Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/280108
22 • APRIL 2014 • WORLD FENCE NEWS WELCOME TO THE LAWLER EXPANDED PRODUCT LINE WELCOME TO THE LAWLER 800.624.9512 Fax: 205.595.0599 4908 Powell Ave So Birmingham Alabama • 35222 LawlerFoundry.com LAWLER ALL YOUR ORNAMENTAL NEEDS, CASTINGS, FORGINGS & SPEARS. And now "Gold Medal" Hardware & Accessories! Hinges, Latches, Locks, Closers, Track Wheels, Springs & More! FOUNDRY CORPORATION SINCE 1933 ALL ORDERS SHIP FROM ONE LOCATION TO SAVE YOU MONEY! HIGHEST QUALITY FASTEST SERVICE LOWEST PRICES SEE HOW OUR EXPANDED SELECTION BENEFITS YOU. FENCER'S FIELD REPORT A monthly column of industry bits & pieces Compiled by contributing editor Jim Lucci and the staff of World Fence News five year head start on maintenance. On the commercial side, projects include a lot of new building enclo- sures, temp fence, perimeter fencing on condo projects, schools, etc. We were also told that the com- pany has been a family owned and op- erated business since 1993. The company offers hand built cedar fence, chain link, vinyl fence, ornamental aluminum, iron and steel fence, as well as fence repair and supplies for the DIY market. We asked Mike about some of the We had the opportunity to speak with Mike Trudeau of Trudeau's Fence Company in Columbus, Ohio. Mike told us that last season ended up pretty well. The company business mix, we were told, is 50% residential and 50% commercial, and its service area is ba- sically a 30-mile radius which takes in all of Franklin County. On the residential side, Mike said that ornamental metal was the biggest mover, followed by vinyl and then wood. Further, Mike told us that orna- mental metal was replacing wood at the consumer level because the longevity of the ornamental product is much better on a maintenance-free basis. He added that his company "pre-stains" the wood, which gives it a major changes or trends he has seen in the fence business in the area. He told us that not a lot of change has occurred over recent years. Customers, who had money invested in their homes prior to the recession, were and are content to stay the course. We were told that Columbus was one of the last locations to get hit by the recession. The area did not go backwards at all, and 2008-2011 re- mained strong. There has been a switch toward ornamental aluminum from wood un- derway, he noted, adding that he would like to get away from wood al- together if possible. We asked how the labor situation was in his area, and Mike said that he is able to get decent labor. The company has its own crews, and starts out new people as a third man in a three man crew. There is some turnover, but basi- cally the labor force is long-term. He noted, however, that he finds it's al- ways a challenge to locate people with valid driver's licenses. We then asked how the economy was in his area. Mike responded that it was moderate, with quite a lot of building going on, including apart- ments. The unemployment rate is lower than the national average and foreclosures are next to nil, he re- ported. On the commercial side, schools are being renovated, as well as the construction of new condos. Lots of projects involve retrofitting condo fencing with wrought iron to give a "Victorian era" look. Finally we asked about the com- pany strategy for 2014. Mike told us that they are going to try to educate the customer even more on the advantages of upgrading to higher end materials. Further, they are going to try to eliminate waste as well as try to cut down on unnecessary phone use. They also want to fine tune the labor expense by not losing work days unnecessarily. And, finally, he has been trying to streamline ordering by buying for each project rather than stocking extra quantities. We then spoke briefly with Larry Gilbert of United Fence and Gate in Des Moines, Iowa. Larry told us that last year ended up well, but at the time we spoke, he said that they were "dead in the water" with some three feet of frost in the ground. The company business mix is 75% commercial and 25% residential. They manufacture gates and chain link for some major distributors. We then asked about the economy in the area. Larry told us that last year had been good, and that money was spent on high end fence, basically black vinyl chain link. On the residential side 90% of his orders were for black vinyl chain link and ornamental fence, which is big as well. Also on the commercial side, there is a lot of manufacturing, ware- houses, sports complexes, and high- way fence going on. Foreclosures have not been a problem since last year, he said. We then asked if he thinks this year will be a good one for the fence industry, and he replied, "Yeah, this year should be good."