Combined Melbourne swimming pool and spa show hailed a great success
The combined efforts of the Master Pool Builders Association Australia (MPBAA) and SPASA Australia saw the largest consumer event in the southern hemisphere help drive consumer demand in the Victorian industry.
More than 8000 registered attendees came through the doors during the two-and-a-half days of February’s Melbourne Pool and Spa Show + Outdoor Living.
The level of qualified buyer interest was reported as being of a very high calibre and, in a market where interest rates and weather patterns conspire to deflate aspirational consumer dreams, the Melbourne Pool & Spa Show once again delivered an event the industry can be proud of.
Chris Samartzis, MPBAA CEO, says it was an incredible weekend that saw many thousands of people through the doors at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for what was one of the best pool and spa show ever produced.
“The collaboration between MPBAA and SPASA was a success and the exhibitors and consumers benefitted greatly from the offering,” he says.
Lindsay McGrath, SPASA CEO, says it was great to see the enthusiasm from the attendees.
“The aspiration to own a pool or spa continues to be an integral part of our culture,” he says.
Working together
Speaking at the show with David Stennett for the Ready Steady SPLASH! Podcast, Samartzis elaborated on the expo’s success.
“It’s just been an incredible two and a half days. It has blown away all expectations – there was a little bit of worry about interest rate rises, Armageddon, a bit of bad weather, the whole thing,” he says.
“However, thousands and thousands walked through the door. One of my barometers is always our Kids Zone. Seeing the little kids, ten of them lined up, waiting to get their faces painted, and the mothers and fathers just hanging around. It was just absolute gold.
“The show’s gone fantastically well. It’s just been building up bigger and bigger every day. Together SPASA Australia and Master Pool Builders Association Australia have come together to collaborate and make this the biggest consumer event in the southern hemisphere.
“Our job is to plant seeds in the community and to make sure they’re thinking about us – our real competition is caravans, boating, travelling. That’s who we compete against. And we want the consumers to think about our industry. And they are and they’re doing it in droves.
“It’s just a testament to both organisations – we’ve put the members first across the board. We’re going to work together and I think it’s just a great thing for the industry. May it be a long and wonderful relationship!”
To listen to the full conversation go to Ready Steady SPLASH!
MAIN IMAGE: More than 8000 people came through the door
