Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — When the U.S. economy slumped in the late 2000s, Christian Staples saw the effects firsthand. As the branded dealer of Arctic Spas Utah, he watched his once-thriving business shrink in half.
He wanted to pack it in, but a mentor advised him otherwise. Staples calls it the best advice he could have received.
Staples first sold hot tubs as a teenager, though he didn't open a brick-and-mortar until years later. His tenacity during those early years and through the nation's financial crisis has been a key to his success. Today, Staples operates Arctic Spas dealerships in three locations across Utah — Salt Lake City, American Fork and St. George.
"You have everybody who devotes their blood, sweat and tears into working here," Staples said. "From 2010, where I thought I was going to have to give up the business, to today having three stores. And we have 29 people here, multiple million dollars in revenue every year. It's a huge, huge change."
Part of Staples' success could also be attributed to his belief in the value of the product he now sells. Staples said the Arctic Spas brand has unique features that make them more energy-efficient and easier to maintain.
He's also a proponent of "Arctic moments" — when families spend meaningful time together while relaxing in bubbling water.
Learn more about Staples' journey and what makes Arctic Spas Utah so popular in the latest installment of KSL's Beyond Business.
Follow our series to discover how other local entrepreneurs are influencing Utah's business landscape. You'll find stories such as Kenny J's BBQ, arguably the best barbecue this side of Texas, and the Holbrooks, two brothers on a mission to elevate the game of pickleball.
