Episode #150: From Finance to Hot Tubs: Marshall Welch’s Journey

On The SpaRetailer Podcast, host Host Megan Kendrick interviews Marshall Welch, president and principal owner of PDC Spas, about the company’s legacy and future after he and partners acquired it in February 2024 from longtime owners David and Linda Livingston. Welch shares his background in finance, international business in post–Berlin Wall Europe, corporate turnarounds, and owning a medical device company, and explains he was drawn to PDC’s manufacturing quality, strong employee pride, and the desire to keep production in Williamsport. They discuss product refreshes and upcoming launches, expanding breadth across hot tubs, swim spas, and cold plunge offerings, and positioning toward health, wellness, and longevity buyers. Kendrick describes PDC’s efficient, clean factory layout and long-tenured workforce, while Welch highlights complex hot tub internals, robotic drilling, three-layer fiberglass freestanding shells, and the new 7,500-square-foot showroom used for wet testing, dealer training, and customer visits. https://sparetailer.com/feed/podcast/ Show Notes with Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to SpaRetailer01:12 PDC Legacy Overview02:25 Marshall’s Global Career05:40 Back to the States07:50 Buying PDC Spas09:59 Early Wins and Refresh10:45 Hot Tub Complexity13:10 Earning Team Trust16:13 New Lines and Wellness21:22 Factory Tour Takeaways26:33 Built for Quality28:20 Showroom and Wet Tests31:36 Next 3 to 5 Years33:42 Dealer Partnership Focus34:39 SpaRetailer Five Rapid Fire39:52 Closing Thoughts