Why This Amazon Manager Decided to Invest in a Poolwerx Franchise

With over 20 years in retail and a significant tenure running a fulfillment center at Amazon, Neil Gwynne was proud of his accomplishments professionally, but felt like his personal life was lacking. This quest for more control led him to explore various business concepts, eventually drawing him towards Poolwerx, an industry-leading full-service swimming pool repair, maintenance and retail franchise.

"I was in charge of around 3,500 associates and 130 managers," Gwynne said. “Eventually, I got tired of being in the corporate world — I really wanted a better work-life balance. Amazon isn’t famous for being good at that. I wanted to be more in control, able to make my own decisions, learn from my own failures and set my own culture.”

With this mission, Gwynne began looking at several franchise concepts. “I kept coming back to Poolwerx while doing my research,” he said. “I liked the fact that they were still somewhat new and untapped in the U.S. I had spent a lot of time around pools in my life, and operating a business was second nature to me. It seemed like a natural fit.”

Founded in 1992, Poolwerx is one of the world’s largest swimming pool repair, maintenance and retail franchises. The brand offers an array of pool services, from residential and commercial pool cleaning to retail equipment sales and repair. This diversity ensures that franchisees have a multitude of revenue streams to explore within the pool industry, catering to various customer needs. While the brand is well established in Australia and New Zealand, it is currently focused heavily on U.S. expansion, presenting a promising opportunity for budding entrepreneurs like Gwynne looking to make a splash.

Transitioning into a new industry, Gwynne valued the support system that Poolwerx offered. "It was great to have the support of people who truly knew what they were doing,” he said. “I certainly wasn’t a pool expert, so being able to pick up the phone and utilize those resources was very reassuring.” 

Poolwerx provides extensive training covering topics like water balance, hydrodynamics and other crucial subjects. An advanced training center located in Dallas offers hands-on learning experiences and problem-solving exercises, equipping people from diverse backgrounds with the skills to become talented pool care specialists. Moreover, the company employs a custom-built software platform to streamline business operations, along with a strong emphasis on digital marketing strategies.

"Joining a team like Poolwerx that provides a business in a box means I don't have to figure out marketing, wrapping vehicles, tech systems," Gwynne said. “That is a big advantage.”

Gwynne officially started his Poolwerx franchise in Augusta, Georgia in May 2023. "We were a little bit late to the game in terms of pool season, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised in how much business we've gained," he said. “There was a major need for a high-quality and consistent pool company in the area. People could tell we cared about what we do.”

Looking forward, Gwynne plans to expand his business, contemplating additional locations or territory expansion. Overall, he says his experience as a Poolwerx franchise partner has helped him achieve many of the lifestyle changes he had hoped for in the beginning of the process. 

"I am 100% already feeling those benefits — my wife sees a whole different me,” said Gwynne. “I’m less stressed and much more relaxed. Sure, I’m still busy, but it's a different kind of busy. I am still working long days, but when you are working for yourself, there is a whole other level of motivation and satisfaction. That is what I love most about being a franchise owner with Poolwerx.”

For more information on the cost to buy a Poolwerx franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/poolwerx