Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/298794
22 • MAY 2014 • WORLD FENCE NEWS WORLD FENCE NEWS, THE FENCER'S ALMANAC & WFN ONLINE YOUR MOST DEPENDABLE SOURCES OF FENCING INFORMATION FENCER'S FIELD REPORT A monthly column of industry bits & pieces Compiled by contributing editor Jim Lucci and the staff of World Fence News remains optimistic for the season. We asked about the company strategy for 2014. Very succinctly, Bill said that they are "trying to make a profit." They are forced to evaluate even closer the way they bid. Additionally, they are trying to work harder while still working smarter. We caught up with Norman Troy- ers of Troyers Vinyl Products in Weldon, Iowa. Norman told us that he was optimistic for the 2014 fencing season, even though the weather has played a significant role in delaying the actual start of the season. Norman says that his optimism is rooted in the fact that he is getting more inquiries than he did last year at this time. The company's service area cov- ers a 90 mile radius and consists of a business mix of 75% residential and 25% commercial. On the residential side the prod- ucts most people are choosing are chain link or vinyl rail fencing. On the commercial side, the company is doing basically chain link. The company also handles orna- mental vinyl fencing for single family homes, vinyl picket fence for single family homes, along with semi-private vinyl fence. Further, as mentioned at the top of the interview, post and rail vinyl fence and accent fencing, as well as decking and hand rails, are also major contrib- utors to the business. We asked what are some of the major changes or trends that have been seen in the fence business in the area. Norman told us that he has seen a lot more vinyl privacy fencing being re- quested. People are looking for a maintenance-free product that is durable. We then asked whether these changes have been better or worse for the business. Norman replied, better. We then asked about the labor situa- tion in his area and we were told that labor itself was plentiful but not skilled. Occasionally he can get skilled labor by advertising locally. We then asked about the economy in the area. Norman told us that it was getting better. Further, we were told that the company is located more in the farming area of the state and that a lot more farmers are putting vinyl around their farms. Residential construction is picking up, according to Norman. On the com- mercial side there wasn't much going We had the opportunity to speak with Bill Briggs, Jr. of United Fence and Construction Co., Inc., North Little Rock, Arkansas. Bill told us that the company has been in business some 61 years and has a business mix of 98% commercial, 2% residential. The commercial business is gen- erated throughout the state of Arkansas and with the addition of projects in states such as Texas, as well. For the most part, the company in- stalls chain link as a basic product, along with access control projects and custom iron for perimeter fencing and at apartment complexes, gated com- munities, etc. In addition, the company has done work at the Benton Athletic Complex, The Conway Station Ballpark, Dietz Stevens Ballpark, federal buildings and the post office in Conway, the Ver- izon Arena, and a dam project on the Arkansas River, to name a few. At the time we spoke, Bill told us that the season was off to a slow start, but he is optimistic for 2014 that things will pick up and all will be well. We asked what changes, if any, he has seen in the fence business in his area. Bill told us that many of his cus- tomers are "buying American," which is very good. Further, he told us that he is seeing more of a move into orna- mental iron from chain link. We asked what the competitive situation was like in their service area. Were there more companies or fewer bidding work? We were told that there clearly has been an increase in the number of companies bidding jobs. The nmber of companies bidding has increased by 8-10 per job. As Bill pointed out, the economy has not to- tally recovered, so they see more bid- ding going on for every job. They themselves are bidding a lot more jobs to keep going. We then asked how the economy was in his area. We were told that it was pretty depressed at this time. The last quarter of last year and first quar- ter of this year have been very slow. Construction is slow, however, Bill feels when the weather breaks things will pick up quickly. Foreclosures are still occuring, ac- cording to recent newspaper reports, although not as numerous as in the past. On the residential side, some con- struction is going on, but pricing is still very depressed. On the commercial side, the feds are still not releasing any money. However, as stated earlier, Bill PRIVACY IS A SNAP! Hurricane Mfg. Co., LLC 918-270-2050 • info@hurricanemfg.com • www.hurricanemfg.com PVC panels snap on to ornamental pickets. No other mechanism is involved. Privacy Picket Panels for Ornamental Fencing, Decks, Balconies or Enclosures Snap to close! Snap to open!