For the next installment in our series of interviews with Jacuzzi employees, we spoke with Tracine Andrus Marroquin, Vice President of Product Marketing, Hot Tubs. Tracine has more than 15 years of experience in sales, marketing, and new product development. The majority of her career and professional passion has been devoted to product marketing, where she has led the development of products for brands including Black & Decker, Craftsman, and Jacuzzi. She is the proud mother of two young daughters and lives with her family in Orange County, California.
Q: How long have you worked at Jacuzzi? What’s your role?
Tracine Marroquin (TM): Throughout my nearly seven years with the company, I have served as Director of Marketing for both the Jacuzzi® Luxury Bath and the Hot Tub division of Jacuzzi® Group Worldwide. I am now Vice President of Marketing for Hot Tub Products.
Q: Briefly explain what you do on a daily basis.
TM: As the leader of our Product Marketing and Industrial Design Teams, I work as the spokesperson for our end-customer in the development and management of our product lines. Spanning multiple brands and price points, my challenge is to ensure that our products do more than just meet the market segment needs. As the voice of this customer experience, my team is charged with knowing the competitive landscape inside-and-out, and to balance that information with the input we get direct from end-consumers in our ‘voice of the customer’ research.
Q: What is one of you biggest goals for 2015?
TM: With the recent launch of the J-500™ Collection, our immediate focus is on ensuring the success of the new line. Additionally, we are working on the next wave of new products to launch in the coming years.
Q: What are the main differences between the Hot Tub Collections?
TM: You will notice several differences as you scan the Hot Tub Collections in the Jacuzzi® Product Line. They fall into a few key categories:
Experience – Our patented PowerPro® Jets are used on the J-500™, J-400™, J-300™, and J-LX® Collections. These jets are only found on Jacuzzi® Hot Tubs and were developed by us for very specific purposes. You will find very specific seat layouts that cater to particular muscle groups. The J-200™ Collection features jets that we are happy to place in a Jacuzzi® Brand Hot Tub, but do not have the unique features and performance of the PowerPro® Jets used in the higher collections. Lighting and water features differentiate the Collections and enhance the experience.
Controls and Programmability – The control systems differ greatly in our Collections and you will notice as you move up the line, you not only get additional design elements such as backlighting and color screens, but you also get added features.
Design and Appearance – As is evident by the striking design of the J-500™ Collection, the overall look of the models become more unique as you move up the product line as well. The controls, equipment, and expertise needed to mold products with these details cannot be duplicated.
Q: How do you recommend shoppers narrow down the choices between models?
TM: An obvious first step is to determine if your property offers any space limitations. Once you’ve decided on a size range, you can focus on how you want to use your tub. Relaxation? With the family? Hydromassage therapy? For just the two of you? As a design feature of your yard? A sales associate in a dealer showroom can help you determine the best model for you and your family. I highly suggest sitting in a wet or dry hot tub to help make that final decision. It will be clear why Jacuzzi® Brand Hot Tubs offer the best in comfort, hydromassage and more.
If you want to read more stories like Tracine’s, check out our feature on Erica Moir, Vice President of Marketing and New Product Development for Bath.