Caldera Spas of Albuquerque, a portable hot tub dealer serving Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, N.M., participated in National Physical Therapy Month by allowing customers to experience the health benefits of hot tubs firsthand.
For the month of October, the retailer let customers have a complimentary soak in a showroom tub for half an hour. Customers were advised to call ahead to schedule their “wet test” in order to avoid long waits.
National Physical Therapy Month is an awareness campaign created in 1992 by the American Physical Therapy Association. Its goal is to help people learn more about chronic pain, connect with a physical therapist and try non-opioid treatments to help relieve pain and increase mobility.
Tom Gervais, owner of Caldera Spas of Albuquerque, said he’s well aware of the health benefits provided by spending time in a hot tub. He also estimates that about half of his customer base comes in because they are experiencing chronic pain, either from an ongoing condition or an injury.
“When people come in, you have to ask them why they’re getting a hot tub,” Gervais says. “[If] they say, ‘just for fun,’ you have to ask them what hurts or what part of the body they’re trying to target. Then they start to open up, and you steer them to the right tub with the right function for their needs.”
To prepare for the promotion, the retailer posted on its website and social media channels. The connection to Physical Therapy Month helped generate buzz and allows those looking for health reasons to try before they buy.
Many in the industry have noticed a shift toward wellness, but not everyone has tapped into this new trend. Gervais has embraced it at his locations.
“We try to emphasize the health aspect a lot. You’re buying this for your health, it’s not just a toy.”
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He also credits Watkins Wellness with providing knowledge on the health benefits of water immersion, saying he attends seminars by the manufacturer.
In addition to participating in Physical Therapy Month, the retailer also refurbishes hot tubs and donates them to families of people with disabilities who can benefit from water immersion.
