Pool Scouts owner John Breton was featured in this recent 1851 article focused on the stability that has come from being part of an essential business.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected a wide variety of industries and forced many businesses to temporarily close their doors — but Pool Scouts continues to thrive. Families across the country who are stuck at home are eager to use their pools, especially with summer around the corner. As an essential service that can get the job done while also respecting social distancing rules, Pool Scouts franchisees can both help them and continue to generate revenue.
One franchisee who can attest to the brand’s viability during this challenging time is John Breton. Breton began franchising with Pool Scouts in April 2018, and his Texas franchise covers the territories of McKinney, Allen, Prosper, Plano and Richardson. His business is seeing a boost thanks to COVID-19.
“Interest in residential pool services is skyrocketing right now, as families are looking for a safe activity they can do together to relax,” Breton said. “They’re also looking for a trusted brand that will follow best safety practices, which Pool Scouts is absolutely doing.”
Breton noted that Pool Scouts technicians can easily continue to serve customers while also following COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. Technicians disinfect any surfaces they touch, such as control panels and even the branded vehicles they drive, and wear personal protective gear and throw out their disposable gloves after each service. They can still answer questions from customers and remain at least six feet apart from them. Customers do not even need to step outside of their homes, and technicians do not need to enter the house.
“Customers really value that we have a defined plan to keep them and our technicians safe and that we do our part to reduce the risk of spreading the virus,” Breton said.
And unlike customers of mom-and-pop businesses, Pool Scouts customers benefit from strong brand messaging and consistent support and communication.
“Independent businesses often do not have the resources that a franchise like Pool Scouts has and, as such, can be tougher to work with,” Breton said. “They don’t have a good software system in place or a website or even an office person answering the phone. At Pool Scouts, we have all of these tools and more, which makes it easy for us to communicate with customers and let them know we’re there for them.”
Like his fellow Pool Scouts franchisees, Breton appreciates the support the brand receives from its parent company, Buzz Franchise Brands, which also oversees the residential cleaning concept Home Clean Heroes and British Swim School. Thanks to Buzz Franchise Brands, Pool Scouts franchisees enjoy benefits such as weekly coaching calls to review profit margins and access to an in-house creative team.
Breton noted that Pool Scouts franchisees come from a variety of professional backgrounds. Some have owned pool businesses for years and converted to the Pool Scouts model, while others, like him, have business experience but no pool-centric experience. Buzz Franchise Brands ensures that franchisees can receive help wherever they need it most.
“The leadership team is really dedicated to helping us achieve our dreams,” Breton said. “I may not need as much marketing support, for example, as my background is in sales and marketing, but I appreciate the fact that we franchisees have resources such as a creative services team and SEO and direct mail teams at our disposal.”
