AquaGear® Swim Shop is celebrating it's 21st Anniversary
In the days when Amazon was just a rainforest and using “Google” in a sentence would be a one-way ticket to a mental institution, AquaGear, the company that would go on to become the world's first online swim shop, opened its doors.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA (PRWEB) August 12, 2013
Twenty-one years ago today, a company was born. In the days when Amazon was just a rainforest and using “Google” in a sentence would be a one-way ticket to a mental institution, AquaGear®, the company that would go on to become the world's first online swim shop, opened its doors.
The company was founded to help swimmers and water exercise enthusiasts get the equipment they needed, but couldn't find in local stores. “If you needed equipment, and you didn't live in one of the few towns that was lucky enough to have a dedicated swimming store, you could only buy it at once-a-year trade shows,” recalls Joanne Bullock, the company's founder and current president. “Traveling across the country to shows, then figuring out how to get the bulky equipment back home, made it impractical for many instructors, swimmers and exercise enthusiasts alike to get the equipment they needed. I knew there had to be a better way.”
In those days, the Internet was in its infancy and selling goods on-line was almost unheard of. “We had originally intended to open as a catalog-based mail order company, but we saw the potential of the World Wide Web, and knew that we had to get in on the ground floor,” said Nick Rahl, Senior Vice President. “We believed that in a few years, catalogs would be hosted on-line, and people would send in their orders electronically, rather than mailing them in. In retrospect, it was a risky move for a self-funded start-up with limited resources to invest so heavily in a new and unproven medium, but one that would ultimately pay off for us.”
Besides selling through a new medium, AquaGear also wanted to be a different kind of company. “It's incredibly frustrating, when you're shopping for something and you're trying to flag down a sales person. The person sees you, they know you have a question and instead of coming over to help, they hurry to the end of the isle, round the corner and then [seemingly] slip into a trapdoor. Or there are those sales people trying to sell you something, but they don't really know what they're talking about,” said Rahl.
“Swimming is very technical; water exercise is very technical. If you're using the wrong stuff, you won't get a good workout at best, and at worst, you could be seriously injured. We wanted to be a company that has sales reps that actually know what they're talking about. All of our sales reps receive in-pool training to learn about the equipment and hydrodynamics to be sure our customers are getting the gear they need to solve their specific problem, safely.”
AquaGear's dedication to customer service has certainly paid off, as the company continues into it's 21st year with another A+ Better Business Bureau Rating. As part of it's commitment to providing the best possible on-line shopping experience for it's customers, the family owned and operated company continues to offer free shipping on orders over $75, ships all in-stock orders within 1 business day, and has a “Best Price Guarantee”.
Today, the company sells a wide range of swimming gear for everyone. It's product line includes swim goggles, swim caps, swim fins, water flotation belts, kick boards, snorkel gear, water exercise and water aerobic gear, and more. They also carry products for children, including kids' swimming goggles, swim vests, swim shirts, back floats, pool toys, water wings, and swim diapers. AquaGear Swim Shop also carries specialty items, such as equipment for aquatic therapy, lifeguard gear, and books, tapes, and videos.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating 21 years of providing the best selection in swimming and water exercise gear,” explained Bullock. “We are especially thankful to all of our customers over the years. We wouldn’t be where we are today without their support.”
To celebrate it's 21st Birthday, AquaGear will be offering 21% off on products throughout the store. Beginning on August 15th, look for discounted prices on select backpacks, goggles, swim fins, and snorkel gear. In addition to offering site-wide deals on swimming and fitness gear, AquaGear will also be holding special giveaways on its Facebook page August 12th-17th.
“We take pride in the fact that our mission has been to provide great customer service, coupled with our first-hand product knowledge, and a quick turnaround,” added Rahl. “That combination has made us successful for more than two decades, and we look forward to what the future has in store.”
Whether someone is a seasoned swimmer or just learning how to swim, AquaGear has a full range of swimming gear to enhance the experience. To visit them on-line, go to http://www.AquaGear.com or find them on Facebook at: facebook.com/AquaGear.
About AquaGear Swim Shop:
Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, AquaGear Swim Shop is one of the oldest and most trusted on-line companies. Founded in 1992, it continues to offer the best equipment at the best prices, and has knowledgeable staff to provide customers with a pleasant and helpful shopping experience. Their product line includes swim goggles, swim caps, swim fins, water flotation belts, kick boards, snorkel gear, water exercise gear, and more. For more information, visit their site on-line at: http://www.AquaGear.com