After 30 years in the restaurant industry, Erin and Karen Barr were ready for a change. Chance encounters with longtime friends ready to sell their company quickly transpired into them becoming the new owners of Home Innovations Spas, one of Nebraska’s leading retailers for hot tubs, swim spas, saunas, and cold tubs.
Almost a year into their new ownership, the logo and Website have changed, but the staff, customer service, and commitment to excellence that the almost-35-year-old brand is known for has stayed the same.
“We’re having fun with it,” said co-owner Karen Barr. “I'm not going to say it was easy — coming from a totally different career — but it’s been a really good change for us. The team has stuck with us and been super supportive. They’re just wonderful! My kids are excited about it. My son helps all the time. I’m hoping it's something we can continue for years and years and maybe they can as well.”
Barr is passionate about the products Home Innovations Spas sells as she’s living proof of the changes in health and wellbeing they provide. As seeing truly is believing, her advice is to visit one of their showrooms in Omaha or Lincoln to experience the many brands and options in hot tubs, swim spas, infrared saunas, and cold tubs (a personal favorite of Barr’s).
“It’s a new passion of mine. I do it every day I’m home. I absolutely love it!” Barr said of cold plunging in her Master Spas Chilly GOAT Cold Tub. “It feels so good. It improves circulation and inflammation. I sleep better, and it's a real mental thing: If you can accomplish something really hard first thing in the morning, it just feels awesome. And it's always there, always ready for you.”
She’s also seen great benefits from the swim spa they installed at their home.
“You don't have to be an Olympic swimmer like Michael Phelps to enjoy the benefits of the swim spa. They go from 12-feet to 19-feet. There are so many sizes and options. You can swim year-round, which is huge. And they’re great for fitness, relaxation, or family time,” Barr explained. “I compare it to a treadmill in the water. You can swim against the current, but you can also just kick or run. You're in the water. It's no impact. It feels good.
“In the summertime, we keep ours cooler, and in the wintertime, you can crank it up to 104 degrees like your own huge hot tub and just float around. People dream of having a pool in their backyard, and gosh, we can make it happen so quickly. An in-ground pool is going to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars but we can put a swim spa in your yard, sometimes within a month. It amazes me still.”
New this year is the Master Spas line of Michael Phelps Sweaty GOAT Saunas. Boasting state of the art infrared heat, they’re more comfortable and easier to maintain than traditional saunas while still delivering heat-therapy benefits.
“The quality is top notch,” said Barr. “Some people really like the heat, especially in Nebraska’s winter months and these get up to 160 degrees. They don’t take up a lot of room. They’re super easy for us to deliver and set up. You only need a 110-volt plug. They're awesome!”
All of Home Innovations Spa’s products come with a warranty as well as free delivery and setup. Their expert staff will even walk you through proper maintenance and care and, should an issue arise, is always a phone call or message away. And finance programs are available year-round to help you get the products you want.
Barr’s favorite benefit of owning the products they so proudly sell has been the effect they’ve had on her family. “Having [them] in-home offers so many benefits beyond just relaxation. It’s like having a staycation. When my kids were little, the first thing they did when we traveled is hit the pool, hit the hot tub. This is something you can afford and have in your own backyard all year long. It's luxurious, it feels good, and it's just fun,” she said.
“Family time is important. Now, after dinner my family goes, ‘Let's go get in the hot tub.’ We talk or watch a football game. We spend more time together. It truly adds luxury and wellness to your lifestyle.”
For more information on Home Innovations Spas or for store locations, visit their Web site at SpasOnline.com.
"It’s like a staycation. It's luxurious, feels good, and it's just fun."
"It adds luxury and wellness to your lifestyle.”