Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/530880
30 • JULY 2015 • WORLD FENCE NEWS I have often wondered just how many fence companies there are in the U.S. Have you? I suppose some- one could take all the advertising and telephone listings across America and add them all up, but who has the time? I tried resources like the Ameri- can Fence Association and they have no record of the total number of fenc- ing companies in America; no one seems to have the exact figure. So I decided to check deeper. There are a few other questions I have wanted to research that have crossed my mind over my many years in the industry, questions like where is the greatest concentration of fencers? Which area has the fewest? And the granddaddy of them all, "Where is the best place to be located if you are in the fencing business?" I can't tell you how many times I have been asked from a fencer about business in other areas of the country and how they are doing in compari- son. Yet another question is, where do fencers, both employees and own- ers, make the most money, and where would you enjoy the greatest overall chance of success in the fence busi- ness (although I am not sure how to even answer that question)? Curiosity about the industry, and A retrospective on the fence industry BY TOM LUBY, PRESIDENT, PROFIT BUILDERS INTERNATIONAL Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2014 (47-4031- Fence Erectors) Erect and repair fences and fence gates, using hand and power tools. searching for answers is a good thing, the truth shall set you free. They also say, "The grass is al- ways greener on the other side of the fence." (Pardon my pun.) My friends, wishing things were not so competitive and fence prices were higher in your area will not nec- essarily make it so. The real answer is not to ask the question! Anywhere in the U.S. can be a great place to earn a good living in- stalling fence, if you conduct your business in a smart and organized fashion and do not yield to the price war mentality. Know your market area and max- imize your potential there, wherever that may be. Know the "needs" of your cus- tomers. Listen to what they need and give it to them at a fair and honest price. Find niche markets and products and services in your area. Become the "Roof Rake King" so to speak, when necessary. (See my article in the April 2015 issue of WFN.) All are tools of business survival. That being said, I did some check- ing and found a wealth of interesting facts in the database of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov) in the U.S. government web site. I want to share some of these facts with you now, and want to thank Scott (no last names, please) from the De- partment of Labor in Washington, for showing me the way and helping me gather this information to share with all of you. OK, here we go. (Scott also advised me, and we confirmed, that since the informa- tion quoted is in the public domain, I am free to share it with World Fence News readers.) First off, the U.S. government un- fortunately does not collect any infor- mation on fencing companies. Electrical contractors, plumb- ers, masons, steel erection compa- nies, carpentry companies – yes – but fence companies – no. I hope that can