Whatever Happened to Market Building?

I know it looks like I've gone “all NAFCA, all the time”. It's true, I've been spending a lot of time and effort on promoting NAFCA and the events they sponsor. If you have read some of my other posts, you will know that there is a consistent theme throughout. Our goal at Modern Fence Technologies is to build strong fence contractors and a strong fence industry. We do it by providing the best products at the best prices available, and by educating both consumers and fence professionals about the sound principles necessary to a strong economy.

In one sense, NAFCA is a tool we are using to build the fence industry. The members of NAFCA are dedicated to the task of improving the entire fence industry by holding themselves and others accountable to a code of ethics that puts the customer and honest business practices before short term gain. These are values that Modern Fence Technologies supports.

In coming articles we will examine the “Customer Bill of Rights” , “Contractor Code of Ethics”, and the “Vendor Code of Ethics” published by and subscribed to by NAFCA members and look at how these principles highlight the ideals that build business rather than destroy markets.

News From NAFCA's Annual Meeting

Congratulations to all those who have been elected to serve as NAFCA Executive Board members for the next year! Dennis Pekoff of Natural Beauty Fence will be taking over as Secretary/Treasurer, Scott Ruete of Frederick Fence will take his place as Vice President and, with Norm Legare stepping down as incoming president for health reasons, Mark Knudson of Modern Fence Technologies has been elected to serve as President for 2013.

For NAFCA, 2012 has been a year of growth and overcoming the inevitable growing pains that occur when an organization experiences rapid expansion. 2013 is on track to be a year of even more explosive growth, as opportunities for contractors to sharpen their skills with professional training seminars continue. Check out NAFCA's website to see how you can be a part of the NAFCA Field Training School in Sebring FL this February.

The First Biennial NAFCA Expo International Trade Show

By all accounts the NAFCA Expo at the Classic Center in Athens Georgia was an unqualified success. NAFCA's first international trade show was bigger than expected, and well attended. The seminars on Friday were informative, on point, and well attended by contractors and vendors. They included Sales Training with Bill Schenke of Ameristar, LiftMaster's Bill McCoy teaching installation of gate operators, and business building seminars on job costing and business management, as well as tool and technique talks and demonstrations. The Southern-style barbeque that followed was excellent, with ample opportunities to talk with friends and colleagues in the fence industry. After dinner, attendees walked across the way into the parking structure to watch Ray Statz of Qual-Line Fence in Waunakee, WI win the World Fence News NAFCAR championship on his high wheel tricycle built entirely of fence materials.

 It was tremendous fun as the crowd of screaming fans watched him take three out of three heats to defeat close rivals Chris Chapman, of Chapman Fence and Marge Knudson, of Modern Fence Technologies.

The show on Saturday allowed vendors and contractors from all over the United States and Canada to meet and discuss needs and build the relationships essential to success in today’s competitive market, and ended with a booth auction, with much of the proceeds going to NAFCA's Goodwill Project. If you missed this chance to be a part of a NAFCA event, don't miss the upcoming Fence Installation Training School in Sebring FL this February. Over 250 years of installation experience will be represented by the lineup of instructors, as they teach tools and techniques, along with standards and “tricks of the trade” in an affordable and exciting atmosphere.

NAFCA is dedicated to education and helping contractors grow strong through sound and ethical business practices. Go to 4NAFCA.com to see what NAFCA can do for your business. And start planning now to attend the second Biennial NAFCA Expo in 2014.