their business to include five stores around the Puget Sound region. As a nod to the Olympic Hot Tub legacy, new owner Don Riling (a 22-year Olympic Hot Tub employee … Read More

“Many pool and spa companies aspire to be all things to all people — a one-stop-shop, so to speak, for swimming pools, hot tubs, patio furniture, landscaping, decking and more. While the “more is better” philosophy works for some, it’s certainly not for everyone. In fact, with the birth of the hot tub industry came … Read More

“Looking for another sure way to improve your spa business’s cash flow? When was the last time you looked at your average number of days to turn inventory? Spa Retailer recently published an article on the SR Panel’s Most Important Numbers where Don Riling, owner of Olympic Hot Tub from Seattle, keys in on inventory … Read More

“On a recent sunny summer day, “View From the Top” checked in with Don Riling, the new president of Olympic Hot Tub, a Seattle-based retailer. The topic was (surprise!) hot tubs, and in a short Q&A, he shared some observations. Here are excerpts: Q: You’ve been at Olympic Hot Tub since 1995. As you think … Read More

“When spa sales slow, as they have recently, dealers tend to look to past customers to make up some of the difference. One common strategy is to increase sales of replacement covers and lifters, and an excellent way to do that is through direct mail. The keys to a good direct mail campaign, whether it’s … Read More

The recreational dream on wheels lit up the showroom: a $50,000 minivan with enough seating to lose a basketball star and enough extra gizmos to keep everyone in the family happily occupied. The parents and their two kids eagerly climbed inside — only to find that the overhead TV had fuzzy reception and the upholstery … Read More