Baby
Boomers
Get
into
Hot
Water
Website:
www.hottubliving.com
October
20,
2000
--
The
hot
tub
industry
is
booming
--
baby
booming.
Americans
are
expected
to
buy
a
record
370,000
hot
tubs
or
more
in
the
year
2000,
and
most
of
those
buyers
will
be
Boomers,
the
77
million
Americans
born
between
1946
and
1965.
According
to
the
National
Spa
&
Pool
Institute
(NSPI),
the
industry's
trade
association,
nearly
half
of
all
hot
tub
owners
are
in
45-64
age
bracket.
NSPI
tracks
sales
data
from
more
than
35
manufacturers
and
expects
the
number
of
owners
over
55
to
increase
as
boomers
continue
to
redefine
aging
and
spend
discretionary
income
in
a
robust
economy.
"Three
key
consumer
trends
are
helping
turn
up
the
heat
on
hot
tub
sales,"
said
Jack
Cergol,
director
of
communications
for
NSPI.
"Stress
levels
in
this
country
are
at
an
all-time
high,
baby
boomers
are
looking
for
new
ways
to
stay
fit
and
active
longer,
and
the
strong
economy
has
spurred
a
home
remodeling
boom."
Hot
Tub
Living
Comes
of
Age
The
generation
that
made
the
hot
tub
an
icon
of
swinging
hedonism
in
the
60s
and
70s
is
once
again
immersing
itself
in
hot
water
--
this
time
to
remedy
the
ailments
and
stress
of
middle
age.
In
a
survey
of
current
hot
tub
owners
conducted
by
NSPI
and
market
research
firm
PK
Data,
nearly
56
percent
of
hot
tub
owners
surveyed
claimed
that
stress
reduction
and
relaxation
were
the
primary
uses
for
their
hot
tubs.
"Baby
boomers
have
always
thought
they
would
be
able
to
take
care
of
themselves
better
than
their
parents,"
said
Bill
Kennedy,
president
of
PK
Data.
"As
they
enter
middle
age
they're
faced
with
new
pressures
like
retirement
accounts,
health
issues,
family
changes
and
empty
nest
syndrome.
But
they
also
have
a
surplus
of
discretionary
income
and
are
willing
to
invest
it
in
anything
that
keeps
them
feeling
young
and
active,
like
a
hot
tub.
The
whole
experience
taps
into
their
lifestyle
needs
--
it
renews
them
physically
and
mentally
and
provides
an
almost
spiritual
retreat
in
their
own
backyard."
Scientific
Support
Helps
Sell
Tubs
The
acknowledgment
by
physicians
and
health
organizations
like
the
Arthritis
Foundation
and
National
Sleep
Foundation
of
the
physical
benefits
of
hot
tub
hydromassage
are
also
attracting
the
stressed
out,
the
sore
and
the
weary
into
the
warm
and
pulsating
waters
of
hot
tubs.
"Studies
show
that
physiological
changes
occur
in
the
body
after
only
a
few
minutes
of
soaking
in
a
hot
tub,"
said
Cergol.
"The
blood
vessels
dilate
which
lowers
blood
pressure.
Buoyancy
helps
slow
down
the
pulse
because
the
heart
no
longer
has
to
fight
against
gravity,
allowing
it
to
operate
10
to
20
percent
more
efficiently.
The
jet
nozzles
in
the
tub
release
a
mixture
of
warm
water
and
air,
massaging
the
body
to
help
relax
tight
muscles
and
loosen
stiff
joints."
According
to
a
recent
study
in
the
scientific
journal
Sleep,
a
drop
in
body
temperature
can
also
help
ease
the
body
into
a
deeper
more
relaxing
sleep.
The
study
suggests
that
approximately
90
minutes
before
going
to
sleep,
you
soak
in
hot
water
(103°F)
for
about
fifteen
minutes.
This
causes
the
body's
internal
thermostat
to
lower
body
temperature,
enabling
people
to
drift
into
a
deep,
restful
sleep.
Hot
tub-induced
sleep
is
a
natural
remedy
unlike
some
of
the
other
alternatives,
which
can
leave
a
person
feeling
groggy
or
have
other
side
effects.
It's
Not
Your
Father's
Hot
Tub
A
new
generation
of
product
improvements
are
attracting
the
boomer
consumer
as
well.
Gone
are
the
days
of
wooden
wine
casks
that
delivered
a
social
opportunity
and
some
bubbles,
but
not
much
else.
Today's
hot
tubs
are
well
engineered,
sophisticated
units
that
provide
multiple
benefits.
"The
hot
tub
that
boomers
grew
up
with
has
grown
up
with
them,"
said
Cergol.
"Hot
tub
manufacturers
are
taking
their
design
cues
from
kitchen
and
bath
fixtures,
and
now
offer
a
variety
of
styles
and
finishes
that
can
be
customized
to
match
any
home.
Simplified
water
care
systems
and
low
maintenance
hot
tub
exteriors
let
today's
owners
focus
more
on
enjoying
their
hot
tub
than
on
maintaining
it."
A
Hot
Future
for
Hot
Tubs
U.S.
households
currently
own
approximately
3.4
million
hot
tubs
--
and
sales
for
the
$1.5
billion-dollar
industry
should
continue
to
grow
--
especially
since,
for
the
next
eight
years,
an
American
will
turn
50
every
eight
seconds.
"In
the
next
decade,
as
the
baby
boomers
reach
their
peak
spending,
we'll
see
unprecedented
growth
in
the
hot
tub
industry
--
and
in
any
industry
that
deals
with
personal
satisfaction
and
life
improvement,"
said
Cergol.
California
continues
to
be
the
top
market
for
hot
tubs,
but
the
most
competitive
market
is
the
Midwest,
where
shoppers
are
encouraged
to
arrive
in
retail
stores
with
towels
and
bathing
suits
for
test
soaks
before
buying.
"Hot
tub
ownership
is
becoming
an
acceptable
part
of
the
American
lifestyle,
just
like
a
microwave
or
a
VCR,
something
to
make
life
a
little
better,"
added
Cergol.
"There's
never
been
a
better
time
for
homeowners
to
consider
purchasing
a
hot
tub.
For
more
information
on
the
benefits
of
hot
tub
ownership
and
advances
in
hot
tub
design,
visit
www.hottubliving.com.
|
