Pomona’s Hot Water Man

         It was back in the mid nineties that Cal Spas’ owner, Chuck Hewitt decided that he had had all the fun he could stand and sold the company to Loyd Equipment. Spas and hot tubs being a big seller in Southern California, the company had done well. In fact, it had developed a network of stores across the nation and was embarking on international business.

            When the Loyd family took over, they decided (pardon the cliché) to “take things up a notch.”

            The first step was for the family to make Casey Loyd president.

Born and educated in the west end of the Inland Empire, it was felt that he could bring a dynamic young spirit to the company.

            You need to understand that, at this point, many people had learned that a mold for fiberglass tubs and a water jet system were easy assembly parts for making tubs here. But Cal Spas had the lead. They had already branched out into BBQs and gazebos. Plus they had established a permanent in-ground display at the L.A. County Fairgrounds in Pomona.

            That fairground site continues today, as the Loyds remains dedicated to strong marketing efforts in their hometown.

            Loyd admits to a certain learning curve as the family took over. “The business had a logical way of doing things. They were a great marketing company. They just needed to think outside the box more.”

            He admits that he has learned much in the last decade, but he has managed to avoid some of the classic pitfalls of management. One of those is the old bugaboo of “resistance to change.”

            “Change is only as good as the logic to understand it,’ he responds. By keeping the crew up-to-date, and explaining what was going on, they were able to move forward.

            “If you tell them why, they’ll give you a lot of support,’ he added.

            Loyd and his family have brought the company into the new century, but have retained the Pomona mailing address. Understand that the new headquarter’s building is across the street from the old main office and the current structure; Loyd tells the Business Journal it is “Cutting edge, state-of-the-art.” It was, in fact, some seven years in construction.

            The employees are long term, many left from the old ownership. One gentleman was celebrating his twentieth anniversary on the day that the Journal visited. Others are second generation, having followed their parents into the company.

            The trick to the business today, according to Loyd, is not just to put out any product. They engineer the products they make to rigid standards. Anyone whose 300-pound uncle has ever put his foot through a hot tub will appreciate sturdy construction.

            There is, however, much more to it today. Loyd tells us that what he has observed is the fact that the backyard has become the new living room, and to a great degree, it is the new kitchen as well. Thus it is that a hot tub and a grill are just a part of what people are looking for. Oddly enough, he points to the same thing that Dr. John Husing continues to believe drives the growth of our area, namely DIRT.

            Most backyards in new developments are empty. Figuring out what to do back there can become a big item. The tub is just a part of the layout.

            The barbecue is now a bar and grill. It can have a stove, refrigerator, dishwasher and other amenities. There may be a fire pit, or a fireplace. Or both.

            TV sets that rise up for viewing and drop down out of the elements are already a built-in part of several tubs or BBQs or fireplace designs now.

            Saunas are available in several designs, and they include the heaters, wooden buckets and more.

            For your indoor pleasure, the Loyds have produced “tournament quality billiard tables, classy entertainment cocktail bars, elegant game room accessories and innovative entertainment options.” In short, you can turn your living room into a playroom and move everything else outside.

            As it happened, our visit to Cal Spas took place on one of our recent rainy days. When we asked about outdoor creature comforts on such days, Loyd shrugged it off. One of the products that the company has developed is an outdoor heater. Not the big butane lamppost style that heat the air above the crowd, but a new concept that heats from below, allowing the warmth to rise around the people.

            Cigar smokers can take heart. Knowing that most men today smoke their stogies outside at home, Cal Spas has spent the last six months researching air filtration systems that will work outside and allow the master of the house to have his moment of pleasure, without interfering with anyone else.

            What, we asked, could Cal Spas do in keeping up with outside, or third party technology? For example, what could they do with Apple Computer’s iPod.

            That’s when Casey Loyd broke out in a broad smile and told us “Come with me.”

            He took us back into a private research room and showed us what, at first appeared to be a gray brick fireplace. Actually, it is a BBQ/fireplace/waterfall/planter/flashing light stand and TV, controlled and feed by the new video iPod.

            Slip the little music unit into a small window on the side, and a remote control brings a TV screen up to watch any of the video products that are currently available for download. Viking Marine has been in to study the waterproofing of the system. You could watch the Super Bowl on a cold Sunday in Chicago with a system like this.

            And before you ask. No, Steven Jobs doesn’t have one yet. This is a prototype that will have a surprise unveiling this month at the HART show, one of the major conventions. “We’re about to rock their world,” he says.

            One other sideline that has come to the fore because of the new entertainment backyard concept has been landscaping. New homes with an empty backyard are seen as a blank piece of paper. The design is limited only by the budget. Older backyards can still be accommodated. Many have what you might call “sacred” spots. The tree that grandma planted or the burial site of the family dog. Working around such issues is not a problem for Loyd and his people.

            In the last 50 years we have watched a 180-degree shift in the home. Where the garage used to be in the back and the front door was the main entrance. Today the backyard has become the center of the universe. In effect, this throws much of the neighborhood back to that earlier time when everyone came over because you had the only pool (or TV) on the block.

            Loyd sees this as a good thing. “People are starting to come back to the home. Families are starting to bond like they did back in the fifties and early sixties.”

            Not content to stand still, Cal Spas is currently planning to develop a 12-acre site across the street from the corporate headquarters to expand development of the outdoor kitchen portion of the product line.

            More than just a hot tub maker, Casey Loyd believes that he is bringing the comfort factor back to home life everywhere.