HERE TO REMEMBER: SAWATZKY POOLS & SPAS

A HOME-GROWN BUSINESS THAT HAS REMAINED STRONG OVER THE DECADES

BY BETH FASNACHT

While working as a yard master for the Chicago Northwestern railroad in Mankato in 1972, Richard Sawatzky took on a part-time job to earn extra money. On his days off and in the mornings before heading to the railroad, he would install pools for a local pool business. After a few years of installing and maintaining pools, Richard was planning to step away from this part-time job. Needless to say, Richard’s customers had a different plan for him.

After leaving, he received so many calls from past customers that he made the decision to officially start Sawatzky Pools. Together with his wife Sandy, Richard ran the business out of their home garage, while still maintaining their fulltime jobs. By 1984, the business had outgrown the garage which led to the purchase of 433 Belgrade Avenue, where the business resides today.

In 1989, Richard then took the “plunge” and left the railroad to manage his pool business fulltime. As the business has grown, they have purchased the homes on both sides of the existing building and have expanded to the alley behind. When looking at Sawatzky Pools from Belgrade Avenue, you see a quaint beautiful building with the Sawatzky sign out front. After a short tour of the office building, we continued out the back door and stepped into a showroom with hot tubs, a maintenance warehouse, and the large machinery needed to dig and pour concrete pools. None of which is seen from Belgrade Avenue.

Looking back, Richard recalls, “pools had one shape and size; a 16x32 rectangle with one liner option.” Sawatzky Pools does not sell pre-shaped “cookiecutter” pools, each one is custom to their customer’s needs and wants. Pools have evolved with custom features such as different stair options, sun decks, water features, custom shapes and sizes, lighting options, pool liners, and automated pool covers. Sawatzky Pools has grown into a diversified pool business for both commercial and residential customers. In addition to the pools, they also sell hot tubs, the chemicals needed to maintain both, and service for both. Throughout the years, this diversification has carried the business through some low economic times. Due to the strong relationships Sawatzky’s have with their suppliers, they were able to continue uninterrupted service for their customers throughout the pandemic. As many people were “staycationing” at home, if they had a pool, they needed maintenance. If they didn’t have a pool, they were realizing it was time to have one installed.

Sawatzky’s has the advantage over other pool companies by housing all components of the business in-house; they are the design team, the installers, and the service team who continues the maintenance. Sawatzky’s focuses on customer service and educating their customers “so they can make the best choice for their family and yard”, says Taber Sawatzky. Taber, Richard and Sandy’s son, left Mankato for college and a career in teaching. After 17 years as a sales manager for a large company, he had the opportunity to return to the family business and bring his business knowledge with him. Together, Taber and Richard, run Sawatzky Pools with a mutual respect for each other. They have the best interest in mind for their customers, employees, and the business. Both foresee the business being family run for many years to come. During the summers, Taber remembers working at the jobsites and in the office when he was young. Today, his kids are having that same experience working with their dad and learning the family business. Sawatzky Pools has remained a small local business with a staff of five year-round and up to four seasonal employees in the summers, who are often college students. For some, this summer job can become more, as it did for two students who are now fulltime staff.

Having lived in North Mankato the majority of their lives, Richard and Sandy wanted to keep the business there as well. Richard refers to North Mankato as “Little Brooklyn” because of its small town feel with big city amenities. The family loves being on Belgrade Avenue and participating in the events that Business on Belgrade has developed. They often have a float with a hot tub lit with Christmas lights in the Bells on Belgrade parade and enjoy their front row seats for the Fun Days parade. Richard proclaims, he will continue to expand around his current location, because leaving is not an option. “We’re proud to be on Belgrade”, says both Taber and Richard.

DREAMING

OF YOUR OWN Pool?

SAVE MONEY

CUT YOUR CHLORINE USAGE FROM 50%-80%

Bioshield UV Disinfection Sanitizer Pentair iChlor Salt Chlorine Generator

Pentair intelliChlor Salt Chlorine Generator DEL AOP UV/Ozone sanitizer BEST OF MANKATO SINCE 2017

RECIPE FOR CLEAR POOL WATER ALL SUMMER

Sanitizer:

ProTeam 3”

HighTech Tabs. Borate is the special sauce in the chorine tab that inhibits algae, helps balance PH, and makes water softer feeling and crisper looking.

Oxidizer:

Super Oxidizer Cal Hypo

This is a chlorine shock that will not increase cyanuric acid levels. Oxidizers burn-up the organics in the water, reduce chloramines, and help achieve crystal clear water. Use weekly.

Algaecide:

ProTeam Polyquat 60 Algaecide

This algaecide will contribute to water clarity. Polyquats not only kill algae but also help your filter remove micro particles that make for hazy water. Use every other week.

Clarifier:

ProTeam Microfloc Clarifier

The secret ingredient for crystal clear water. It grabs all those suspended particles and lets your filter pull them out of your water. Use on even weeks.