- the world is in financial crisis
We all know that and most of us are feeling the effects of it right now
The financial struggle to keep backyard pools in good order is partly why we made this website - at least that's true about the Technical side of the site; we're offering a helping hand in these difficult times
The truth is that not everyone who lives with or uses a pool is rich; but every pool should have Pool Safety Equipment. At the very least you need a barrier like a Fence, a Safety Net or a Safety Cover. Sometimes, that can create a temporary problem
Young families and single parents, to name two financially vulnerable groups, might not have the funds to make the pool safe - yet they are the folks who need Pool Safety the most; there is almost always a young child at risk
Quality Pool Safety Equipment is made to a very high standard from hi-tech materials and does not come cheap; so here are a few suggestions to help you to raise the money you need to make the pool safe. First thing you do is: -
Start a Pool Safety Fund
The basic concept is to get people interested enough in your Pool Safety Fund to come to your home, or an outside venue, and spend some money or make a donation of cash, their time or some service that they can offer
Here are a few ways to raise money for the Pool Safety Fund - there are many more ideas out there and if you think of a good one please let us know and we'll upload it
Any or all of the events outlined below may be of interest to your local newspaper so tell them about it - well before it happens - and they might do a story on your event and boost attendance
Make some posters and put them up in your neighbourhood
Car boot sale - Rent pitches or stalls in your car park or garden/field (or even in the street if necessary) to family, friends and neighbours to sell their surplus stuff
Clothes swap - Much the same as a car-boot sale but with just clothes, shoes and accessories
Ask people to bring unwanted quality items, in a clean condition, and charge an entry fee or a commission on sales, or both
Auction - Donated goods and 'promises' of people's time, labour and skill can auctioned off to raise funds quickly
- Ask your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to donate to the auction; any service or skill that you can raise some money on. (A particularly useful skill is a Bookkeeper to audit the Fund)
- Ask your local pool company, the ones you do business with, to donate a free pool-clean, basic service and/or inspection report to the highest bidder. They should jump at the chance of getting their foot through the door of a potential new client
- Ask your local car service business to donate something of similar desirability; maybe a wash-and-wax-job on the highest bidders car?
- Your local Supermarket might donate a trolley-dash as a fundraiser (just for the publicity, especially if yours is a community pool)
- Ask every local business you can think of to donate something; including the likes of MacDonald's, Dairy Queen, Burger King. local hairdressers and barber shops, etc.
- Don't forget to involve your local Radio station - they love a human-interest story
- Ask a local Celebrity to attend - maybe a local Radio DJ
- Don't take a direct 'No' as an answer until one the above 'prospects' has said it on 3 different occasions - but don't be too pushy - give reluctant donors enough time to find a way to persuade themselves to help you
- The more interest you can generate, the more local people you can involve - and the better your chances of getting the Press involved, so the quicker you'll reach your goal
- Brush the kids hair ready for the Press 'Photo Opportunity'
- Have all your sponsors in the photos, if possible
Raffle - ask for donations for the prizes, as for Auctions above, and sell tickets
Host any or all of the following - Murder Mystery evening - Jumble sale - Wine tasting evenings - Karaoke evenings - Quiz nights - Coffee mornings - Hair beading/plaiting party - Theme or Fancy Dress parties - Live music events (local bands will often play for beer and pizza, or even for free, in a good cause)
Fundraising Kids can: - babysit - mow lawns - wash cars - run a lemonade stall - or old toy sale - go carol singing - hold a Kids Theatre performance
Fundraising Adults, of all ages, can offer: - moving rubbish - gardening - professional services - being the 'duty-driver' for a friends night out - private lessons or tuition - hairdressing - massage - free round of golf - laundry - bake-sales - cleaning windows - painting - hand-made greetings cards
Safety Equipment costs money
If you can reduce the price of equipment and installation just a little bit - you'll make the pool safe that bit quicker, so shave a little where you can but don't ever compromise on quality
So, here are a few ways to get a discount on Safety Equipment
- Find out if any Grants are available to offset the costs of Pool Safety Equipment. Ask at your local pool-shop and local government offices
- Get several Quotations for the work and get the best start-price you can
- Once you've got a start-price, offer the supplier or installer (let's call them 'they') any deal you can think of to get a better price
- They really, really want to somehow find a way that you can afford their product but there is one other thing that they want even more than that - further business
- A switched-on businessman understands the importance of a personal recommendation when he's trying to make his next sale
- Companies know what each 'lead' costs them in hard cash - so if you bring them more business you can discuss a commission-based discount
- Any businessman would be foolish to refuse such a deal; and most businessmen are shrewd enough to see the merit of this approach
- This could include having a small advertising board outside your home for a month or two after the installation
- Or carrying their advertising on your car for a few months
- Or perhaps you could deliver a couple of thousand of the supplier/installer's leaflets in your immediate residential area
- Offer to make a home-cooked meal for the installers when they are fitting the equipment - they may well agree to a cash discount equal to the price of such a meal
Buy online; it's often cheaper to buy quality brands on the internet but it's harder to get a deal because their margins are smaller. It's always worth a try though - in my experience if you ask for a discount you might get one but if you don't ask you definitely won't get one
So, that leaves one more option - beg! Don't be ashamed - we need to make your pool safe as quickly as possible
PS. - You can donate any surplus to the next Pool Safety Fund or give it to a swimming-related charity
We supply all plant and equipment featured on this website. All our work is Guaranteed; Parts and Labour
For free and unbiased advice, a site visit or no-obligation Quotation*, please make initial enquiries by email. Tell us a little about your pool problem and include a daytime phone number. Thanks, we look forward to meeting you soon
Note: - Please contact our recommended pool professionals for supply and installation of all pool-related services: -
Andalusia and the Costa del Sol - Pool Safety Spain
Nerja area - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
*We only offer Quotations: - a fixed, agreed price that cannot, and will not, be increased. We do not give 'estimates', as an estimate offers the client no guarantee of final price
Share this website with other Pool Owners and Users, encourage them to read about Pool Safety, learn CPR and help them to save lives, time and money. Please help us to make every pool a safer place - by sharing this information we can cut the number of pool accidents and deaths. Please also see our Facebook page
Ken Walker - MyPoolGuru©