Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/213702
22 • DECEMBER 2013 • WORLD FENCE NEWS For this edition, we had the opportunity to speak with Bruce Kenimer of Seegar's Fence in Richmond, Va., who told us that this season didn't end up badly. The company business mix is 80% residential and 20% commercial. The service area is basically an 80 mile radius. Vinyl is the biggest mover, along with aluminum on the residential side. They also do custom gates, wood, vinyl, chain link, farm and ranch, ornamental steel, dog kennels, composite, hand rails, and decking. Industrial • Commercial • Farm • Ranch Certified Fencing Materials Interstate Highway • Federal or State Land Projects Oil Field Sites and Open Pit Mining • Residential Certified T-Post 1.33 certified ASTM • Field Fence • T-Posts/Wood Posts • Barbed Wire • Tubular Right-of-Way Gates • Portable Fencing Systems • Corner/Anchor Posts • High Tensile CROSSLOCK Game Fence High Tensile Cross Lock Fence Right-of-Way Gate V-Mesh Fence Gives maximum protection. High carbon, steel wire construction bounces back. Cross Lock knot leaves no sharp edges. Continuously interwoven vertical wires with horizontal cable form perfect hinge joints for flexibility. Available in 2 styles: M-5, I-2. 165 foot rolls. CG650 2", 16 ga. Available in Red, Green,Old Iron Gray, Canyon Tan or Heavy Duty Brown Ornamental Fence An old favorite, Class 1 galvanized wire fencing. Specification B-11 (Single Loop) styles with uniform pickets the entire height for a more open appearance. Specification A-11 (Double Loop) fence has closely woven picket wires at the bottom and double-loop wires. Both available in 36", 42", 48" Call for quotes meeting state and federal DOT specifications www.hutchison-inc.com 800-525-0121 BOOTH NO. 1026! FENCER'S FIELD REPORT A monthly column of industry bits & pieces Compiled by contributing editor Jim Lucci Seegar's Fence is 60 years old, and has 17 locations stretching from Richmond, Virginia to the North Carolina triangle area to Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina. On the commercial side the company does chain link, aluminum, access control, dumpster enclosures, custom gates, guard rail, ornamental steel fencing, temporary construction fence, athletic fencing, and farm and ranch fencing. We asked Bruce what some of the major changes or trends he has seen occuring in the fence business in his area. He told us that while chain link and wood were the fences of choice in times past, they have really been replaced in popularity in recent years by vinyl and ornamental aluminum. He noted that people don't want to have to maintain wood anymore. In addition, most customers stain their wood immediately, which is wrong. This leads to warping, and people are tired of dealing with it. Bruce also told us that the company uses metal frames on their wood gates for durability and better lifespan. We then asked about the competition in the area, and were told that it is very competitive but not on price so much as the type of customer service that you render. We then asked about the economy in the area. We were told that it seems to be picking up. People are asking for estimates on wood but really want vinyl. When you can get them to consider vinyl they make the switch. On the commercial side they are seeing big jobs on new construction with new 8'-10' tall perimeter fencing with barbed wire around various types of facilities. We then asked about the business strategy that had been implemented this year. We were told that there has been a major focus on customer service. They are trying to spend a half hour to 45 minutes with a customer, in order to get to know him or her better so they could best service their needs. We asked Bruce how he felt about the outlook for the fence industry in 2014. He responded that he felt that the outlook is good. He further responded that the long established history of the company dating back some 60 years plus will help to make a big competitive advantage. We then had the opportunity to speak with Tracy Grooms of All-Star Fence in Paris, Tennessee. Tracy told us that this past season was "okay." The company business mix is 65% residential and 35% commercial, and the service area is generally a hundred mile radius but has been known to go farther if need be. On the residential side, the biggest product movers are color coated chain link, wood, and then vinyl and some aluminum. On the commercial side the firm does a lot of aluminum and powder coated chain link. Projects include military bases and other federal facilities. We asked Tracy what are some of the major changes or trends that they have seen in the area regarding the fence business. He told us that he has been shifting focus from residential to commercial. We then asked Tracy how competitive it was in his area. He told us that he sets a margin where he needs to be and only then bids the job. Further, he pointed out that a lot more firms travel now and it has brought a lot more players into the bidding process. He told us, for instance, that a recent Carolina airport project brought in some 40 bidders. We then asked about the advertising situation, and has the company changed its advertising format in recent times? Tracy said that there is a lot more emphasis now on the use of the web site.