Greg Wittstock pretty much invented the backyard-pond industry, but with family conflicts, soaring and then falling sales and a collapsed roof, his life sounds like reality TV.

Shaq isn't the only homeowner with a new koi pond. Wittstock said Aquascape, his Illinois-based business, has had a tremendous surge in business as the coronavirus pandemic has kept people at home.

Building a Marketing Juggernaut How did Aquascape’s Greg Wittstock–the “Pond Nazi” to his rivals–get so successful so quickly? One key reason: He created an army of loyal customers by ...