Consumers ready to spend, enjoy summer

YOUNGSTOWN — Blue skies. Warm temperatures. Green grass.

Ah, the joys of summer have arrived.

Time to open the pool, invite the family over and fire up the grill.

“We hit the mid-80s for five consecutive days from May 7 through May 11,” said Eric Wilhelm, chief meteorologist for 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner. “There will be more hot days than last summer.”

Those hot temperatures brought the summer fun earlier this year and business for the pool people, landscapers and outdoor entertainment.

Just ask Bob Ballone, a 28-year above-ground pool installer and owner of Austintown Pools & Spas, 60 N. Canfield Niles Road, Suite 100, who says his business has been nonstop.

“It now seems we could see an increase of 25 to 50 percent,” Ballone said. “This is the big week – before Memorial Day – to open pools.”

Ballone, a physical education teacher at Lowellville, started his business in 2013, but he installed pools for more than 20 years before that.

“I always wanted to open my own store,” he said. “Over time we have increased our business.”

Ballone has continued to pick up new customers. His first year he installed 43 pools, his second year he installed 55 and this year he is already halfway to 55 pool installations.

“May is pretty busy,” he said. “They want them in for the Fourth of July.”

For the complete story, read Sunday's Vindicator and Vindy.com