Owner Talks Family, Community & More Than 40 Years of Success In Greenwood
Photographer / JWCreative.indy
For more than 40 years, Pool City has been serving the southside community’s in-ground and above-ground pool needs as a local, community-minded retail and service business that puts the customer first.
Owners Chris and Lynn Newett certainly epitomize the notion of a family-run business. Chris’s father Thomas founded Pool City back in 1973, specializing in above-ground pools and eventually opened a Greenwood store on Fry Road in 1975. That same year the couple got married and took a honeymoon to Denver, where they grew fond of the mountains and decided to stay. Chris went to work for a pool installer, and five years later when they decided to relocate back to the Hoosier state, he went to work as a subcontractor for Thomas at Pool City installing in-ground pools.
Thomas continued to run the business until 2001, and upon retiring he inquired as to whether Chris wanted to continue his professional legacy. Chris assented, keeping his subcontractor business, Preferred Contractors Inc., in the process of assuming ownership of the company his dad had built. Lynn came on board five years later as business manager for Pool City, and since then the Newetts have worked diligently to remain a fixture of the local community when it comes to pool installation, service and retail equipment needs.
And there isn’t much the Newetts and their staff can’t handle when it comes to above-ground and in-ground pools. They also do service and maintenance calls, new installs with a specialization in fibreglass pools Bendigo, as well as computer-based water analysis to help determine which chemicals might be needed to help bring a customer’s water balance to preferred levels.
“Over the years we have had the opportunity to install hundreds of in-ground pools,” Chris says, adding that in January, after 43 years on Fry Road, the Newetts moved their retail store to Madison Avenue in Greenwood where they offer a full-time parts and service department, as well as a retail store with a full range of chemicals, pool equipment, replacement liners, and accessories.
When it comes to new installs, the staff typically sits down with a new customer to finalize all design specifics including decking and any add-on options and then proceeds with grading, plumbing, and electrical installations and wall construction. The Newetts typically arrange a maintenance schedule for clients after their pool is complete to keep it in optimal long-term condition.
True to their company motto: “We keep you cool when it’s hot, and warm when it’s cold.” The Newetts also have a fully stocked home and hearth shop, with major brands such as Empire, Napoleon and Monessen. Pool City sells and installs vented and vent-free gas logs, fireplace doors, fireplace inserts, wood-burning stoves, gas grills and more.
As a way to further educate and value their clients, the Pool City staff offers a special Pool School class on Saturdays throughout the month of May during which customers can ask questions about everything from above-ground and in-ground pool cleaning to equipment care to water chemistry and treatment. Attendees are awarded a same-day gift certificate for 10% off of in-stock chemicals.
Chris stresses that the Newetts and their employees strive to stay up-to-the-minute on industry trends and the latest technology and stay informed through seminars and training sessions whenever they get the chance.
“More than 50% of our staff has been with us for more than 15 years,” he adds. “We are in the process of installing a Pool City Family Photo Wall at our new store, showcasing our employees. They are family to us.”
Pool City is located at 1211 North Madison Avenue, Suite F in Greenwood. For more information on products and services, testimonials and more, visit poolcityindy.com or speak to a team member at 317-888-3933 to schedule a service call or inquire about a new pool installation.
