Perth consumers vote for pools

For the second time in two shows, the WA consumer pool and spa expo has been held on Election Day. In March this year the WA State election was held on the first day of the expo; this September it was the Federal election.

While that would normally have been enough of a distraction, on the Friday evening before the show thunderstorms raged across Perth, and on the Saturday Freemantle played in an AFL semi-final.

The effect of this was that Saturday was slightly quieter than usual, but all the people who had put off attending came out in force on the Sunday for a big day. The weather turned sunny, westerners were smiling after the Dockers victory and the crowds poured in.

“Everyone was very happy,” says show organiser Roger Lefort. “The Sunday in particular was exceptionally busy.”

Lefort, who is also the manager of SPASA Western Australia, says this is an indication of the strong western market.

“Looking at the guarantee completions from swimming pool builder members, the numbers are up seven per cent on the year-to-August figures,” he says. “There’s still money over here and the price of pools is dropping compared to the relative value of homes.

“The September show traditionally isn’t as big as the one in March, but it still has potential to grow a lot more.”

The next consumer show in Perth will be in March 2014.