Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/84151
22 • OCTOBER 2012 • WORLD FENCE NEWS We recently had the opportunity to speak with Mark Thompson of Acme Fence Company in Grand View, Kansas, who told us that this season progressed along "pretty good." The company does 100% commercial work, in a 100 mile radius, and per- forms a variety of commercial type work, including schools, temporary fencing, community centers, etc. For larger contracts, the company can go national if need be. Mark told us that a rather large piece of business FENCER'S FIELD REPORT A monthly column of industry bits & pieces Compiled by contributing editor Jim Lucci and the staff of World Fence News has come his way as a result of the large and growing number of thefts of air conditioners, as he is being called upon to construct enclosures around them. As Mark says, no a/c enclosures means assured a/c theft! In Kansas City, the Sprint Center, National Metal Industries Winged Slat® Locking Slats Bottom Top Lock Hedge 2 Neil Court, Oceanside, NY 11572 • (516) 594-0364 • Fax (516) 594-0377 together with the Kansas City Power and Light District, has virtually revi- talized the city, he noted. Smaller ven- ues are working well, and many events are coming to the Sprint Center, bring- ing much needed new business into the area. We asked how the economy is doing in the area, and Mark told us that it was "good." Aluminum Slats WWW.NMIFENCE.COM Over 100,000 lineal feet of privacy slats ready to ship! Privacy slats • Fence tools Fence hardware available Mark said that his company is about half the size it was some five years ago, but things are looking up. Construction is going on, including start-up to renovation, and there is room for more to continue, since there is a lot of property (commercial) va- cant. Mark told us that strip malls are popular again, and that the big mall areas are basically dead. We were told that, at one time We Proudly Support Professionalism in Fencing! Ornamental Gates Chainlink Gates Aluminum or Steel Frame there were seven big malls in the area, and now there are two. Outside, on the periphery of these malls, shops are doing OK, but inside the big mall areas, he reiterated that they were dead. Smaller hotel venues, such as Hampton Inn and Comfort Inn are building up. The residential market is slow, and there are a few foreclosures, depending on the neighborhood. Mark also pointed out that a lot of general contractors have gone out of business, and the remainder mostly have gotten smaller. We asked if the company insti- tuted any cost-saving measures over the last couple of years, and Mark told us that they got rid of their web site and downsized the crews. We asked how the company was coping with the influx of extra bidders for the commercial type of contracts. Mark told us that the larger number of bidders that have come on stream in recent times has squeezed out some five to eight companies, and forced him to further "sharpen the pencil." Mark further shared that they are doing very well with temporary fence panels and this segment has shown its best profits this year. Mark explained that the company charges a flat rental fee, rather than charge for each step in the process. Finally, we asked about the com- pany strategy employed for 2012, and Mark told us that they are very cus- tomer oriented and if there was a need to expedite an installation, he would make every effort to slide them ahead Tymetal Corp. Tymetal Corp. has been providing the highest quality cantilever gate systems to fence contractors for over 25 years. 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