How This Female-Owned Poolwerx Franchise Is Thriving in a Traditionally Male-Dominated Industry

Poolwerx, the leading pool and hot tub maintenance franchise, is emerging as a leading player in the rapidly evolving world of pool care. As a result, savvy entrepreneurs from all walks of life are flocking to the brand. Melanie Earles, for example, is a Poolwerx franchise owner in Texas whose journey from a medical professional to a thriving business owner is a testament to the transformative power of entrepreneurship and the supportive structure of franchising. 

The Journey to Poolwerx

With a background as a nuclear medical technologist and I.T. medical sales experience, Earles found herself reassessing her career path as she fixed her own pool during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"I was basically getting paid to sit by my pool because I couldn’t do onsite meetings and hospitals didn’t want sales people coming in," Earles said. “For the first time, I was able to enjoy being home with my family instead of traveling, and that made me start to rethink my career.” 

This period of reflection also led her to identify a local need for quality pool care in the suburbs of Dallas-Fort Worth, where almost every other house has a swimming pool.

“Pools are a huge investment, so you need to make sure you are taking care of it,” said Earles. “There was one local retail store in our area that just wasn’t helpful. I could feel how differently I was being treated as a woman walking into the store versus a man. I would get pushed to the side.” 

Her dissatisfaction with local pool care services drove her to visit a Poolwerx franchise 20 minutes away. The difference in service and attention she received there was night and day. 

"The Franchise Partner gave me pointers, and I felt like he cared more about my needs — I wasn’t just another customer," Earles said. “The next thing I knew I was looking into the franchise opportunity for my area.”

The Advantages of the Poolwerx Model

Though this interaction sparked her interest in franchising with Poolwerx, Earles was no stranger to the world of business ownership. 

“My husband actually owns his own window cleaning business, and he was a home inspector for a little while,” she said. “So, we always knew entrepreneurship was the way to go. It was just about figuring out the best way to do it. With franchising, I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

What attracted Earles to Poolwerx in particular was not just the brand's reputation but the palpable support and feasible investment it offered Franchise Partners. 

“We are just a normal couple trying to support our family — we didn’t have millions of dollars in the bank, and we weren’t experts in pool care,” said Earles. “At Poolwerx, the investment was reasonable and I could see how supportive the team would be. If we failed at the business, we knew it would be our fault — as long as you follow the blueprint they provide, you can be successful. That is what we really liked about it. We didn’t even look at any other pool franchises. I knew it was the right one.”

Poolwerx operates a “hub and spoke” model — the hub is the retail store from which Franchise Partners sell products, and the spokes are their service trucks, which provide an extensive array of residential and commercial services. This includes preventative maintenance, emergency repairs, pool filter installation, green pool clean up, hot tub and spa repair, pool heating, pool sand change, pool lighting, saltwater conversion and even pool training for those homeowners who want to become an expert themselves. 

An Inclusive and Supportive Franchise Experience

Earles officially opened her Poolwerx franchise in May 2021, amidst challenging circumstances like the great freeze in Texas, which adversely affected many pool owners. Her hands-on approach and dedication quickly earned her business and respect in her community. 

Today, Earles says her journey with Poolwerx has brought everything full circle, as she is able to provide the type of inclusive customer experience and environment that was missing in her community and inspired her to start a pool business in the first place. 

“I really feel like I’ve had a warm welcome with my customers, even the male customers,” Earles said. “I never felt like they looked at me like I didn’t know what I was talking about. That's been great.”

And as a female in a predominantly male industry, Earles says she never felt marginalized within the Poolwerx system. 

"They treat me as equal with all the male owners," Earles said. “We also have a lot of female leaders at Poolwerx, so I felt that they were really excited to have me as a female owner come on board. I am not just a business owner who sits back and works on my computer. I get out there and cut pipes, clean pools and do it all myself if I have to. They have been very supportive of that.”

With plans to expand into a second retail store, Earles is set on growing her territory. Her experience has also been empowering for her two teenage daughters, who have been actively involved in the business. 

“I really feel like I have female family support,” said Earles. “That, along with the support from the Poolwerx team, has really allowed me to thrive as a woman-owned business, and I am excited to see what the future holds.”

Looking ahead, Poolwerx hopes to find qualified and passionate Franchise Partners like Earles across the country with the goal of reaching 120+ U.S. stores in the next four years, including multi-site Franchise Partners with multiple locations, adding 30 new franchises annually. The team has identified several markets primed for growth, including Texas (Houston, San Antonio and Austin), North Carolina, Georgia, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

For more information on the cost to buy a Poolwerx franchise, please visit https://poolwerxfranchising.com/