After both working at pool-related companies for many years, friends Dave Poncelow and Tim Schaefer decided they wanted to make improvements on the way services were offered and opened a company of their own. Outdoor Living opened its doors 19 years ago, offering pool cleaning and related services. The team quickly grew, and Outdoor Living started building pools for their customers. Ten years ago, a retail location was opened near 120th and I in the Sports Plaza and the full-service outdoor company now offers hot tubs, outdoor furniture, water testing, and chemical products and has grown into the largest pool and spa installer in the Omaha metro.
The growth of Outdoor Living is due to how much the team cares about their customers and providing the best possible service to each and every person who walks through their doors. They all love what they do, and it shows in the time and attention they devote to every project.
Below is an interview with Mike Creekmore, store manager of Outdoor Living.
How has the business grown over the years?
What started as a store selling pool floats, toys, and chemicals has evolved into a full outdoor company that sells inground pools, spas, pergolas, patio furniture and more. Our key to success has been slow growth. When we bring on a new product or service, we always make sure it’s going to be successful and that we’re representing it well before we bring on something else. We recently made the move into installing outdoor kitchens and are excited about how that will benefit our customer base.
What do you think sets you apart from other businesses?
Many of us, including one of our owners, are from small towns, and we all know that reputation is key. Our team members all have similar values and know that it’s very important to treat every customer, no matter the reason they walk through our doors, like they are buying a pool. Even if a customer only has a few questions and doesn’t buy anything, our team takes the time and energy to make sure they are happy with their service and excited to tell others about us after they leave.
I think another thing that sets us apart is that we take an hour or two with each of our new spa or pool owners to really educate them about their investment and make sure they understand how to take care of it. It’s one of my favorite parts of the job and I always feel good about what we do when I leave one of those meetings.
What do you and your team like about living and working in Omaha?
We love that the outdoor living market in Omaha continues to experience incredible growth due to the many new neighborhoods being built and people moving here from the coasts to experience the Midwest lifestyle. Omaha is such a wonderful place to live and it’s gratifying to see that others recognize that.
What are your plans for the next five years of your business? 10? 25?
Our ultimate goal is to become the primary destination in the Omaha metro for backyard enjoyment. We will continue our slow growth and continue to bring on new products and services as we see the demand for it.
If you could choose one thing you enjoy most about your business, what would it be?
I just really love the customer service aspect of it. I can’t express how much I enjoy talking with the customers face-to-face, which is the reason I can’t wait to do the meetings with our new pool and spa owners. I also enjoy just being out on the floor and interacting with customers. I hate being in the office because then I can’t talk to and help people!
How does your team give back to the community?
We really try to respond to any needs that our past and present customers have. We never turn down a request to donate to a baseball team or other causes that our customers are passionate about. Three or four years ago, we were able to help one of our customers whose daughter had breast cancer. We got in touch with one of our manufacturers, and together we raised almost $10,000 to help her and her family with medical expenses.
Does your business have a mission statement?
We don’t have a specific mission statement, but we believe in phenomenal service and education and selling only the best possible products. We know that a pool or spa is a big investment, and we want to be known as the company that helps our customers protect that investment.
If you could give other business owners a piece of advice, what would it be?
Don’t grow too fast! We started with just two guys in a garage with a vision to become THE outdoor destination in the city, but it took them almost 20 years to get there because they wanted to do it the right way.
Also, from a managerial standpoint, don’t be afraid to hire people who are better than you!
