Today we’d like to introduce you to Denis Grenier.
Denis, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 1982 I started working for a pool service company, I worked there for 3 years and a lead tech named Andy took me under his wing and showed me tricks of the trade. He left the company and started his own business in this area. He soon got a job offer in Florida and moved there. When he did, he introduced me to his builder contacts and gave me some service accounts. I started out in 1985 with a $2,000.00 used pick up truck and a helper, storing our supplies in a shed. Over the years I bought in some young guys and taught them as I had been taught. Today I have 3 service trucks and 3 construction trucks. I employ 10 service techs and an office manager. We work out of a 3600 sq. ft. shop/office with a 18,000 sq. ft. contractors yard.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest struggles as a start up is attracting and keeping good help. I have been fortunate enough to have some key people with me for 15 to 20 years. Also working for yourself it what a lot of people dream of. But it comes with a price. You are consumed with every aspect of the business and your personal life will be affected.
Finding a balance is key and having a partner who is on the same page and supporting you is key to your success. One instance that remains vivid in my mind, I came home and was using my sons room as my office, he would come in and want to be with me but I had business matters to deal with so I would kindly push him away. In that moment, my wife told me our son was not going to grow up with me pushing him away, I need to find an office and when I walk in that door at the end of the day, no matter what time I had to shut off Pool Pro!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Pool Pro Restoration & Service Inc. – what should we know?
We are in the service and repair business of in ground swimming pools. We install all types of pool equipment, alternative sanitizers, heat pumps, gas heaters, pumps, filtration systems. safety covers and web based controllers.
Having been in business for 32 years we have evolved to meet the demands of the industry.
We specialize in vinyl liner replacement and gunite renovations. We offer a service to our customers and also sub contract water blasting. What that is, is high pressure surface preparation. We use a piece of equipment from NLB that we tow to the job site, about an 8,000 machine, which produces 40,000 psi of water pressure. To put that into perspective, your pressure washer that you can rent runs at about 3,000. We are basically taking masonry off of masonry. We also offer a unique pool coating called Ecofinish which is a thermally applied polymer pool finish. This finish is our newest addition in an attempt to continually keep things fresh.
We also install new in ground pools, although we do not do a large volume in new installs, we can take our time and see the project through to the end.
What I am most proud of is the work ethic we maintain as a company and the relationship we have with our customers.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Drive! I have to quote my mentor and have lived by this, “What I lack in knowledge and ability, I make up in tenacity”
Pricing:
- Average liner replacement $4,500.00
- Average gunite renovation $18.000.
- Average in ground liner pool $32,000
- Average completed back yard pool installation $70,000
Contact Info:
- Address: 68 Branch St.,
Lowell, MA 01851 - Website: www.poolpro.biz
- Phone: 7-800-698-PROS
- Email: denisg@poolpro.biz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoolProLowell/
Image Credit:
Photos taken by Denis J. Grenier
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