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18 • FEBRUARY 2012 • WORLD FENCE NEWS Recently, we spoke with Jack Snyder, Jr. of Snyder's Custom Fencing in York, Pennsylvania, who told us that he was super busy for the majority of the year, but in the fourth quarter it had fallen off somewhat. Everybody has been working, and they are okay, at least better than two years ago. The company business mix is 75% residential and 25% commercial, and Jack told us that the company picked up some much needed commercial FENCER'S FIELD REPORT A monthly column of industry bits & pieces Compiled by contributing editor Jim Lucci and the staff of World Fence News work which helped out. While the company carries a full product line, the biggest mover this past year was alu- minum over vinyl, but only slightly, he said. Snyder's Custom Fencing is a family owned and operated company, serving Central Pennsylvania since 2002, in about a 100 mile radius from York. Jack mentioned that the company experienced a pickup in commercial work; one of the leading reasons for this, he said, was the company getting Slats OR Chain Link Fence with Pre-Woven Slats? Take your pick. PrivacyLink® Privacy Decorative Slats involved with temporary panels, which has created a niche for them. The com- pany's products include, but are not limited to, residential and commercial aluminum fencing, aluminum pool fencing, industrial aluminum fencing, vinyl, and privacy fence. They also do pressure treated has whichever you need. wood privacy and pickets, and cedar picket and privacy, along with alu- minum and vinyl railings. We asked Jack what he thought about the outlook for the residential market in 2012, and he told us that he thought that this year would be good. The company has built a good re- ferral base, he said. He also points to building going on and the company doing more quotes. We also asked about whether the buying habits of homeowners was changing, and if so, how. He replied that there was more wood being sold than in the past. People will get several choices and they will then determine future buying patterns. We asked whether or not, over the past couple of years, the company did any projects that were directly attrib- uted to the federal stimulus bill, and Jack told us, not really, but that he helped a friend out as a sub on a Delaware housing project. We also asked if the company had instituted any cost saving measures, and Jack told us that they were buying more competitively. When asked whether or not the World's Largest Slat Inventory • Orders usually ship in 24 hours • Warehousing on east and west coasts • Quotes responded to within 20 minutes • Warehouse inventory includes most heights and colors for all slats Privacy Decorative Slats "Pre-Woven" Into The Wire company was taking any discounts that were offered, we were told that only vinyl suppliers offered them, and when they were offered, the company took advantage of it. When we asked if the company of- fered to sell additional items along with the fence jobs, the reply was, "not often." The company exhibits in a gar- den show in the early part of the year, but not a lot of additional products are sold there. PrivacyLink 3 1/2" x 5" mesh IndustrialLink 3 1/2" x 5" mesh SlatLink 2" mesh PrivacyMaster 2" mesh When we asked about the econ- omy in the area, Jack told us that the unemployment rate was dropping; it was at 9% when we talked, and getting better. Construction is picking up; there is a housing development going up. On the commercial side, work is going on and he is seeing a lot more activity in general. The company does work for McDonalds and Chick-Fil-A. Foreclosures have seemed to level VinylWood 3 1/2" x 5" mesh BudgetLink 3 1/2" x 5" mesh TempGuard 3 1/2" x 5" mesh • Available in a variety of wire gauge weights and finishes, colors and heights • Pro-rata limited warranties off, he said. Finally, we asked about the com- 1-888-806-7528 www.eprivacylink.com 1-800-574-1076 pany strategy for 2012 and were told that they are going to bid more com- mercial work and continue to provide top notch customer service to the best of their ability. We also spoke with Frank Lar- son of Snake River Fence in Wendall, Bottom Lock Top Lock Top Cap™ OptionLock® Lowest Price Guarantee FinLink® Lite Link™ Feather Lock® HedgeLink™ Pre-inserted Slats Aluminum Slats Winged Slat ® First Time Purchase Incentive! Now shipping from east and west coast warehouses! contin ued on pa g e 22