Every month, we chat with Thursday Pools dealers to learn more about their business and what’s trending in their area. This month, we talked to Jonathan Hendrick, one of the owner/operators of Hendrick Pool and Lawn Service. They specialize in full-service fiberglass and vinyl pool installations, including landscaping and hardscaping, as well as pool and lawn service and maintenance in and around Hamilton County, Indiana, including the communities of Fishers, Geist, Carmel, Noblesville and Westfield along with communities as far south as Bloomington and Nashville, Indiana.
Tell us a little about yourself and your business.
Well, we’re definitely family owned! My dad, Gary Hendrick, started the business in 1987. My brother, Justin, and I have been working in the business since we were in high school. In 2009, we added the landscaping and lawn services, and now, Justin runs that end while Dad and I focus on pools.
We have about 40 employees–three full-time office people, plus pool installation, pool service, landscaping, hardscaping and mowing crews. We also have a couple of full-time drivers and one guy that does all of our landscape lighting. And now, my fiancée Amber runs the office, so the family business just keeps growing.
What do you love about being in the pool business?
I love working outside. I couldn’t possibly imagine sitting behind a desk all day. I oversee all the installations myself. And, because we do a lot of ongoing weekly maintenance and have a lot of repeat customers, we get to go back and see families enjoying their pools. That’s really cool.
What are the most popular features in the fiberglass pools you’re installing right now?
Built-in tanning ledges for sure. Tanning ledges are one of the best things to come along in fiberglass pools. It’s hard to imagine why anyone wouldn’t want one.
We’re also big on auto-covers around here. Indiana law requires that you have either an auto-cover or a fence, but not both. Most people opt for the auto-cover because it also helps keep their pools clean. We work with Automatic Pool Covers.
What trends have you seen emerge lately in the inground fiberglass pool industry?
The big variety of shapes, colors and sizes is what strikes me. It seems like there’s not even such as thing as a white pool anymore. Also, installation has gotten a lot easier over the years. I attribute that to innovations, like Thursday Pools’ Backfill Eliminator®.
The Backfill Eliminator solves a different problem for me. We used to spend hours trying to backfill tanning ledges, and as far as I’m concerned, time is money. Plus, sometimes we couldn’t even get the backfill material into the area where it was needed. The Backfill Eliminator speeds up our installs and gives our customers a better result with their tanning ledges in the long run.
What fiberglass pool colors are the most popular among pool buyers in and around Hamilton County?
Maya is our top seller. Folks like that deep blue. But the grays are starting to become more popular too. It’s really up to the customer’s preference and what matches with the rest of the design.
What fiberglass pool designs are the most popular among pool buyers in the central Indiana area?
We sell a ton of Lil Bobs and Aspens. Everyone likes the Aspen because it has some of the curving features of a freeform, but it’s auto-cover ready. It’s a really unique design. And Lil Bobs are popular because a lot of our customers have smaller spaces, or portions of their yards that aren’t usable due to easements.
What do you think about Thursday Pools’ new beach entry designs?
I’m excited about the new beach entry designs, Grace and Sandal (Patent US 10,358,837 and 10,472,839). I can’t wait to see how they turn out. I think we’re going to be installing the first one!
What particular challenges do you face with fiberglass pool installations in your part of Indiana?
We’re blessed with good soil here, so we’re thankful for that. Weather is always a big challenge for us. But, where there’s a will, there’s a way! We just keep at it.
What works for you in terms of marketing?
Well, 90% of our business is referrals and word of mouth. So we don’t do a ton of marketing. We did do some vehicle wraps, and we updated our website. Social media is great for generating awareness about pools in general. It makes people want one.
What’s the cost of an average pool installation for you?
Our average fiberglass pool installation is around $80,000. That wouldn’t include landscaping, but does include concrete. We include 4’ of concrete in all our installations. One thing that swings pretty widely is the cost of permitting. In some of the smaller towns around McCordsville and our area, the cost is lower, but in Carmel, for example, permits can add up to as much as $2000.
What are your thoughts on Thursday Pools?
Well, Thursday Pools just does things right. Like us, they’ve gotten to be a pretty big company, but they’re still family owned. I really like that I can just pick up the phone and get Bill or Ed. They’re never too busy to talk to me. And, they just keep finding ways to make my job easier! Obviously, I like that a lot too.
What’s the secret to Hendrick Pool and Lawn’s success?
Our business has grown a lot. In an average year, we’ll do about 60 installations, and we service about 100 pools a week. We’re in this business for the long run. We don’t just install and move on. We create customers for life. We get to know our customers. We have good response times. We just keep trying to do it right, every day.
Hendrick Pool and Lawn Service is located in McCordsville, Indiana, which is about 20 miles northeast of Indianapolis. They specialize in full-service installations and service of fiberglass and vinyl liner pools, as well as landscaping and a wide range of lawncare services.
You are by this NOTICE advised that pools manufactured by Thursday Pools are sold by independent dealers and dealerships. Each dealer is an independent business entity, that is completely separate from the manufacturer, Thursday Pools. Each dealer is an independent contractor, and no dealer is an owner, agent (in fact or law), or employee of Thursday Pools, the manufacturer. Thursday Pools, the manufacturer, hereby disclaims any liability for an intentional or negligent act by any dealer, dealership, or installer, or any damage to any Thursday Pools pool caused by an act of any dealer, dealership, or installer.
Some of the content in this blog may reflect prices, perspectives, processes, entities, and names that were relevant at the time but may not be accurate today.
Pool owners love fiberglass pools for many reasons. And everyone loves deep and large fiberglass pools. Fiberglass pools are low-maintenance, quick to install and require fewer chemicals. Because fiberglass pools don’t have liners to replace or concrete that will eventually need to be replastered, they have the lowest lifetime cost of ownership over vinyl and gunite pools. They also have a smooth, durable finish that’s totally pet friendly, making them a sure bet for everyone in the family to love. So why would anyone choose anything other than fiberglass? Well, there really aren’t too many reasons! However, for pool buyers looking for large fiberglass pools, the options are somewhat limited. Whereas gunite and vinyl pools are built on-site, fiberglass pools are made in a factory, out of a mold, and then transported in one piece to the home of their lucky new pool owners. There’s a limit to the size of what can be safely loaded, unloaded and transported, and on-site physical barriers like fences and trees also have to be taken into consideration when delivering large fiberglass pools. 
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