Water Care Expert!

Can you believe we are putting Pool Opening kits on the shelf? It is hard to imagine swimming when we are still receiving (more than) our yearly dose of snow! Pool accessories are being organized, the parts room is being stocked and we are all preparing ourselves for the pool opening rush.

On April 2^nd, we will be closed in both locations (Aylesford and New Minas) for our annual Chemistry Training day. Every year our staff gathers to have a refresher on pool maintenance, troubleshooting and chemistry. (Doing this keeps us all on our toes for when you come in each spring with your pool and hot tub related chemistry questions.)

Jenn Kendall-McGrath

 

Also, in our New Minas location we have Jenn Kendall-McGrath our Water Care Division Manager, and she is here to help with all of your water woes.  Jenn, who has been on staff at Holland Home Leisure for 12 years, is our on site Water Care Specialist. She is happy to help find you the perfect hot tub or pool maintenance system that is going to suit your needs and lifestyle! Are you a hot tub owner who is busy and on the go? Ask her about Mineraluxe!

Did you know that we can conduct up to 13 tests for things in your pool and spa water? Our in store testing (done in both locations) is a complimentary service to all of our chemistry customers, so feel free to bring us in a 1L sample anytime you have questions or concerns! Sit back, relax, and enjoy a complimentary coffee or tea while we test your water, and then get your personalized results explained to you by one of our Water Care Specialists.

Water Lab

We hope to see you all soon,

Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer

First Time Blogger!

 

As my first blog post, I decided that I would use a letter that I recently wrote for our Backyard Escapes magazine which is being printed right now, and will be circulating very shortly! Blogging is entirely new to me, but I think that it may prove to be fun! We have some exciting things happening at Holland Home Leisure, and as plans unfold, I will be sure to share in future Blog posts!

 

Here goes nothing…

 

Andrea and I became Holland Home Leisure customer’s 5-years ago, and have been transforming our backyard into our own All-Inclusive, fully embracing the concept of Vacation-at-Home.  Our passion for backyard living has taken both of our careers in a new direction, and we are thoroughly delighted to have joined the Holland Home Leisure team!

 

In my previous career, I would generally get home around 6:45PM, and the summer months were always the best!  My evenings generally seemed to go one of two ways….I would either come home to a pool full of kids, or I would come home to immediately hear “will you come swimming with us?”  For those of you that have a pool, I expect you know exactly what I’m talking about…..for those that do not have a pool, I can assure you that it is an incredibly rewarding feeling!  Bonding with your kids seems to go at a different speed when you’re in a pool, and the memories are ones that really will last a life time!  Do you remember where you used to swim as a child? I do!

 

What type of pool? What about the deck? Is a hot tub in the cards?  All questions that come to mind when considering a new backyard.  It can seem overwhelming, or like one of the most enjoyable puzzles you’ll ever complete!  For me, what a great puzzle!  When we began thinking about our new backyard, the consensus view from the spectators was that there was no way I would have enough room to put in a pool.  The final result (of that phase) was that we installed a 15x30 above ground pool, with 20 feet of deck at one end of the pool. The puzzle pieces fit!  Going into our 7^th backyard season at our home, every year we take on new projects, and I’m pretty sure we’re almost done..... 25 years of annual projects left to go!  As you start to think about what your dream backyard is, come into our store, share your vision, and we’ll do everything we can to help make it a reality. 

 

To our existing customers, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your business, and you have my commitment that we will continue to do everything we can to ensure you get the most out of your backyard, and I hope you have another wonderful season! 

-Mark VanZoost
Holland Home Leisure

Have you Booked your Pool Opening Yet?

It is hard to believe but it is officially Spring today! (Looks like it out there, doesn’t it?) We have actually been in Spring mode at HHL since the beginning of February! Why you might ask? Our Service Department has been prepping to make sure we are prepared to open your pool and to make it easier for you to book service calls.

 

As the Service Advisor, I am actually the one who schedules all of our service crews. Pool opening bookings have started to pour in so now is the time to book yours! We will be starting the week of April 22^nd which is only one month away. Of course, it is hard to believe with the winter weather hitting us this week!

 

Are you looking for a much easier and stress-free way to book your pool opening this year? Just email me at kristi@hollandhomeleisure.com and I will be happy to assist. You can call either store location and talk to the staff, or be asked to be put directly through to my phone. I am still only working limited hours but you can always leave me a voice mail and I will get back to you as soon as possible. I am not sure I am looking forward to giving up my Fall/Winter hours just yet, but before you know it, I will be here at 7:00 am! (So EARLY!)

 

If you would like to talk to me in person, I’m located in the Aylesford store. For those who don’t realize I hide in the back office!

 

Hope to hear from you soon!

 

Kristi Huestis

 

Service Advisor, Holland Home Leisure

New Products 2013

Last week we had a few warm days, and then we were quickly reminded it is still winter here in Nova Scotia. BRRRR! We are all anxious to break out the spring clothes and not be bundled in everything we own while walking the kids to the bus stop. Patience, the nice weather will come…eventually! (Ok, so maybe I’m not very patient)

Maybe you can warm up with some fresh baked pizza from our brand new Pizza Ovens!

Spring is a busy time of year here at Holland Home Leisure. We are currently organizing the floor with brand new patio furniture, stocking the shelves with all of the necessary pool chemicals and accessories, and prepping for all of your chemistry questions.

We are excited to show you some fun new products for 2013. So make sure you stop by and check them out!

Napoli - Ebel Furniture

Sereno-Kettler Furniture

 

 

Above Ground Robotic Cleaner

 

Talk soon,

Liana vandenHof- Rhodenizer





Mark and Andrea- A welcome...and a warning!

2013 brings a year of change for HHL. Mike and Debby vandenHof have joined forces with new partners Mark and Andrea VanZoost, and since January 1^st they have been working hard at learning the ins and outs of the business. Not only are they learning product knowledge and chemistry, they are learning about how things run on a daily basis.

I wanted to take this opportunity to warn them for what they are in for… and wish them luck for the busy season which is coming soon!

1.       Beware of the Victoria Day Weekend Sale! Yes, we’ve told you it will be busy, but you will not understand HOW busy until you have experienced it first hand. This weekend can be fun, overwhelming, and a great way to get to meet our awesome customers  so wear comfortable shoes, bring food you can eat on the run, and don’t drink too much water as your bathroom breaks will be limited. (P.S. If you make it through these 3 days…you can make it through anything.)

2.       Products: Everywhere you look in HHL is a product (big or small), 1000’s of products that at some point you will know something about. All of that product information will most likely take over your brain, and don’t be surprised if it may push out some of the old (possibly useful) information you once have had. Your dreams will now be taken over by plumbing pieces, water tests, chemicals, and furniture sets.

3.       The Staff: You are joining a team, a family even… and with that comes many years of experience and opinions. We are happy to help you learn about o-rings, chemistry and the endless fabric choices for furniture, but we may take some encouraging and reassuring when you decide to change how our world works! We like to have fun, laugh, and remember…. we can easily be bribed with food.

 

“Andrea and Mark, I am so excited for the opportunity to learn from both of you! Your enthusiasm is contagious and I see myself benefiting greatly from your arrival. Welcome to the HHL family, and I look forward to all that is to come in 2013!”- Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer, Manager, Hot Tub and Furniture Divisions

“Andrea and Mark, welcome to the HHL Team, it’s going to be an awesome summer. Your enthusiasm is exciting and as Liana said ‘contagious’.” –Anne Hale, General Manager, Lifestyles Plaza

“I am very excited to have fresh faces in the Holland Home Leisure family! Welcome to the team Andrea and Mark. Your eagerness and approach to learning is encouraging us to ‘move our cheese’.”- Jennifer Kendall McGrath, Chemistry Manager

Talk soon,

Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer

Your new home away from home :)

I'm Back!

Do you know that feeling when you see someone you are close with, but don’t have the opportunity to see often,  and it feels like you just saw them yesterday?

That is how I feel! Wow, I was gone for 14 months on maternity leave, where did that time go? Strangely, I still remember how to do a water test with out even really thinking about it, I remember the code for a Beachcomber filter with out looking, and my office still feels like home!

I was interested to see how things had changed while I was gone. I was worried that I would feel like the odd one out since so much time has passed. There are new products, new management (since I’ve been gone), new partners, and the clock is in a new place. Guess what I’m having the hardest time adjusting to? You guessed it, the clock!

I am excited to work along side some wonderful people who welcomed me back with open arms, and I have been having a blast getting to know the new members of the HHL team. The HHL family has grown, and with that comes fresh new ideas on how to serve you better.

We are in the process of planning a great spring/summer season so keep an eye out for fun updates on our Facebook page, charity events, and our blog! If you are unfamiliar with the blog please take a few minutes to read through some posts from the past years.

I am looking forward to seeing some familiar faces in the upcoming season, and I am excited to welcoming you back into the store sometime soon.

-Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer

Manager, Hot Tub & Outdoor Furniture Divisions

 

Having fun at work :)