Solar-Breeze 2020 Year in Review
To the #SolarBreezeBots family,
In January 2020, we shared a blog about our enthusiasm for the future. “With dedication, we will continue to push forward with new ideas to improve product performance and improve our customer experience. We envision a world where every pool owner sees an automated surface-cleaning robot as a way to efficiently and cost-effectively keep the pool clean year-round, all powered by the sun.”
While the year was definitely not what we expected it would be, our team accomplished quite a lot.
We adjusted to working from home with increased demand.
On March 16, 2020, 75% of our staff began working from home while engineers that could continued working from our Tempe-headquarters in order to fulfil repair requests and new orders. With folks spending more time around their swimming pools due to isolation, our rate of customer inquiries doubled. The unanticipated increased demand combined with the occasional need for self-isolation limited our ability to maintain a totally positive customer experience. We truly did the best that we could as a team, and are proud of that. We are pleased to say that we are once again current on customer fulfillment!
Pivot International Acquired Solar Pool Technologies, Maker of the Solar-Breeze NX2
Solar Pool Technologies was founded in 2011, and leveraged patented technology in the solar-powered robotic pool accessories space to span a market presence in 44 states and 17 countries. Pivot has engineered and manufacture products for SPT since 2017, and acquired SPT in 2020 to form Pivot-Solar Breeze, a partnership that would enable significant growth for our industry leading technology. “[Pivot] has the resources, engineering capabilities, and global manufacturing capacity to design, manufacture, and distribute products all over the world,” said Pivot-Solar Breeze Vice President, Paul Sim. “I’m excited about our future together.”
We surpassed quarterly sales goals & sold of out of Solar-Breeze NX2.
By August 2020, we had sold over 1,000 robots since January. Our stock was completely depleted, meaning that we had met our sellout goal for the year with four months left on the calendar. This was perfect timing, as Ariel was launched just as Solar-Breeze NX2s would no longer be available for purchase.
We launched a new pool cleaning robot, Ariel, at the virtual Pool Spa Patio Expo!
Ariel was manufactured for enhanced reliability and improved experience. “Ariel is the culmination of years of engineering and consumer feedback to produce the quintessential, future-focused pool cleaning device that brings a whole new level of intelligence, beauty and performance to the robotic surface cleaning category,” said Sim. Ariel is currently available for pre-order with deliveries being made in March 2021.
Year over year, we’ve made improvements to the Solar-Breeze. Ariel is an improvement from the Solar-Breeze NX2 in that the front bumper wheels have been eliminated, along with all of the mechanical systems that went with them. Second, the rear paddle wheel has been split so that there not two independently operating paddle wheels at the rear of the unit, which allows the unit to steer. Finally, there are also now sensors located where the front bumper wheels used to be that will help the unit detect when it is approaching the edge of the pool or any other obstruction!
Pivot-Solar Breeze acquired another pool cleaning robot, Skimbot. (She’s IOT capable!)
Skimbot is advanced robotic technology that operates simply. Like Ariel, the pool robot explores and cleans the entire pool efficiently by maneuvering around obstacles, accessing tight spaces, and collecting particles along edges. User can control Skimbot manually through Skimbot App using an Android or iOS device. Check pool temperature, battery status, charging wattage and change usage settings all from a smartphone complete with Bluetooth capability. This robot can also be set via the app to do edge cleaning and wall washing! How cool?!
Ariel picked up some great press coverage!
What is to come?
As we look ahead to 2021, our focus will be on delivering Ariel to customers in March 2021, maintaining fantastic customer service and expanding to new markets and marketplaces. Pivot-Solar Breeze is becoming the leading dealer of the pool industry’s preferred swimming pool cleaner and we are thankful that you are on this journey with us.
Sincerely,
Pivot-Solar Breeze
#LoveAriel
