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customer base on conditions that are more
favorable than these customers could obtain on their own. We believe
that we currently enjoy good relationships with our suppliers, who
generally offer us competitive pricing, return policies and promotional
allowances. However, our inability to maintain favorable relationships
with our suppliers could have an adverse effect on our business.
Our largest suppliers are Pentair Corporation,
Hayward Pool Products, Inc. and Waterpik Technologies, Inc., which
accounted for approximately 16%, 11% and 6%, respectively, of the
costs of products we sold in 2006. A decision by several suppliers,
acting in concert, to sell their products directly to retail customers
and other end-users of their products, bypassing distribution companies
like ours, would have an adverse effect on our business. Additionally,
the loss of a single supplier could also adversely affect our business.
We dedicate significant resources to promote the benefits and affordability
of pool ownership, which we believe greatly benefits our swimming
pool customers and suppliers.
We face intense competition both from within
our industry and from other leisure product alternatives.
We face competition from both inside and outside
of our industry. Within our industry, we compete against various
regional and local distributors and, to a lesser extent, mass market
retailers and large pool or landscape supply retailers. Outside
of our industry, we compete with sellers of other leisure product
alternatives, such as boats and motor homes, and with other companies
who rely on discretionary homeowner expenditures, such as home remodelers.
New competitors may emerge as there are low barriers to entry in
our industry. Some geographic markets that we serve, particularly
our largest, higher density markets in California, Florida, Texas
and Arizona, representing approximately 56% of our net sales in
2006, also tend to be more competitive than others.
More aggressive competition by mass merchants
and large pool or landscape supply retailers could adversely affect
our sales.
Mass market retailers today carry a limited
range of, and devote a limited amount of shelf space to, merchandise
and products targeted to our industry. Historically, mass market
retailers have generally expanded by adding new stores and product
breadth, but their product offering of pool and landscape related
products has remained relatively constant. Should mass market retailers
increase their focus on the pool or professional landscape industries,
or increase the breadth of their pool and landscape related product
offerings, they may become a more significant competitor for direct
and end-use customers which could have an adverse impact on our
business. We may face additional competitive pressures if large
pool or landscape supply retailers look to expand their customer
base to compete more directly within the distribution channel.
The demand for our swimming pool and related
outdoor lifestyle products may be adversely affected by unfavorable
economic conditions.
In economic downturns, the demand for swimming
pool or leisure related products may decline as discretionary consumer
spending, the increase in pool eligible households and swimming
pool construction decline. Although maintenance products and repair
and replacement equipment that must be purchased by pool owners
to maintain existing swimming pools account for more than 60% of
our gross profits, the growth of our business depends on the expansion
of the installed pool base, which may be viewed by most consumers
as a discretionary expenditure that could be adversely affected
by economic downturns. In addition, even in generally favorable
economic conditions, severe and/or prolonged downturns in the housing
market could have a material adverse impact on our financial performance.
We depend on key personnel.
We consider our employees to be the foundation
for our growth and success. As such, our future success depends
in large part on our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified
personnel, including our executive officers and key management personnel.
If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, our operating
results could be adversely affected.
Specifically, our future success depends to
an extent upon the continued service of Manuel Perez de la Mesa,
our Chief Executive Officer. The loss of Mr. Perez de la Mesa in
particular could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Mr. Perez de la Mesa is not nearing retirement age, and we have
no indication that he intends to retire in the near future. We do
not currently maintain key man insurance on Mr. Perez de la Mesa.
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