Here's Our Story
Meet Lynda, Richard and Julia
If you’re looking for a marketing and business growth partner to make sure you’re doing the right stuff, to keep the doors open and not struggle, we can help
Richard Roche
Father, Golfer, Co-Owner Poolside Christchurch
Richard is driven by three major passions in his life: family, business, and golf. He takes immense pride in his family and cherishes seeing his children forge their own paths as adults.
In the business world, Richard believes in striving for excellence while enjoying the journey. He has a knack for transforming small businesses into market leaders, a challenge he loves taking on.
Golf, which he has played since the age of 12, has also significantly shaped him. Alongside his parents, the sport instilled core values such as honesty, respect, resilience, and determination. Beyond these lessons, it’s just a fun game to play.
Lynda Roche
Mother, Dance Fan, Co-Owner Poolside Christchurch
Lynda is passionate about dance, especially ballet and highland dancing. She has passed this love on to her daughter, Hannah. For the past 20 years, Lynda has supported Hannah at every level, from being a dedicated dance mom to an efficient administrator. Currently, she serves as the president of the Christchurch Ballet Society, giving it her unwavering commitment and effort.
Lynda is incredibly proud of her children, now adults, who are pursuing their dreams with the same passion and dedication that she brings to everything she does.
Julia Roberts
Gin & Rugby Lover, Owner The Marketing Club
Julia loves all things marketing and has travelled the globe attending conferences and training events, constantly updating her knowledge to bring cutting-edge marketing and business strategies to her clients. She ran a successful chain of salons in the UK for 20+ years, where the need to understand marketing began.
In March 2017, Julia and her husband John moved from the UK to New Zealand. As rugby fans, they feel right at home.
She enjoys walking and biking (electric these days!) and never says no to a gin.
I’m ready to know more
Pool store Success Story
Poolside Christchurch was an established business purchased by Lynda and Richard in June 2014. At that time, it was a small operation with one full-time employee,. Despite the challenges posed by the Canterbury Earthquakes, the business had strong foundations. It had real potential.
In 2014, Poolside Christchurch operated out of an old, small premises of 100sqm. Driven by their passion to make it the best pool business in NZ, Richard and Lynda quickly expanded, hiring a second employee within the first month. They worked with their key team member, Lee, to automate and improve efficiencies, laying the groundwork for future growth. By March 2018, the business moved to a much larger site tripling its previous space. In 2023 they took on the building next door and now operate from a 600sqm premises.
Today, Poolside Christchurch boasts a larger team of 12 with Richard and Lynda able to just spend a few hours working ON the business each week, rather than IN the business.
The business has two main operations: retail, offering pool and spa supplies with expert advice, and mobile servicing, providing valet, service, and repair with a team of five expert technicians.
Since 2014, the business has nearly grown by x5 in size and won multiple awards, including the Swimming Pool and Spa Association of NZ’s BEST POOL STORE in 2020, 2021, and 2023.
Richard and Lynda credit their success to three key factors: planning, attitude, and customer focus.
“We have an amazing team,” says Richard, “but it is no accident. We only employ people who aren’t afraid to be exceptional. We create the environment for that to happen.”
Success Was Not By Chance
The jump from 1 team member in a small 100sqm pool store to a team of 12 in a super large 600sqm premises was not by chance or luck. It was through hard work and adopting a great mindset, ‘exceptional is normal’.
Lynda and Richard have developed S-Y-S-T-E-M-S that empower their team and drive a culture where the customer comes first. These systems mean they have been able to step away from the day to day running of the business, grow the turnover and drive predicable profits. Poolside has enjoyed double digit % growth, every year since they took over.
Everything they have worked on and nailed they will share with our Growth Club members. Nothing is out of bounds. It’s a complete blueprint of how to run a Pool Store. They have stuck ‘to their lane’ and become the local experts at looking after pool and spa water.
From growing a mobile servicing team to driving shop sales they have a system. A way of working that has given them incredible growth, and now freedom from the business. A lifetsyle and the earnings to match.
Do you want this blueprint?
Marketing In The Mix
Julia started working with Poolside Christchurch in 2019 to bring some of the latest marketing alive across the brand. From social media, which includes paid ads, content creation and email campaigns Poolside Christchurch have a joined-up, successful marketing strategy.
From nurturing customer relationships with email campaigns, offers and the instore experience, to attracting new pool owners and nationwide on-line sales. Julia developed a new website for the store which went on to win Gold Online Pool Store in 2022 and 2023 at the SPASA Awards of Excellence.
Julia has been a Business Growth Advisor for 15 years after running her own chain of 7 beauty salons. Getting good at marketing turned her salon fortunes around and she went down to one large salon, with a gym, hair salon, 8 beauty rooms and overall doubled her profits and trebled her gross profits.
She loved the marketing side so much she sold the business and became a Growth Advisor for the Entreprenuer Circle in the UK, helping local business owners thrive. Her members went on to win national awards, gain funding and UK national recognition in the Dragons Den, see double and triple business growth, and some sold-on for seven figure sums.
In New Zealand she runs a successful marketing agency training and implementing the latest marketing strategies for ambitious business owners.
With the success of Poolside Christchurch, first as a client and now as friends, the idea of Grow My Pool Store was born, with the aim to be working primarily with pool store owners. Dedicated time and passion in one sector gives you insights, strengths and data that elevates the results.
AI [Artficial Intelligence] gives Pool Store owners in the know, a huge opportunity. AI is changing how we search for local business, how we interact with Pool Stores and buy from them. Julia is hugely passionate about bringing this tech to your pool store to save you time and elevate just how well and how far your message can be seen by the right people.
Tell me more >
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