About Us
Our Story
Summer Waves was founded in 1968 by John Smith, a young entrepreneur with a passion for bringing joy and laughter to families everywhere. As a child, John spent his summers at the beach, building sandcastles, swimming in the ocean, and making lasting memories with his parents and siblings. He wanted to recreate that nostalgic, carefree feeling of summertime and share it with people across the country.
The first Summer Waves store opened in John’s hometown of Ocean City, New Jersey. In the shop, he sold inexpensive swimming pools, beach toys, sprinklers, and other outdoor water play items. The products were an immediate hit with local families looking to beat the heat and enjoy simple, affordable summertime fun.
Within a few years, John expanded the Summer Waves brand into a national operation. He opened new storefronts, secured major retail partnerships, and even began developing Summer Waves products under his own private label. Although the company was growing rapidly, John stayed true to the core mission of delivering smiles and laughter through summertime play.
Today, Summer Waves has blossomed into one of America’s most beloved seasonal brands. We operate over 300 retail stores across the country and sell our products in thousands more through major chains like Walmart, Target, and Amazon. Our catalog includes everything from splashing pools and water slides to beach toys, lawn sprinklers, pool floats, and more. While our offerings have expanded dramatically, the heart of our brand remains the same – bringing the carefree joy of summer to backyards and neighborhoods nationwide.
Our Values
At Summer Waves, we believe that time spent playing outdoors should be full of laughter, excitement, and togetherness. Our products aim to make those special moments happen for families everywhere. We live by three core values that guide every decision we make:
Quality
We pride ourselves on providing quality products that are made to last through many summers of play. We carefully select durable materials and partner with reputable manufacturers to produce items that meet our strict safety and quality control standards. Parents trust Summer Waves to supply the tools for incredible backyard adventures, and we work hard to earn that trust.
Affordability
Summer should be fun for everyone, regardless of budget. We strive to offer outdoor play items, toys, and pool accessories at affordable prices to make summertime memories accessible. Our buyers negotiate with vendors to keep costs low without sacrificing quality. Value is always a top consideration for us.
Joy
Our ultimate goal is to bring pure, simple joy to families through our products. The sound of kids laughing and screaming with delight as they run through a sprinkler or splash in a pool is music to our ears. We aim to create magical summertime moments that will become treasured childhood memories. Spreading joy gives our work purpose.
How We Operate
Summer Waves has grown exponentially over 50+ years in business, but we still approach each day with a small, family-business mindset. Here is an inside look at how we operate:
Responsible Sourcing
We take great care in selecting manufacturing partners who share our values around quality, safety, ethics, and environmental responsibility. We conduct thorough vetting and audits to ensure all factories adhere to labor laws and utilize responsible sourcing practices. The majority of our products are manufactured domestically in the United States.
Innovative Design
Our in-house design and product development team is constantly dreaming up fresh, innovative outdoor play items to bring new excitement to backyards each summer. We analyze the latest toy trends and consumer preferences to generate ideas for new Summer Waves exclusives every year. Our lead designers have decades of experience developing awesome, imaginative products that inspire creative play.
Rigorous Safety Testing
Every Summer Waves product undergoes rigorous safety testing before reaching our customers. We thoroughly inspect samples from manufacturing runs and audit facilities to guarantee compliance with all federal safety regulations. Items are evaluated for durability, hazardous materials, and potential injury risks with sharp edges or small parts. Your family’s safety is our first priority.
Responsive Customer Service
We want all Summer Waves customers to have an exceptional service experience. Our U.S.-based customer service team is available by phone, email, and online chat to answer questions, resolve issues, and handle returns quickly and thoughtfully. We value each customer and take pride in providing caring, personalized support.
Our Leadership Team
Summer Waves is led by a passionate, dedicated team with decades of experience in retail, manufacturing, product development, and marketing. Get to know our leaders:
Mark Johnson, CEO
Mark joined Summer Waves in 1999 and has served as Chief Executive Officer for over 15 years. He began his career managing one retail store and worked his way up to oversee all operations. Mark is passionate about continuing the company’s legacy of bringing affordable backyard fun to families nationwide.
Sarah Myers, Chief Product Officer
Sarah leverages 20+ years of product development expertise to lead the strategic planning and design of new Summer Waves items each year. She stays on top of consumer trends and manages the in-house creative team to consistently deliver innovative, must-have products.
Tom Wilson, Chief Operations Officer
With 30+ years in manufacturing and distribution, Tom keeps all Summer Waves operations running smoothly and efficiently. He oversees the production pipeline, vendor relations, inventory, and retail store management. Tom takes pride in continually optimizing processes.
Monica Singh, Chief Marketing Officer
Monica develops data-driven marketing strategies for Summer Waves to drive brand awareness and engagement. She manages media planning, social media, promotions, partnerships, and experiential events. Monica joined us in 2016 to spearhead expansion into interactive marketing.
Phil Robinson, Chief Financial Officer
Phil has spent his 25+ year finance career leading fiscal strategy for major consumer brands. He ensures Summer Waves’ financial health by directing budgeting, accounting, investments, forecasting, and growth planning. Phil joined us in 2020 and has been instrumental in guiding expansion.
This exemplary leadership team’s dedication has made Summer Waves the beloved seasonal brand it is today. Their passion keeps our company culture vibrant and focused on bringing joy to families through summertime play.
Our Retail Experience
Part of what makes Summer Waves special is the unique retail experience we create in every one of our 300+ stores nationwide. We make shopping for outdoor toys and pool supplies fun for the whole family! Here are some of the ways we bring joy to our retail stores:
Product Demonstrations
Store associates routinely demo Summer Waves toys outside on the sidewalk or in the courtyard to show just how fun they can be! Kids love watching pool basketball hoops and water blasters in action. Demonstrations get everyone excited to head home and start playing.
Test-A-Toy Stations
Stores feature multiple interactive stations where kids can get hands-on playtime with Summer Waves toys before purchase. Trying out water guns, sprinklers, and pool floats firsthand makes it easy to find the perfect items they’ll love. Parents appreciate being able to actively engage kids in the shopping experience.
Backyard Mock-Ups
Many Summer Waves locations bring the magic of summertime right into the store by setting up mini backyard scenes! These displays showcase playsets, pools, water tables, slides, and toys in realistic backyard environments so customers can easily envision the products in use.
Free Samples
What’s better than ice cream on a hot summer day? Free ice cream at Summer Waves stores! Shoppers are treated to complimentary ice cream novelty carts on scorching days. Stores also hand out free tube floats, beach balls, and other goodies to delight kids during their visit.
Surprise Sprinkler Shows
When the temperature really soars, some lucky shoppers experience an impromptu sprinkler show in front of the store! Store associates will occasionally set up a temporary water toy demo and surprise kids walking by with a quick water play session to help them cool down. Passersby always stop to smile, laugh, and dance.
These interactive elements make every Summer Waves retail location a destination for summertime fun. We want visiting our stores to get everyone excited for sunny backyard days ahead. Our knowledgeable staff, compelling displays, and family focus make Summer Waves a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.
Our Manufacturing Partners
Behind every incredible Summer Waves product is a dedicated manufacturing partner committed to our same high standards of quality, safety, and ethics. We cultivate close relationships with a diverse group of facilities across multiple countries. Here are some of our most valued overseas production partners:
Worthington Plastics – Indonesia
Worthington Plastics produces our molded plastic components like sprinkler bases, pool water slides, and paddleboat hulls. Family-owned for three generations, Worthington operates an eco-friendly facility and invests heavily in workforce development. We’ve partnered with them for over 15 years.
Atlantis Swimwear – Vietnam
Our wide selection of pool floats and inflatable rafts are produced by Atlantis Swimwear’s fair wage factory. A women-owned business, Atlantis maintains an exemplary track record of environmental stewardship and supply chain transparency. They are our trusted partner of 10+ years.
Playtime Manufacturing – China
Playtime supplies our broad range of outdoor toys including water blasters, pool basketball hoops, lawn games, sand toys, and more. The ethical, LEED Gold Certified factory has robust quality control and rigorous safety testing processes fully aligned with our standards.
Mountain Spring Textiles – Pakistan
For over 20 years, we’ve partnered with Mountain Spring Textiles for the production of beach towels, swim coverups, sundresses, and other apparel. As a B-Corp focused on sustainability, Mountain Spring shares our commitment to responsible sourcing and fair labor practices.
In addition to these offshore partners, over 30% of Summer Waves products are manufactured domestically in the United States. We take great pride in supporting American jobs and reducing our supply chain carbon footprint. Our U.S. partners include:
Great Lakes Plastics – Michigan
Supplying our durable plastic wading pools, sandbox covers, and plastic sprinkler parts, Great Lakes Plastics’ close proximity allows for responsive collaboration and rapid prototyping. We share their dedication to eco-friendly practices.
Hansen’s Hot Tubs – Iowa
Our best-selling inflatable kids’ pools and water-play stations are produced by Hansen’s Hot Tubs, an Iowa-based, family-run company. Their expertise in water recreation products makes them an ideal partner for bringing our designs to life.
American Fun & Games – Ohio
For classic lawn and beach toys like frisbees, footballs, badminton sets, and more, American Fun & Games is our go-to partner. Their Ohio factory has partnered with Summer Waves since our beginning in 1968.
These manufacturing relationships, both foreign and domestic, allow Summer Waves to deliver exceptional products efficiently and cost-effectively while operating in an ethical, environmentally responsible manner. Our partners share our commitment and are essential to our success.
Our Communities
While Summer Waves has grown into a national brand, we remain dedicated to supporting local communities where we live, work, and play. We focus our community outreach in three areas:
Youth Recreation
We sponsor events, fund programs, and donate products to help bring the benefits of outdoor summertime play to underserved youth. Some of our partners include local Boys & Girls Clubs, youth community centers, foster care nonprofits, children’s hospitals, and social services agencies. Seeing kids experience the simple joys of pools, sprinklers, and toys is incredibly rewarding.
Water Safety
Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for children, so we partner with water safety organizations to provide education and resources. We fund scholarships for swim lessons, donate life jackets and floating pool alarms, and print water safety tip tags on all our swim products. Safety is always our priority.
Environmental Conservation
We work with local parks, beaches, and conservation groups to sponsor shoreline and waterway cleanups. Our staff volunteers collect litter from beaches and staff educational booths about limiting plastic use. We also donate durable recycled plastic trash bins to keep recreation areas pristine. Keeping our shared natural resources beautiful and clean is important to us.
The communities we operate in have supported Summer Waves for over 50 years. We feel it’s our duty to generously give back however we can, whether it’s through donations, volunteerism, sponsorships, scholarships, or environmental stewardship. Our community roots run deep, and supporting local causes gives deeper meaning to our work.
Looking to the Future
As Summer Waves celebrates over half a century of bringing summertime joy to families nationwide, we are more energized and optimistic than ever about the future. Some of our goals for the years ahead include:
Continuing Expansion
We plan to expand our retail footprint by opening 25-30 new stores annually in carefully selected markets. This growth allows us to deliver the interactive Summer Waves shopping experience to even more communities nationwide. We also aim to grow wholesale partnerships with major retailers.
New Licensing Partnerships
Our product developers are pursuing exciting licensing deals to expand our catalog beyond original Summer Waves exclusives. We see big potential in creating officially licensed toys and accessories for movies, TV shows, video games, comics and more with a pool/beach/outdoor theme.
Enhanced Digital Engagement
From our website to social media and email marketing, we are investing heavily in elevating the digital Summer Waves experience. More interactive online content, social sweepstakes, user-generated content campaigns, livestreams and other initiatives will deepen customer engagement.
Ongoing Sustainability Efforts
We aim to continually improve our operational sustainability through recyclable packaging, eco-friendly shipping, reduced waste, water conservation, green energy in our stores, and a lower carbon supply chain. Embedding green practices is a top priority.
While the future promises exciting growth for Summer Waves, our founding spirit of delivering affordable, family-focused summertime fun will remain at the heart of our brand. We can’t wait to create more incredible memories and bring even more smiles to backyards and neighborhoods for generations to come. Thank you for being part of our journey!
