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Brothers hope to improve pool ownership

Although this summer is Rex and Russell Clawsons first pool season with a Pool Chem Plus retail location, the brothers have been cleaning and servicing Central Texas pools for more than three years.

We were in the service industry before, and we felt like we werent getting what we thought was good-quality pool service for our pools, Russell said. We told ourselves we could do better, and we started dabbling and servicing a few customers pools.

The business expanded from there to include repair services and now has six full-time employees.

The company offers weekly full-service pool cleaning 50 weeks a yearthe business is closed the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmasto more than 60 regular clients in Georgetown and Round Rock on two pool-cleaning routes with room to grow, he said.

Rex said maintaining a customers pool is a team effort and still requires pool owners to be involved in the day-to-day care of their pools.

We come by once a week and we regulate the chemicals, but there are things the owner has to dogeneral maintenance that they should doso we work as a team with our customers and our staff to give [customers] a pool they can enjoy during the swimming season, he said.

In February the brothers decided to open a storefront in Georgetown and offer in-store service and repairs as well as a selection of pool chemicals, equipment, supplies and toys.

Along with offering pool care products, the brothers said they want to be a resource to customers.

There are basically two kinds of pool owners out there: those who hate their pools and those who love their pools, Rex said. If youre one who hates their pool, our goal is to get you to where you love your pool, and usually its because [owners] either lack knowledge, experience or time to handle their pools needs. Hopefully by getting to know what [the customers] needs are, we can get them to a position where they feel like they are comfortable with their pool and they can enjoy it again.

Although the company does not offer pool installation, Rex and Russell said they are able to offer advice and give customers an idea of what would be required to maintain the pool once installed.

We can inform [customers] on what they need to think about as they go through their choices and are making decisions, Russell said. We can give them ideas to talk to their pool builder about.

Since opening the store, Russell said they have seen a steady increase in business; however, the brothers do not have plans to expand Pool Chem Plus in the immediate future.

Were local; were here to answer questions, Rex said. We relate to our customers not just as a retail store, but as pool owners. We have pools ourselves, and we know what we expect from our pools. We want to give people what they are looking for not only in a retail setting, but a service setting as well. We want to be able to talk to them as pool owners and treat their pools like we would treat our own.

Pool Chem Plus, 402 Williams Drive, Ste. 100, 512-547-4002,www.poolchemplus.com, Hours: Mon.Fri. 9 a.m.6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.5 p.m.