Leslie's

Leslie's, Inc.

Company type	Public
Industry	Swimming pool products and accessories retail
Founded	January 1, 1963 (1963-01-01) in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Founder	Phil Leslie, Jr.
Headquarters	Phoenix , United States
Area served	United States (37 states)
Key people	Jason McDonell (CEO)
Products	Swimming pool supplies and accessories, pool chemicals, cleaning tools, replacement parts, hot tub and spa maintenance products, outdoor furniture
Number of employees	3500 (permanent), over 5000 (seasonal)
Website	www.lesliespool.com

Leslie's, Inc., known commercially as Leslie's Swimming Pool Supplies, stands as the foremost distributor of swimming pool products and accessories within the United States. Its corporate headquarters are located in Phoenix, Arizona, with a notable retail footprint spanning Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.

Stores

With a network exceeding 975 locations across 37 states, Leslie's employs approximately 3,500 individuals on a permanent basis, increasing to over 5,000 during seasonal peaks. The company markets upwards of 30,000 items through both its physical stores and digital platforms, including a substantial selection of proprietary pool supply brands that contribute significantly to overall revenue.

Products

Leslie's offers an extensive assortment of pool care essentials such as chemicals, cleaning tools, and replacement parts, along with leisure and safety equipment. Additionally, the product lineup features maintenance solutions for hot tubs and spas as well as outdoor furniture and related backyard accessories.

History

Established in 1963 by entrepreneur Phil Leslie, Jr., Leslie's originated from a single outlet in North Hollywood, Los Angeles. Together with business partner Raymond Cesmat, the enterprise expanded into a regional chain until internal conflicts resulted in a court-mandated sale in 1988. Private equity firm Hancock Park Associates acquired the company through a leveraged buyout valued at $23 million. Phil Leslie received $10 million from the transaction but publicly voiced his displeasure over relinquishing control.

By the early 1990s, Leslie's had regained profitability and successfully launched an initial public offering on NASDAQ in 1991, generating $28 million to reduce liabilities and support growth initiatives. Store numbers rose from 66 in 1989 to 259 by 1996, bolstered by the acquisition of Sandy's Pool Supply. In 1997, Hancock Park Associates along with Leonard Green & Partners took Leslie's private in a $140 million deal. Leonard Green later attempted to divest the company for more than $1 billion but ultimately transferred ownership stakes to CVC Capital Partners and GSO Capital Partners.

By 2014, Leslie's operated more than 750 locations, expanding further to 910 stores by 2015. In 2017, L Catterton—recognized as one of the largest consumer-focused private equity firms globally—acquired the business. Michael Egeck assumed the role of CEO in February 2020. Later that year, Leslie's initiated an IPO process and raised capital through the issuance of 46 million shares in November. On September 9, 2024, Jason McDonell was named CEO and joined the board of directors.

This corporate timeline highlights Leslie’s strategic approach to market expansion via acquisitions and private equity collaborations while solidifying its status as a dominant retailer within the pool supply sector.