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E-323 Pool Nation Podcast From ZERO to Nearly 2,000 Pools – What These Tech Guys Figured Out

📅 October 19, 2026 ⏱️ 1:36:38 🎤 Edgar De Jesus, John JJ Flawless, Mark, Eric, Evan

Chapters

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  • 0:33
    From Tech to Pool Industry
    The hosts introduce Mark, Eric, and Evan, who left tech careers to start a pool business, growing it rapidly.
  • 1:13
    Rapid Growth & Early Mistakes
    The guests share how they scaled to nearly 2,000 pools and the lessons learned from costly mistakes, like turning a pool purple.
  • 5:03
    Customer-Centric Vision Shift
    They explain how initial customer calls led them to pivot from building one large company to a network of local businesses.
  • 5:57
    Strategic Partnerships & Expansion
    The founders discuss their strategy of partnering with existing successful pool businesses for expansion, exemplified by their collaboration with Javier Payan.
  • 6:44
    California Pool Partners Model
    Evan clarifies that California Pool Partners is not a PE firm, emphasizing their unique, long-term approach to partnerships and growth, driven by the founders themselves.
  • 8:29
    Tackling Customer Churn
    Mark details their data-driven approach to understanding and reducing customer churn by directly engaging with former clients to identify underlying issues.

Speakers

E
Edgar De Jesus
Host
J
John JJ Flawless
Host
M
Mark
California Pool Partners
E
Eric
California Pool Partners
E
Evan
California Pool Partners

Key Takeaways

✦

Clearly define your business vision early on (residential vs. commercial, specific geography) to guide disciplined growth and avoid chasing shiny objects.

✦

Prioritize service quality and charge fair rates to enable reinvestment in your business, pay employees livable wages, and avoid cutting corners.

✦

Actively solicit feedback from all customers, especially new ones, to understand their needs and preferences, and be willing to pivot your business model based on this data.

✦

Foster a low-ego environment where the 'best idea wins' and be prepared to recalibrate your vision based on market feedback and operational realities.

✦

Focus on consistency in service delivery across all customers, as even small deviations or unfulfilled promises can lead to churn.

✦

When expanding, consider partnering with established local businesses rather than competing, leveraging their existing infrastructure and knowledge while offering specialized support.

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