Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/145703
22 • AUGUST 2013 • WORLD FENCE NEWS We had the opportunity to speak with Dakota Schneider of Taylor Fence Co. in Pueblo, Colorado, who told us that the company is having a really good year, and in fact, the last four years have been good as well. At the time we spoke, Dakota told us that the company was very busy and that they have hired people at the installation level as well as temps for other functions within the company. Further, we were told that the company business mix is 60% commercial and 40% residential and has been established since 1948. On the commercial side, the com- FENCER'S FIELD REPORT A monthly column of industry bits & pieces Compiled by contributing editor Jim Lucci and the staff of World Fence News pany does electronic fences for prisons among other projects in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and other states in an approximate 400 mile radius. On the residential side, in the greater Pueblo area, the company's big product movers include wood and vinyl and, earlier in the season, they do a lot of chain link. The company sells and installs security and privacy fences, decorative fences, animal containment fences, automatic gate operators, custom gates, and services the DIY market. We asked Dakota, going back to the start of the recession, probably 2008, how has the economic downturn affected the company. Dakota told us that, from the winter of 2008 to the spring of 2009, the guys were lucky to get a half day a week, but then the company started to pull out of it by May of 2009 and they really "have never looked back." We asked how their advertising approach has changed over time. We were told that the biggest change has been the web site, which has proven to be very successful, along with the placement of their fence signs on their completed fence jobs, while still maintaining a Yellow Pages presence. We asked how the labor situation was in the area, and are they able to get decent help? Dakota told us that they are able to get good help because the area has a lot of blue collar workers. They come with a basic knowledge and those who can be trained are developed into skilled labor. Further, the company has no turnover to speak of. We asked what the competitive situation was like in their service area and Dakota said that the competition is more on the commercial jobs; in addition to the usual bidders there is the element that can get real cut throat on pricing. We asked about the economy in the area and Dakota told us that it was on the rebound. There is still a fair amount of unemployment, and there is some turnover in businesses. There are renovations that are taking place on properties for both existing businesses and potential new businesses. Residential is still going very well, although there are still foreclosures. We asked what the company strategy for 2013 was and were told that the company has become an installer for Home Depot and there are a few markets that they are trying to get into while basically "sticking to their roots," so to speak. They have a lot of referral and repeat business that they look forward to increasing. We also had the opportunity to speak with Roger Freeman of Freeman Fence Co. in Brookfield, Illinois, who told us that his company has Tymetal has been providing the highest quality gate systems to fence contractors for over 25 years Fortress Cantilever Slide Gates Fortress Heavy Duty Overhead Slide Gates Fortress Heavy Duty Swing Gates Crash Rated Cantilever Slide Gates Crash Rated Beams Crash Rated Bollards "We Close Openings"