Staff writer
Sam Oyler did not anticipate buying his fifth business, but that is what he did when he purchased Southwest Spas Direct in July.
Oyler had sold spas from the company for 10 years. The previous owner decided to sell because of financial reasons.
“It’s a great local business,” Oyler said. “It would be a shame to see it go.”
Oyler and his family live in Garden City. He said he plans on making the three-hour trip once a week once the manufacture gets up and running.
He hopes to turn the business around while still delivering locally built hot tubs to customers in Kansas and neighboring states.
“Customers need to know we are not the same company,” he said. “We plan on delivering the same quality products but not the same financial situation.”
Oyler hopes to employe five full-time employees once the factory is up and running. He hopes to build 100 tubs in the first year.
“We build our hot tubs from start to finish,” Oyler said.
Currently Oyler, with the help of his two sons, Andrew and Benjamin, is trying to clean and organize the factory, and build display models for the Kansas State Fair.
“The previous owner sold on averaged one tub a day at the state fair,” Oyler said. “We hope we do as well and are able to promote the business under its new name Stone Creek Spas.”
The Stone Creek came from his mother’s last name.
“She was the rock in my life and we want customers to have the image that our products are rock solid,” he said.
Oyler wants to encourage customers to check out the factory and see how their tub is built.
“It’s an interesting process,” he said. “We have large molds we cover the plastic with then heat it up so it melts then suction it down onto the mold. It then gets cut, coated in fiberglass, and plumbed before going in its casing.”
Oyler plans to get as many materials as possible locally.
“I believe in this company,” he said. “That’s why I bought it. I hope it offers my family and the community financial stability.”
Oyler hopes one of his boys will someday take over the business.