Wade Spicer had chances to give up on his business over the years, like the 2009 fire that consumed much of his pool- and spa-manufacturing facility in Central PA. But he hasn’t just refused to give up on Strong Pools and Spas. Instead the company has overcome challenges and reinvented itself for new markets.
Those characteristics explain why Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania honored Spicer last month with its entrepreneurial achievement award. As CEO of Strong, Spicer is in charge of about 250 employees at the manufacturer of pools, hot tubs, saunas and backyard ponds. Strong, based in Northumberland, uses a versatile technique called rotational molding, which allows for flexibility in designing products.
One of Strong’s innovations is in the outside of a hot tub in a part called the spa cabinet. Spicer explains that many spa cabinets are made of wood or steel, which aren’t especially durable. But Strong makes plastic cabinets that are easy to maintain. The company’s cabinets also capture heat, which saves power. “It’s a very energy-efficient product,” Spicer says. He adds that most spas cost about $1.50 per day to run, but his company’s cost about 50 cents daily.
He credits this product for Strong’s increased sales, which are up 86 percent over last year. Strong is also outgrowing its 150,000-square foot facility and is looking for at least double that space.
Source: Wade Spicer, Strong Pools and Spas
Writer: Rebecca VanderMeulen
