Pool & Spa Depot’s journey from hot tub retailer to manufacturer was featured in AQUA Magazine, highlighting the experience, challenges, and ideas that led to the creation of GPM Manufacturing and Celtic Hot Tubs.
For decades, Pool & Spa Depot has helped homeowners find, install, and enjoy hot tubs. That experience also gave our team a unique perspective: We didn’t just know how hot tubs performed on the showroom floor—we saw firsthand what happened after they went home with customers.
We learned which features people valued, which problems service teams encountered, and where seemingly small improvements could make hot tub ownership better.
Eventually, those lessons inspired us to do something bigger.
From Selling Hot Tubs to Building Them
In its feature “Dealer Becomes Manufacturer,” AQUA Magazine tells the story of Pool & Spa Depot’s transition from retailer to manufacturer.
The idea of entering manufacturing had been developing for some time, but the challenges facing the spa industry during the pandemic accelerated those plans. Rising demand, product shortages, and extended lead times reinforced an opportunity our team had already recognized: Take what we’d learned as a retailer and use it to build hot tubs ourselves.
That led to the creation of GPM Manufacturing and, after approximately two years of product development, the launch of Celtic Hot Tubs.
Our goal wasn’t simply to manufacture another hot tub. We wanted to address practical issues we’d encountered through years of selling, servicing, and listening to hot tub owners.
As Pool & Spa Depot President Peter Von Hopffgarten explained to AQUA Magazine:
“We knew the only way we could solve the really simple problems we were seeing was to just make the product ourselves.”
Built From a Retailer’s Perspective
There’s an important difference between designing a product from a distance and working directly with the people who use it.
As a retailer, Pool & Spa Depot has had that direct connection for years.
Feedback from customers, sales teams, technicians, and service professionals helped shape the thinking behind Celtic Hot Tubs. That connection between manufacturing and the customer experience continues to give us opportunities to learn and improve.
The result is a hot tub line focused on delivering a balance of durability, hydrotherapy, thoughtful features, energy efficiency, and value.
Today, Celtic Hot Tubs incorporate features such as the Triskelion Hydrotherapy System, Celtic Clean Water Management System, Celtic Shield protection, and durable construction designed for lasting performance.
Made in the USA. Celtic Inspired.
What began as an idea has grown into a complete hot tub collection.
Celtic Hot Tubs are manufactured by GPM Manufacturing, and the current collection includes multiple models and configurations designed for different spaces, lifestyles, and hydrotherapy preferences.
But the philosophy behind the brand remains closely connected to where it started: listen to the people selling, servicing, and using hot tubs—and keep finding ways to make the experience better.
It’s a story we’re proud AQUA Magazine chose to share with the pool and spa industry.
Read the Original AQUA Magazine Feature
This article was inspired by AQUA Magazine’s coverage of Pool & Spa Depot, GPM Manufacturing, and Celtic Hot Tubs.
“Dealer Becomes Manufacturer”
By Haley Grace Harris
AQUA Magazine
Originally published June 20, 2023
Read the full story at AQUA Magazine →
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