Family business

Spas and Landscapes was forged from the foundations of success in the landscaping trade to bloom as a hot tub-retailing powerhouse by Mark Anthony and his family. The family-run business includes Mark’s wife, Amanda, and occasional help from their two daughters who are currently at university. Charlotte helps with social networking, while younger sister Jessica is involved with customer service and events management.

Mark also has brothers Paul and Chris involved in the operation and a nephew, Daniel, on board as Technical Service Manager. Paul travels the world on behalf of Coast Spas to organise the fitting crews at show events, including Barcelona and Lyon in Europe, and returned from the Atlantic City show this year before helping with the Coast Spas stand for SPATEX.

A total of 11 staff members, including a mobile show site team and the addition of Deborah Jonsson to boost sales, are on the books of the company that is currently being dubbed as the UK’s number one hot tub and garden building showroom. After achieving success with Dimension One, Spas and Landscapes is now a leading Coast Spas retailer and is reaping the rewards of hard work linked to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and product quality and service from the Canadian manufacturer.

Business transformation

Previously Mark had been retailing hot tubs as an add-on to his landscaping and garden ornament business but seven years ago changed course when sales and servicing, with related products and chemicals, became the major revenue stream. Mark and his family have not looked back since taking the decision to focus fully on hot tubs. An impressive portfolio of successful installations and testimonials is a result of dedication and hard work. Many of the installations are highlighted with pictures on a large map in the customer seating area near the front counter.

“A good quality pond can cost as much as a hot tub but there’s a lot more work involved and with ponds so much more can go wrong,” reveals Mark; “Then it’s a case of getting the wet suit gear on and wading into cold water to put the problem right.”

“When we began to see an increase in demand for hot tubs from our landscaping customers we were going to look for a third-party to deal with it but we felt that there may be a danger they wouldn’t look after our clients as well as we would.”

“In 2006 we were displaying eight tubs from Dimension One and quickly went on to become their top retailer in the UK within a year, before our supply was totally cut off due to issues with the then distributor.”

Industry accolades

It is no accident or stroke of good fortune that Spas and Landscapes last year sold over 200 hot tubs. It is not as a result of some closely guarded secret retailing strategy either, but as a simple formula of commitment to quality products and customer satisfaction from a hard working team that has seen the company be rewarded with industry and manufacturing recognition.

Multiple awards are proudly displayed above the reception counter to leave visitors to the showroom in no doubt that they are dealing with a company constantly being highlighted as a leader in its field. The most recent, awarded in 2011, proclaims the fact that Spas and Landscapes is now a member of the prestigious Coast Spas Platinum Club, which followed President’s Club awards from the manufacturing company in 2010 and 2009 as well as ‘Recognition for Outstanding Growth’ in 2010.

Another award highlights previous success with Dimension One to become the UK’s Number One Dealer in 2007 for ‘Outstanding Sales Performance and Customer Care’. A year later BISHTA presented the company with a Merit Award for Best Showroom, and in 2009 Spas and Landscapes just missed out on top spot when they were honoured by BISHTA with the Best Showroom Runner-up.

“We don’t take anything for granted, but all of the team has worked hard and as a result we’ve been recognised for it by our suppliers and the industry,” says Mark.

“You don’t get these types of awards unless you deserve them and you are doing something right.”

Aladdin’s cave