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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Free-pool deal hot, but not hot enough

By: Daniela Germano

Posted: 07/19/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

WINNIPEG could be basking in a record-breaking high of 36 C today -- news that might add insult to injury for the 80 people who would have gotten a free pool with that kind of heat.

Back in March, owners of a city pool and hot-tub company bought an insurance policy on the weather. If the temperature reached 34.5 C on Monday, people who bought a pool, hot tub or water heater from them between March and July would be eligible for a full refund.

Nelson Barrett, owner of North West Wholesale, said the previous owners of the company came up with the idea and picked, at random, the day in mid-July.

"We had people say, 'Yeah, like that will ever happen,' " Barrett told the Free Press. But as the temperature soared throughout the weekend the prospects looked pretty good.

On Sunday, Environment Canada's predicted high for Monday was 35 C, but by afternoon, the temperature plateaued at about 32 C, said Colin Fong, a meteorologist for Environment Canada.

As it turns out, today would have been a luckier date. Today's temperature is expected to break the July 19 record of 34.4 C set in 1967.

"We had people stopping in all day, saying 'When do you think I can cash my cheque?' " Barrett said. "It looks like we won't reach it, but we won't get the official word until Tuesday."

Once final word is in, the company will post Monday's weather results on its website, Barrett said.

While chances aren't in favour of the North West Wholesale customers, Barrett is still pretty pleased with the campaign.

"This has gone beyond what we expected," he said. "We spent a little bit of money on this, but compared to what it would cost to run a whole bunch of ads -- I think we got way more out of it."

The insurance policy the company purchased is called contingency insurance, typically used for outdoor concerts and festivals that carry a lot of costs dependent on good weather.

"So we just took that and flipped it over to our business and the insurance company said they loved the idea," Barrett said.

daniela.germano@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 19, 2011 A3

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