When Chris Batliner set out to purchase his first hot tub, he never dreamed he’d one day be selling them. As an entrepreneur, military veteran, and insurance expert, Chris has owned several businesses in the past, including a Mr. Goodcents sandwich franchise and a cleaning company. It was out of his sheer frustration as a hot tub owner that led to his next business move—Arctic Spa of Omaha.
“One of the things I learned as a business owner is that if you’re going to start something, you want to make sure there’s a need for it. And I found a real gap in the hot tub industry.”
Frustration Led to Innovation
Chris’s excitement for his new hot tub quickly faded when he discovered a hot tub owner’s worst nightmare—his hot tub was leaking. It was the leak that led him to quickly realize the industry had a major problem:
“I called around to get somebody to fix it, and nobody wanted to do it. When you take the sides off most hot tubs, they’re filled with foam, which makes it nearly impossible to find the leak. And if you can’t find the leak, you can’t fix it.”
Determined, Chris took matters into his own hands. With his background as a helicopter crew chief in the Army, he hoped he could repair it himself. He then turned to YouTube tutorials and DIY solutions, but nothing worked.
“I gave it my best shot, but I could not get it to stop leaking. So, I let it sit there for about a year and a half until my wife finally said, ‘You need to replace the hot tub.“
That’s when he began researching hot tubs with better designs, using AI-driven searches to compare brands. One name kept coming up: Arctic Spas.
“What makes Arctic Spas different is that they don’t fill their cabinets with foam. Instead, they insulate the exterior, which means you can actually get in and fix things if something goes wrong. Plus, no more rodents burrowing inside the insulation!”
After purchasing an Arctic Spa for himself, Chris was so impressed that he contacted the company about becoming a dealer.
“I had an opportunity to buy a different dealership in town, but I knew that Arctic Spas had a niche. I was a consumer first, and I knew this was a better product.”
Building a Business in a Competitive Market
Unlike other franchise models, Arctic Spa dealerships operate as independent dealers. This meant Chris didn’t have to pay franchise fees, but he did have to pass an approval process to secure exclusive dealership rights in Omaha.
With the support of Arctic Spas’ dealer network, Chris quickly learned the ropes.
“They’ve been an incredible resource. In our first year, we always had someone to turn to for best practices. And we’ve had a really successful first year.”
Selling Luxury: The Challenge of High-End Spas
Running a hot tub dealership is a very different business model from selling sandwiches. Instead of high-volume, low-cost sales, hot tubs are a high-ticket, low-frequency purchase.
“We’re hoping to sell 120 to 250 hot tubs a year. But unlike a sandwich shop where people come in every day, this is a long game. Customers don’t just walk in and buy a hot tub on the spot.”
Most customers spend weeks or months researching, comparing brands, and even checking big-box retailers like Costco.
“A lot of people look up hot tub prices on Google, and the first place that pops up is Costco. What they don’t realize is that when you buy from Costco, they just drop it off in your driveway. With us, we offer full setup, service, and support.”
What Make Arctic Spas Special
One of the differentiators of Arctic Spas is their advanced technology, particularly their patented “Spa Boy” system.
“Spa Boy is a brain inside the hot tub that automatically balances your water chemistry for you. Before I had this, I was constantly draining and refilling my tub because I couldn’t get the chemistry right. Now, I haven’t drained my spa in over a year and a half.”
Even better, Arctic Spas offer saltwater systems, which are easier to maintain and require fewer chemicals than traditional chlorine-based tubs.
“When people hear we offer saltwater hot tubs, they get excited. It’s just like the trend of converting pools to saltwater—it’s gentler on your skin and much easier to maintain.”
Expanding the Business & Future Plans
With a successful first year under his belt, Chris is already looking toward expansion. His next potential move? Lincoln, Nebraska.
He’s also considering the possibility of selling pools, given the high demand from customers.
“So many people ask about pools. We do offer all-weather pools—basically giant hot tubs with a current for swimming—but we’d love to expand into full pool installations down the road.”
Lessons from a Serial Entrepreneur
Through his journey from consumer to entrepreneur, Chris has gained a lot of valuable insight.
His advice to aspiring business owners?
“Find something you love, and make sure there’s a real need for it. Surround yourself with the right people, because at the end of the day, no matter how good your product is, you need a great team to keep the business on track.”
Interested in Hot Tubs?
Chris invites Omaha residents to visit the Arctic Spa showroom in Elkhorn, Nebraska, to see what makes Arctic Spas unique.
📍 Location: 204th & Veterans Drive, Elkhorn, NE
📞 Contact: 402-925-6044
🌐 Website: Google “Arctic Spa Omaha”
“If you’re even considering a hot tub, just stop by and check us out. I guarantee you’ll be impressed.”
With their hands-on service, superior technology, and a passion for providing the best, Arctic Spa of Omaha is making waves in the local hot tub industry—one spa at a time.
