Business View Oceania | Volume 4, Issue 3

27 28 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 Save energy with the automatic cover Covrex® Classic www.covrex.com SUNBATHER rollers; thermal blankets, underground rollers (Downunders), automatic security covers, and winter mesh covers. The team of approximately 80 has won a plethora of awards over the last 48 years, making Sunbather Australia’s most celebrated solar pool heating and covers company. Recent highlights include eight gold medals in Australia’s Swimming Pool and Spa Association (SPASA) 2019 Awards of Excellence, both at a State and National level. The company also won the Business Excellence Award in the 2018 ARV Industry Awards. Managing Director of Sunbather, Tom Boadle joined the business 19 years ago with his father, who founded Sunbather in 74’. He begins, “Sunbather has been around for nearly half a century now- a legacy which we are very proud of. We were born out of the European energy crisis of the 70’s to help supply Australian pools with an economically sustainable energy alternative to fossil fuels such as coal and gas, and essentially started the solar pool heating industry in Australia. Not many companies can confidently state that they started an entire industry in a country. Being unafraid to take risks and innovate has always been at our core and we have continued that innovative approach ever since our foundation. We are always looking to develop our current products and create new ones that are exceptional in quality, environmentally sustainable, energy efficient, and cost effective. There’s a rich and passionate history behind what we do and what we stand for, backed by a clear set of values helping set our course. Certainly, there have been ups and downs along the way, but our current strength in the market is a testament to our dedication and commitment to innovation. ‘Innovate or Detonate’ is a well coined phrase around Sunbather and we believe it underpins all great businesses. Success is very difficult with a ‘me too’ approach to products and service.” Sunbather aims to be the ultimate pool heating company in Australia, Mr. Boadle says. The company does have the capability to service exports outside of Australia and New Zealand, but keeps most of their business local. “We are very aware of our niche and have a great position in the Australian market right now. We aim to be as strong as we can in Australia before seriously looking overseas again- a prior attempt to enter the US market back in 2006, just prior