At Competitor Swim, we have always been committed to providing the best products to equip your pool, along with exceptional service to our network of dealers and their customers. To further extend the ease of use in working with us and making our products even more accessible, we recently launched our new Dealer Portal—a user-friendly tool that simplifies the ordering process.
We sat down with some of the leadership team at Competitor, including Brad Underwood, President, Kristen Linehan Omli, Vice President, and Tara Tufford, Director of Customer Service, to chat about the portal, its standout features, and how it is helping dealers streamline their day-to-day operations.
Q: What was the purpose behind creating the dealer portal?
Kristen: The motivation behind creating the portal was to make it easier for dealers to get quotes for their freight and track those orders. That said, we want to be clear that this portal in no way replaces the personalized service our dealers have come to expect. We’ll always be here to handle freight quotes and tracking directly for any dealer who prefers that option. The portal is simply an additional tool designed to save time by providing instant access to key information like quotes and order tracking.
Q: What challenges were dealers facing before the portal existed?
Brad: Before the portal existed, dealers needed to work with us directly to obtain instant freight quotes for products like lane lines and storage reels as well as track orders that have shipped. The portal allows them to access that information instantly, no matter where they are.
The portal has proven especially helpful for our dealers on the West Coast, who can now get the information they need without waiting for business hours to overlap with Competitor’s office in a different time zone.
Q: How does the portal make the ordering process easier for dealers?
Brad: The portal isn’t just a tracking tool; it’s a comprehensive resource for building and managing orders. Dealers can now go directly into the portal and submit a purchase order, as well as build a quote from start to finish. They can select their products, pick colors, estimate freight, and even build an entire order without needing us to step in. Of course, we’re always here for support, but the portal gives them the flexibility to handle it themselves if they prefer.
Q: How has the feedback been from dealers so far?
Tara: The feedback we’ve gotten from dealers has been overwhelmingly positive. They seem to really appreciate that they can quote freight instantly and track their shipments at any time.
Q: Are there any upcoming updates or new features planned for the portal?
Kristen: We’re always looking at ways to improve both the portal and our products as the needs of our clients evolve.
Q: How can dealers get started using the portal?
Brad: To get access and start utilizing the portal right away, dealers can contact Tara Tufford, our Director of Customer Service, via email ([email protected]), our sales team via email ([email protected]) or by calling us at 800) 888-7946.
