Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/196134
18 • NOVEMBER 2013 • WORLD FENCE NEWS We had the opportunity to speak with Brad Howard of Contractor Services in Seattle, Washington. Brad told us that this past season was excellent. He told us that the markets he services – Alaska, Washington and California – were all doing very well Noise Abatement Solution UR W O ION VIE LAT TAL INS IDEO V 1/8" thick material attaches to existing chain link fence, scaffolding or any custom built support Comes with or without anodized brass eyelets on both top and bottom FENCER'S FIELD REPORT A monthly column of industry bits & pieces Compiled by contributing editor Jim Lucci but that Oregon was slow. At the time we spoke, he didn't really have an explanation as to why, but told us that he was traveling there shortly to ascertain exactly what was happening. Brad told us that his business mix is 70% commercial and 30% residential. On the commercial side, the company does commercial chain link for the most part. The company's projects include schools, airports, and military installations, as well as highways. We asked Brad about some of the major changes or trends he has seen in the fence business in his area. He said that the company is selling more wood, actually double over last year. There hasn't been much change on the commercial side, besides commercial construction, which has been down but is showing signs of picking up. Brad said that for the most part, the changes have been positive, in that people who live in subdivisions over the past few years were ignoring the need to replace fence, or merely repairing it on some level; and now, recently, are spending to replace it. We asked Brad about any changes he has made in his advertising approach, and he told us that he has no Yellow Pages presence and that pretty much word of mouth is his biggest source of advertising. We then asked about the economy in the area, and were told that it is Acoustifence can be left exposed or easily enclosed in other fencing View Our Installation & Testimonial Videos At: www.acoustiblok.com/acoustifence-video.php • Easy to install or remove from existing fence • All weather tolerant / Impervious to water • UV tolerant / Mold resistant/ Vermin proof • Easily cleaned / Will not develop or hold odors • 100% recyclable / Made from 90% recycled material • Made in U.S.A. from all U.S. materials Applications include highway environments, construction sites, manufacturing plants, retail facilities and many types of residential settings. To learn more about Acoustifence or other Acoustiblok products visit www.acoustiblok.info follow us/like us on: Now! A More Secure, Safer and Better Looking Gate Lock! 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Brad said that in his local travels, he counts cranes in the air, and it appears to him that there are about three times as many as earlier in the year and in the most recent past. We asked Brad about his business strategy for 2013, and he told us that he has been trying to interact more face-to-face with the customer base. We had the opportunity to speak briefly with Eddie Pritchett of All Pro Fencing in Columbus, Georgia. Eddie told us that this year was the company's first full year in business and that it was "terrific." When we spoke, he was two to four weeks out. His business mix is 95% residential and 5% commercial vs. the last quarter of 2012, when it was 50% residential and 50% commercial. The service area is a 50 mile radius and their primary business is privacy fencing. We asked Eddie what some of the major changes or trends were that he has seen in his area. He told us that the local situation has been pretty much the same. However, the company does work in Alabama and he said it has experienced some high unemployment. We asked about what advertising changes he has made. Eddie said he has a Yellow Pages presence, as well as a web site. He also has successfully used a coupon booklet, which has driven a lot of business to him. We asked how the labor situation was in his area, i.e., is it tough or easy to get good help? He responded that finding good people is constantly hard to do. He expressed the feeling that people "don't want to work," which makes the process even more difficult than it otherwise might be. We then asked what the competitive situation was like in his area. Eddie responded that it was "very heavy." Eight or nine fence companies – some good, some bad – are always in the mix. He also passed on an interesting observation/opinion: He told us that it seems that many companies which maintain beautiful show rooms have the poorest service, and some companies with poor show rooms have good services. Go figure! We then asked about the economy in the area. Eddie told us that the Columbus, Ga. area is a largely isolated area with a heavy military presence, i.e., the Fort Benning Army base. There is a lot of new building going on on the Alabama side of his