John Migliaccio, president of NESPA and owner of The Pool & Spa Place, gives us a history lesson on how the pool industry has changed over the last 40 years.

Although we discussed many interesting ideas regarding the pool and spa industry, there was one big takeaway for me. It’s not sexy or exciting like water features, plaster finishes or lighting but it’s something that’s vital for every swimming pool design and installation. The idea is so basic, but it’s overlooked by both experienced and inexperienced companies.

As John said when I asked him about the most important elements of a good swimming pool design and installation, it’s “Safety, safety and safety.” Obviously, that’s not what I was looking for, but in reality he gave me a much better answer to my question. No matter how “cool” your pool is or how much it cost, if somebody gets severely hurt using it, it has very little value to anyone.

Check it out.