Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/559769
24 • SEPTEMBER 2015 • WORLD FENCE NEWS Fencer's Field Report continued from previous page Jones Poludniak, president of Jones Fence in Trinity, Alabama. Theresa told us that this year has not been all that strong. The area has had bad winter weather and the spring had temperatures in the middle nine- ties and a lot of rain. This translated into the loss of almost the entire fi rst quarter, accord- ing to Theresa. At the time we spoke she told us that the company was fi ve weeks out. The company's radius of service is some 50 miles, with a business mix of 70% residential and 30% commer- cial/industrial. On the residential side, wood was the big mover, while on the commer- cial side, the company does security fencing, ball fi elds, and other similar projects. Jones Fence is family-owned and -operated, and has served the Tennes- see Valley since 1977. We asked Theresa what the big- gest challenge was as far as this year was concerned. She quickly respond- ed: labor. Essentially, no one is even coming in for interviews. She advertises that the company is drug free, and that appears to be a major problem. The applicant must also have a valid driver's license, and that proves to be a problem as well. As if those two reasons weren't enough, another roadblock is that a surprising number of applicants must meet with their parole offi cers every other day! The company has placed employment ads in newspapers and other venues without having much success, she said. We then asked Theresa what the biggest surprise has been this year. She continued in the previous re- sponse vein by telling us that she is very surprised at how hard it is to get people. She observed that it is the worst it's ever been. We then asked how the economy was in the area. Theresa told us that it is generally good. On the residential side, building is occurring. On the commercial side, there are two new high schools going up as well as a plant to produce Polaris off-road vehicles in nearby Huntsville, Alabama. Infrastructure construction is making some progress. We were told that Huntsville is the main area where things are happening. The area houses NASA's Mar- shall Space Flight Center, as well as assorted vehicle assembly plants and other manufacturing venues. People in the area have money, and are seemingly willing to spend it in the area and will spend, Theresa said. She also told us that Jones Fence has a DIY market, but it's not really that big. Finally we chatted very briefl y with Lou Guglielmello of Seminole Fence in Orlando, Florida. Lou told us that he was having a good year and that his business mix is 90% residen- tial, with an emphasis on wood, vinyl, and chain link as their major movers. We asked Lou what the biggest challenge was this year so far, and he indicated it has been the expensive shipping fees on special aluminum products which he orders. We then asked how the economy was in the area, and were told that it is improving. New building on the residential side is happening, and on the commer- cial side it's starting to make a come- back, but is not there yet. Infrastruc- ture is lagging behind. Finally we asked about the strate- gy for 2015. Lou told us that the com- pany wants to try to get on more ven- dor lists for commercial work. ATHLETIC PADDING Backstop, Wall, Top Rail, & Post Padding FIELD BRANDING Windscreen & Padding Logos, Bleacher Wraps, Advertising Banners Banners 866.360.1008 | 510 W Arizona Ave. | DeLand, FL 32720 | fax 386.740.7206 U.S. Manufacturer of Fine Quality Field Equipment Since 1987 WINDSCREENS Including ExtremeScreen Made in the USA 7 Year Warranty SPORTS NETTING Backstops, Batting Cages, Overhead Nets, Retractable Netting Systems BASEBALL/SOFTBALL BUYING SEASON IS HERE! Colleges, High Schools & Municipalities Are Purchasing Now! Alumi-Link™ Chainlink • Defeats rust, even in the most corrosive environment • Guaranteed to outlast galvanized chain link & other wire products • Best warranty in the industry MiniMesh™ Chainlink • Nine sizes • Six gauges • Heights up to 20 feet • Aluminized, galvanized, vinyl-coated & stainless Single Source Savings Guardian can be your competitive edge. WWW.GFFENCE.COM 800.845.2526 Tie It All Together • Straight, Loop, & Hook ties • Hog rings • Pre-shaped twist ties • Barb wire • Crimped tension wire Full Line Distributor