Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/66838
18 • JUNE 2012 • WORLD FENCE NEWS Fencer's Field Report continued from page 16 past several years, the company par- ticipated in any projects that they knew were tied to federal stimulus money, and Lanny replied in the affirmative, as the company has done a lot of sewer lift station work. We asked whether or not the com- pany had instituted any cost saving measures and were told "yes." He said that they have been buying in larger quantities and they are also making all of their own gates, except cantilever. We further asked whether they tried to sell additional items along with their fence jobs, and Lanny basically said "no, not really, except when the people want arbors." We then asked what the economy was like in the area, and Lanny told us that they are pretty much in a rural area and that the economy there is doing pretty well. He said farm acreage is going for around $7,000 an acre. The oil and gas boom is just start- ing to hit, he further reported. There isn't a lot of new commercial or resi- dential building going on at the mo- ment. Farm fencing and hardware was selling well in the spring. Finally for this discussion, we asked him about the strategy for 2012 and Lanny told us that he is not chang- ing the basics. However, he said he is trying to have more inventory on hand because Wow! Just 230 pounds per nine foot panel! Can you even begin to imagine working with concrete this lightweight? Each 6 x 9 foot prefabricated RhinoRock Concrete Fence panel weighs just 230 pounds and is plain and simply easier to install than the same size concrete panel weighing 2,500 pounds. A three man crew can install 300 to 600 linear feet per day, by hand. Compare that to a much larger crew that must rely on the use of cranes and heavy construction equipment to install poured concrete fencing. RhinoRock Concrete Fence panels are manufactured by combining a high performance fiber reinforced concrete outer shell with a structural foam core. 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We can have you an estimate in about 20 minutes when you call our toll free number. VISIT OUR WEB SITE OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION www.eprivacylink.com • 1.800.574.1076 he doesn't like waiting for materials. And finally for this issue, we spoke with David Jacks of Southwest Fence Company in Little Rock, Arkansas. David told us that things are picking up in his area, which he ex- pected because it seems to occur in an election year. The company has a business mix of 60% commercial and 40% residen- tial, and services a 100 mile radius. He said that things are definitely picking up this year. On the commercial side, at the time we spoke, the company was working on a light fence project in Manor Square, which is a government park, and they were doing work on a Sam's Wholesale Club facility, among other projects. On the residential side, they were getting calls for wood and ornamental fencing. Dave told us that, "given his druthers," he does not want to do wood fencing because he doesn't like work- ing with it. Dave also said that chain link was "dead in the water." We asked Dave what he felt the outlook was for this year for the resi- dential market, and he told us that it could be good this year. As stated ear- lier, he is getting more calls than nor- mal. We asked if, over the past couple of years, the company participated in projects that were tied to federal stim- ulus money, and Dave said "yes," some large projects that had security needs. We also asked if the company had instituted any cost savings meas- ures, and the answer again was "yes." He mentioned that the company is not currently buying equipment and they have also cut salaries, reduced ad- vertising and cut out Yellow Pages ads. We then asked whether the com- pany tries to sell additional landscape items along with their fence jobs. Dave told us "yes, if the customer asks for it." We asked about the economy in the area, and we were told that it seems to be improving. There are some foreclosures, but not an overwhelming number. Unem- ployment seems to lower than it has been in a while. There are signs that construction is expanding. Dave gave us an exam- ple by telling us that a major gas pipeline manufacturer, at the time we spoke, was looking to hire 200 em- ployees and spend $100 million to re- tool the plant (to make smaller pipe). On the residential side, Dave indi- cated that residential building seems to be going on a bit. Overall, he feels it is quite a bit better. Well, that's it for this issue… we'll catch you next month.