Q&A: The Austin Brand Bringing Pools to the People

Dreaming of a laid back, outdoor lifestyle at your fingertips? Add biohacking and community to the mix, and you’ve got a winning combination. In true Austin fashion, Aaron Weiss and Amanda Shaftel turned that dream into a reality with Cowboy Pools® Now, celebrating their 5-year anniversary, we sat down to learn how it all began, and what the future holds.

What inspired you to start Cowboy Pools?

Aaron:

We both had very different careers prior to starting Cowboy Pools. Amanda’s background is in marketing, mine in filmmaking. We’d just started working together in my video production business when the pandemic hit, and we found ourselves with a lot less work.

We’d previously started to DIY a stock tank pool in our backyard and ran into challenges: hesitant about drilling holes, struggling to seal the tank, and even ruining one in the process. After learning the hard way, we thought, “wouldn’t this be a great service and business to offer people,” but knew it would be a big endeavor.

With more time on our hands, we called a couple suppliers, put together some branding ideas, and went for our business idea to offer turnkey, full-services for stock tank pools.

How does Cowboy Pools reflect the Austin lifestyle and what role has the local community played in your growth?

Amanda:

Aaron is from Austin and I’ve been here a long time, so we’re Austin through and through. It was during COVID, Barton Springs was closed, and everyone was going through a hard time. People were also investing in their homes. Traditionally, pools are a luxury item, expensive and unattainable. We wanted to bring pools to the people by providing a cost-effective, practical solution that looked good and served as a cool centerpiece in people’s backyards.

We have a big community here, so word spread quickly. Austin’s a casual town, and it’s a casual product, so people identified with it even before we had pools to sell. Our pools have blown up, not just in Austin or throughout Texas, but all over the country.

Aaron:

Austin’s the perfect spot for starting a business. People embrace local brands and there couldn’t have been a better place to start this. Seeing our pools in people’s homes and out in public, at different restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, we see the experience we want to give people. That feeling every time they get into one of our Cowboy Pools and think “wow, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to have a pool,” and knowing that they can be part of this lifestyle.

Cold plunges and contrast therapy are huge right now. How do your pools make these practices more accessible?

Amanda:

We just released a new product, the TempTamer. It’s the first of its kind heater/chiller that only requires a standard outlet and can chill the pools down to below 40℉, or up to 104℉, so it can be used as a cold plunge and/or a hot tub. You could do a cold plunge in the morning to start your day and then switch your TempTamer up for a hot tub in the evening.

Aaron:

Our smallest size is a six foot pool that fits two-four adults comfortably, so while you could do your solo cold plunge or hot tubing, there’s also a communal take on that which is pretty unique. You can also control the temperature from your phone.

How can an athlete looking for a recovery and performance enhancement benefit from having a Cowboy Pool?

Amanda:

The health and recovery benefits of cold plunges and hot tubs for muscles and inflammation are now well-known and widely studied. Instead of being a solo activity, Cowboy Pools make it a shared experience. Whether you’re running with a partner or part of a group, the pool becomes a centerpiece everyone can enjoy together. With adjustable temperatures, there’s no need to buy a separate cold plunge or hot tub. We’ve also hosted run club pop-ups where everyone jumps in to recover and cool down after a big run.

This year marks Cowboy Pool’s 5 year anniversary. Looking back, what are you the most proud of?

Amanda:

We have so many exciting products, partnerships and activations launched throughout the years. I am super proud of our partnership with Yardzen. We’re their preferred stock tank pool partner, which helps people understand that this is a real pool solution, lined and insulated with a filter pump like a real pool, not just a stock tank. We’re very collaborative in our decision-making as partners in life, raising a family and also growing the business. I’m proud of us for not neglecting too much in the process.

Aaron:

We’re amazed by the enthusiastic and loyal customers who write reviews saying that purchasing a Cowboy Pool is the best decision they’ve ever made. We’re also really proud of the team that we’ve assembled. It’s grown way past any goals or expectations.

What do you see for the future of Cowboy Pools?

Aaron:

Continuing nationwide partnerships to gain a presence and be embedded in different communities. Boutique hotels, short-term rental properties are all places that currently feature pools, so we’re looking for more expansion into the B2B space.

Amanda:

We’ve become a household name throughout Texas, so helping the rest of the country see this as a feasible pool solution that works in all climates. We’ve started entering into music festivals, working with landscapers, builders, and contractors throughout the country, with a trade program that we’ve launched.

We try to make it like a fun experience for people from when they come across our Instagram or hear about the product, explore our website, interact with our customer service team and receive their pool. It should be like a fun process. We’ve recently opened a boutique and showroom, where it’s always pool season. In addition to seeing our pools, people can come in and shop high-quality products that add more fun to the experience.

Follow @cowboypools on Instagram, Pinterest, or cowboypools.com to learn more. You can also check out their Austin Showroom, Thursday – Saturday 10am-3pm.