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What is a Buying Group and How Can Joining One Benefit Your Business?
If you’re in the pool industry, you’ve likely heard of a buying group or group purchasing organization (GPO). But what exactly is a GPO and how can it benefit your business? A buying group offers products, goods, or services at significantly reduced prices on the condition that a minimum number of buyers will make a purchase. It is essentially a group of individuals or businesses that band together to negotiate more competitive pricing from vendors.
If you’re a member of Costco or Sam’s Club, you’re part of a buying group or rather a buying club. Being a member of Costco or Sam’s allows you to purchase bulk quantities of the products you love at a reduced price. Similarly, buying groups in the pool industry allow contractors, builders, retailers, and servicers to enjoy benefits like reduced pricing and the convenience of bulk purchasing on inventory.
What Are the Advantages of Joining a Buying Group?
So what exactly are the perks of joining a buying group? Becoming a member of a GPO is an excellent financial investment. Membership can save you thousands of dollars annually in the form of vendor rebates, automatic reimbursement plans (ARP), and heavy discounts on items your business needs. Plus, some buying groups, including United Aqua Group (UAG), offers stock shares so their members can build wealth over time.
There are some non-monetary benefits that buying groups offer as well. GPOs streamline the entire buying process to save you time and headaches. For example, buying groups handle ordering and billing all in one place, so you don’t have to deal with dozens of vendors. Additionally, GPOs offer greater efficiency and inventory control. When you join a buying group like UAG, for example, you’ll no longer have to worry about product availability or price at distribution.
Another added advantage is that buying groups offer a built in network of other like-minded professionals in the pool industry. This allows you to create helpful business connections and expand your professional network.
Are There Any Disadvantages of Joining a Group Purchasing Organization?
As you’re reading this, you may be thinking this is too good to be true, which is why it’s also important to weigh the possible drawbacks of joining a buying group as well. One of the biggest disadvantages that GPO members face is that most buying groups won’t work with every supplier on the market. In simpler terms, if you have a preferred vendor that isn’t affiliated with your buying group, you won’t be able to use your GPO discounts with them and may have to opt for another vendor to purchase at a discounted rate.
Additionally, some buying groups require involvement and participation from their members as part of the deal. So just be sure to thoroughly research any buying group before joining to ensure you are ready to make the commitment.
What Does It Cost to Join a Buying Group?
Like Costco and Sam’s Club, most buying groups are funded through membership fees. These fees can be modest or quite pricey depending on the size and scope of the organization, so it’s important to be informed about what you’re signing up for before joining. Some buying groups also require a minimum order amount, so don’t forget to read the fine print and rules of membership before signing up.
Get Started–Join a GPO Today
If a buying group seems like it would benefit you or your business, getting started is easy. Simply determine which group is best for you, apply, and start saving. Chances are, once you’ve joined you’ll be thanking yourself that you did.
If you aren’t sure which group is for you, consider United Aqua Group. We help our members buy better and build equity in the process. On average, our members save up to $180,000 a year or more on purchases. Check out our website for more information on becoming a member of UAG.
AquatiCare™ is Landmark Aquatic’s newly enhanced preventative-maintenance program, built to keep your water safe, your systems reliable, and your downtime low. Customized service plans align with each facility’s unique needs, covering equipment inspections, routine maintenance, and precise chemical care. Water is your business; staying on top of it is ours. We get ahead of issues before they surface, so your water is ready for anyone, anytime.
With AquatiCare™ facilities get technicians that are factory trained, Certified Pool Operators (CPOs) that also receive continuous, certified training so technicians stay current on industry standards, safety protocols, and the latest technological advancements. AquatiCare™ also offers in-depth maintenance of chemical, deck and mechanical items to help extends equipment life, optimize water consumption, and create a more sustainable operation. AquatiCare™ packages are fully customizable, with maintenance visits scheduled to align with a facility’s specific needs.
Landmark Aquatic is a premier provider of commercial aquatic facility design, construction, and maintenance, with more than six decades of industry leadership. Serving clients nationwide, Landmark delivers construction-led solutions supported by its CPO-certified AquatiCare maintenance team, ensuring excellence “for the life of your pool.” Committed to the full lifecycle of every facility, Landmark prioritizes long-term partnerships while adapting to client needs through exceptional service, operational excellence, and forward-thinking solutions.
For more about Landmark Aquatic visit www.landmarkaquatic.com
More information contact:
RB Retail & Service Solutions now offers DocuSign as an integrated feature in their pool and spa industry business software. This electronic signature and agreement platform lets you send, sign, and manage documents securely online, instead of using paper contracts. Integrated directly within the RB system so staff can work with contracts and request signatures without exiting the POS software. Allows users to send contracts (e.g., sales agreements, financing forms, service waivers), track status, send reminders and easily pull signed contracts attached directly to the customer. Provides security and compliance with encrypted documents and detailed audit trail.
RB Retail & Service Solutions provides point of sale and business management solutions for pool & spa and chimney & hearth retailers. The software was specifically designed with those industries in mind, taking into consideration the features that would be of most importance to those business owners. RB is a highly experienced and trusted authority in the industry and its software boosts profitability, competitiveness, work/life balance of owners and employees, efficiency, and the ability to make more informed, data-driven decisions about their business.
RB Retail & Service Solutions software was created over 20 years ago by a pool and spa professional to handle the diversity and complexity of the pool and spa retail, service, and construction business. Our software is continually enhanced, and further developed with suggestions and input from hundreds of pool and spa dealers throughout the United States and Canada. Call to schedule a demo.
To learn more or to schedule an online demo, call or visit their website:
(866) 933-9099
Monroeville, PA
BSquared Pools offers a new freestanding sunledge that can be added to any outdoor living space! The new Free Standing Sunledge is a patent-pending product that gives consumers the benefits of a sunledge without the need for having a pool! Manufactured from the same pool-strength polypropylene panels used in its pool kits, this ‘plug-n-play’ solution can be used independent-of or in-combination-with a pool. Interior measures 72” x 82” with 235 gallons of water. Gentle overflow waterfall. Accommodates various pool loungers. Made in USA.
419-708-9631
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