Protecting children is a commendable goal for any business, and that’s exactly what Life Saver Pool Fence aims to achieve with its range of safety products for pools. Let’s delve into the company and its mission.
**What the Business Does:**
Life Saver Pool Fence sells various pool safety equipment designed to prevent drowning, which is the leading cause of death among American children aged 1-4. The company’s main product is a removable mesh pool fence that comes with a 100-year warranty. They also offer self-closing, self-locking gates, various alarms, pool safety covers, and an AI camera monitoring system.
**Business Niche:**
Life Saver Pool Fence takes concrete steps to prevent drowning. They offer the highest quality mesh, and their fence poles are the strongest on the market, patented exclusively to Life Saver. Beyond installation, they educate families on additional safety measures to protect children and pets from pools. The company donates fencing to families affected by drowning incidents and supports water safety events across the country. Their CEO is a nationally recognized leader in drowning prevention, and many employees are involved in water safety nonprofits.
**How the Business Got Started:**
Life Saver Pool Fence originated as a small family business in 1987. The founders, Lupton’s parents, started the business from their garage. His mother managed calls and sewed the fencing, while his father did a paper route for advertising funds and installed fences during the day. Lupton took over the business operations in 2003, at the age of 21, after his father retired. He is now the CEO, and his younger brother is the VP of Research & Development.
**Biggest Win:**
The company’s biggest win was establishing an online presence early. While in high school, Lupton and a friend started a business building websites. One of their first clients was Life Saver. They secured a domain name and launched the Life Saver website in 1998. This early presence helped establish the company as a leader in the industry, attracting customers and dealers nationwide.
**Biggest Risk:**
In 2008, during the economic downturn, competitors looked for ways to cut costs, leading to lower quality products. Lupton chose a different path, investing in producing the highest-quality pool fences. This decision required raising prices, which was a risk as it could turn customers away. However, customers valued the high quality, especially for protecting their children. This risk demonstrated Life Saver’s strong commitment to preventing childhood drowning, distinguishing them from competitors.
**Lesson Learned:**
Lupton learned the importance of surrounding himself with quality people. He notes that many office employees were friends before joining the company, making the work environment enjoyable and productive.
**Team Tradition:**
The team has a tradition of having lunch together every day, taking turns choosing the food. Given their location in South Florida, sushi and Cuban food are popular choices.
