Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/401422
10 • NOVEMBER 2014 • WORLD FENCE NEWS Keep Up With The Misadventures Of Pete & Jake Each Month in World Fence News! Be Sure To Visit Us At Booth No. 1211 FENCER'S FIELD REPORT A monthly column of industry bits & pieces Compiled by contributing editor Jim Lucci and the staff of World Fence News We recently had the opportunity to speak with Annette Geis of Vinyl Solutions Unlimited, Greensburg, Indiana. Annette told us that this sea- son has been great; an especially good year for the deck market. This year people may think about fence, but are really proactive when it came to decks, she said. The company business mix we were told was 70% residential and 30% commercial which is generated over a 50-mile radius. We then asked Annette whether there were any challenges that she was confronted with this season. She told us that the biggest challenge was the internet. By her own admission, the inter- net is great when used correctly but, as Annette says, when people come into her showroom and physically see an item that they might be able to get over the internet, she relates to them that the service a customer is able to get as a result of dealing with the com- pany is in fact a great equalizer. On the residential side, the com- pany, in addition to vinyl fencing, does vinyl deck systems, railing and columns, privacy fence, decorative fencing, post and rails, picket fencing, deck lighting, and solar lights, as well as outdoor furniture, window boxes, mail boxes, address signs, planters, storage bins, caps and accessories. On the commercial side, the com- pany does work for hospitals, schools, local banks, and others. Annette made specific mention of just how helpful the maintenance peo- ple are to her endeavors. We then asked how the economy was doing in the area. Annette told us that it was doing okay, and that Greensberg was primarily a farming community and that they were doing pretty well. On the residential side, construc- tion is occuring. Ground was recently broken at the time we spoke for a new housing development. The develop- ment will provide additional opportu- nity for more deck sales. There are some spec houses being built, and tract housing waiting in the wings. We were told that there is a lot of remodeling going on. Further, Annette said that she is seeing a demographic change occur- ring toward younger people from the 50+ group. On the commercial side, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana is getting ready to build another plant. Delta Faucet Company is also creating ad- ditional work. Annette then shared some history with us regarding the company. Vinyl Solutions Unlimited was started in 1997 as a division of Obermeyer-Agri Group Inc. in Greensburg, Indiana. In August 2012, Vinyl Solutions Unlimited was purchased by Larry and Annette Geis, and they moved the business to their current location, which offered them a much bigger showroom and allows more room for displaying the products they sell. We then asked about the strategy for 2014-15. Annette told us that she is always looking for the best products. First and foremost, they must be USA made. She enjoys excellent relationships with all her suppliers and therefore carries, in her words, "no junk – only good stuff." We then spoke with Joel Berk- land of Vinyl Works Incorporated in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Joel told us that while the season started out slow it is ending up okay. The company business mix is 90% residential and 10% industrial. The company basically deals in vinyl (along with some aluminum), basical- ly white, which is dominant, but some variegated colors are doing well, par- ticularly sand, adobe, and mocha wal- nut, according to Joel. He says that darker colors are sell- ing much better. ADC HAS BEEN MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTING ALUMINUM AND PRESSED STEEL FENCE FITTINGS TO WHOLESALERS ACROSS THE USA FOR OVER 46 YEARS ADC HAS AN EXTENSIVE CHAIN LINK FITTINGS LINE • DOMESTIC Aluminum Fittings • DOMESTIC Fittings that meet "Buy America" and ASTM F626-08 spec • IN-HOUSE POLYESTER electrostatic coating facility Opportunity to eliminate large unmanageable inventories Eliminate long offshore lead times Better cash flow control • IN-HOUSE THERMAL POLYMER heavy mil coating that meets F626-08 color specs Highest UV protection that eliminates cracking and peeling and provides longer color retention Fits tubing and pipe without having to clean or carve inside cups for a proper fit • DOMESTIC tension bars, truss rods, tie wires, hog rings, tension wire, razor ribbon and barbed wire • ACCESSORIES Colored carriage bolts, tie wires, hog rings, tension bars up to 6', hydraulic cement, and much more • IMPORT Fittings that are galvanized to meet ASTM F626-08 specs ADC direct ship container program Quality control checks after manufacturing • WOOD GATE HARDWARE Wood to steel adaptors MEMBER 300 N. Industrial Park Road • Harrison, AR 72601 Toll-Free: (877) 258-9576 • Fax: (870) 741-6163 www.adcmanufacturing.com