In this new blog series, we’ll be featuring regular interviews with Jacuzzi employees. Get to know the people behind the hot tubs and baths, more about the company values, and details about the products you might not have known about. In this installment, we’ll be speaking with Larry Ovalle, Director of Product Marketing, Hot Tubs:
Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED AT JACUZZI?
Larry Ovalle (LO): I’ve been with Jacuzzi for more than four years as both a Senior Product Manager and Director of Product Marketing, Hot Tubs.
Q: CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK EXPLANATION OF WHAT YOU DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?
(LO): I lead the marketing aspect of product development, which involves collaboration with the engineering and commercial teams to bring Jacuzzi innovation to market. In addition, I manage the existing product portfolio of Jacuzzi® Hot Tubs.
Q: WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING NEW PRODUCTS?
(LO): We engineer our hot tubs with the user in mind, so our product development begins with a lot of investigation. Our Research and Development team has spent years understanding body types, muscles, massage types, jet placement, and benefits so we can perfect our products to best suit health and wellness. The original J-300™ hydrotherapy pump was designed to ease a child’s rheumatism and we have continued to evolve with wellness in mind.
Q: HOW DO YOU COLLECT CUSTOMER FEEDBACK ON PRODUCTS?
(LO): Our product development always starts with customer input, allowing us to focus on what will foster use of a hot tub for years to come. We concentrate on benefits that are meaningful to the user like the hydromassage experience, quality, durability, comfortable seating, and energy efficiency.
Q: WHAT ARE THE MOST UNIQUE ASPECTS OF THE NEW J-500™ COLLECTION?
(LO): You’ve never seen a hot tub like this before. Bringing all of the experience and design quality from the inside of the tub to the outside, the J-500™ Hot Tub Collection is the first to introduce the Curvalux™ Skirt and architectural corner lighting, ProEdge™ interior lighting that changes color and a glass touchscreen control panels.
Q: ARE THERE ANY NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTS IN STORE FOR 2015?
(LO): In spring of this year we’re launching the ProLink™ app that allows owners to remotely monitor and control their J-500™ Collection hot tubs from anywhere. With this Jacuzzi® Remote Monitoring App, users can schedule and receive maintenance reminders, adjust the water temperature, activate features from jets to lights, and even set hot tub mode (for example, to vacation mode) from anywhere in the world.
Q: WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR CUSTOMERS TO KNOW?
(LO): We are always raising the bar when it comes to performance while striving to make our products easy to use, enjoyable, and more energy efficient. We also want to promote hot tub usage, so as people’s needs change, we continue to evolve to meet those needs without compromising our brand values.
ABOUT LARRY OVALLE:
As the Director of Product Marketing, Hot Tubs for Jacuzzi, Larry Ovalle leads the marketing aspect of product development which involves collaboration with the engineering and commercial teams to bring Jacuzzi innovation to market. In addition, he manages the existing product portfolio of Jacuzzi hot tubs. Prior to joining Jacuzzi Larry spent several years at B/S/H/Home Appliances, including a year at their Munich headquarters. He is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in International Management and minor in German.
Check back soon for more Q&A with Jacuzzi experts!