Daily Inspiration: Meet Gary Richards

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Richards.

Hi Gary, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started VacBagz with a simple mission: to make life easier for professional pool service technicians. Having worked with battery-operated vacuums, I saw firsthand the frustrations with traditional nylon debris bags—tearing too easily, popping off under pressure, or just not lasting long enough.

Instead of settling for “good enough,” I set out to create something better. After research, testing, and a lot of trial and error, I developed VacBagz using durable polyester and a patent-pending cord lock system that solves the problems pros face every day.

What began as a small idea has grown into a product now carried by major distributors and recognized in the pool industry for innovation. But at its heart, VacBagz is still about one thing: helping pool pros do their job faster, easier, and with less hassle.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing is ever easy ! During Covid. My techs and I couldn’t find products that were needed for swimming pool service. Nothing was being made. That’s why I started parting bags together. So we could work. Next. Finding stores or folks willing to take a risk on us. Discount Pool Mart in the San Fernando Valley has 9 stores. I was a long time customer. So I had the relationship. They took a chance and we grew. Then it was ‘Go National’ time. Poolcorp is one of the largest Distributors of pool products to Pool Service Guys. It took 14 + months of trying to persuade the powers that be, that we were worth the time. Now we are in. Big relief. But then came all the orders. More than my bank account would allow me to replenish. These are the sorts of growing pains, that you hear of and hope it doesn’t happen. But all in all it’s a good problem to have. Having stick and NO buyers is bad. But Having buyers and not enough stock is a good problem. These teething problems make you stronger. I still have sleepless nights. I still know that I have the ‘skin in the game’ to make my business into the Brand I know it will be. Maybe not quite “I’ll have a Coke” recognisable. But in the pool service industry, that’s what I am striving for

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have always had a creative eye for anything. I will throw a hundred ideas on the wall. Then the one that sticks. I will get full force behind. There are many facets of business that I fall short on. But I make up for it with, drive, determination and an unrelenting will to not quit.
I have and am a chameleon. I worked in the Film Industry as an AD. I was a British Pub owner (Fox n Hounds) in Studio City and (White Harte) Woodland Hills. Then I wanted the challenge of the Pool industry. This was out of necessity not choice. After a bad injury. I couldn’t do a lot of the physical parts of Pool Service. Then enter the bagz. Vacbagz was born.

How do you define success?
It’s not just sales or recognition (though those matter); it’s knowing you had an idea, put in the work when it wasn’t easy, and now see others benefitting from it. It’s the mix of independence, impact, and pride in saying, “I made this happen.”

Contact Info:

• Website: HTTP://www.vacbagz.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/@vacbagz
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/@vacbagzcom
• LinkedIn: https://LinkedIn.com/in/vacbagz
• Youtube: https://YouTube.com/@gary_vacbagz