Swimming pools are a rather unusual thing to sell. How did you get into the business?

About 20 years ago, there were virtually no swimming pool dealers here, so I built a pool on my own. After two years of running that homemade pool, we saw that water was leaking from one of the pipes that was deep in the ground under a blossoming garden. There was no way that we could dig it up, so we decided to look for an alternative solution. And we found it in the French system Jean Desjoyaux.

Were you afraid at the beginning that the demand for swimming pools would not be that strong?

Since I've searched for a swimming pool here myself, I was quite familiar with the situation. One company was offering to build the pool's body, another one was offering to provide the technology, and another company would do construction on the pool's surroundings. So I came to the conclusion that there was a vacancy on the market. In addition, I hoped that the economy would rapidly grow after 1989 and, as people's wealth increased, they would demand products focusing on a health lifestyle and luxury.

Why are more middle-class Czechs seeking to build swimming pools?

In the beginning, swimming pools were perceived by Czechs as a sign of luxury — accessible to merely a limited group of people. However, thanks to the development of leasing sales, middle-class people are increasing demand.

Do Czechs demand more low-cost swimming pools compared to people from richer economies?

Today, the strongest demand is for lower-class pools, which can be replaced after several years.

What is the actual competition among swimming-pool dealers?

The Czech market for swimming pools is rather small. There are several suppliers that can satisfy a wide portfolio of customers. Those who demand a small pool just for seasonal use will eye the companies with mass production. On the other hand, people who plan to purchase a pool to be built in their gardens and last for generations will seek out specialized companies that will provide professional consultantcy and related maintenance.

Your company offers to supply and install swimming pools. Don't you think that offering maintenance to the customers of competing brands could be quite profitable?

Many customers of competing firms request our maintenance services. However, our construction and filtering systems are quite different from our competitors'. That's why we offer maintenance services only to Desjoyaux customers, and there are more than 2,500 of them now.

It seems the demand for pools is nearing its peak and the market could soon bottom out. What are your future development plans in the Czech Republic?

I don't think the demand for swimming pools will weaken in the long term. As I already mentioned, we are in fact seeing an influx of middle-class customers.

Do you believe that hotter summers will become an incentive for people to purchase swimming pools?

I think so. When you spend the whole day in tropical heat, surrounded by masses of people, there is nothing more pleasant than to come home and cool in your own pool. And, given the worsening quality of water in our rivers and ponds, more and more people tend to spend leisure time at their own pools.

The summer is nearly over. What is the best time to start swimming pool construction?

The construction of a swimming pool needs to be thoroughly thought out. The best situation is to start planning the pool when constructing your house because you've got all the digging equipment there. When you decide to add an [outdoor] pool to an existing home, the best option is to start the construction in the fall and then complete the installation of the actual swimming pool in the spring.

Do you see a summer spent in the water as the ideal holiday?

After a few years spent in francophone countries, I learned all about savoir vivre, or 'the art of living.' I do not need to swim all the time. I can just relax by looking at the water, be it the sea or my little sea in the garden. When I grill some meat, have a glass of delicious wine and have the presence of my loved ones — this is my ideal relaxation.