Today we’d like to introduce you to James Gill.
Hi James, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2008 I was practicing law and on my commute downtown I remember seeing temporary fence set up around Zilker Park after the ACL rains destroyed the lawn. After a little research revealed there was no local option for this type of service (just national corporations) Austin Rent Fence was born.
We started marketing primarily to events, but the coming years brought the incredible construction boom to our beautiful town, which became our main source of business. Since the beginning we’ve prioritized being more than a vendor to our clients, but being a partner, defined by our core values of Service, Speed, and Flexibility.
Over the last few years our clients have asked us to help with more aspects of their jobs, so we’ve expanded our services to not only cover every aspect of temporary fence (panels, post driven, top bar, windscreen, etc.), but we now offer an array of services from erosion control and silt fencing to portable restrooms and luxury restroom trailers.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t call anything in the construction or events business smooth from a day-to-day standpoint, but our growth trajectory has been fairly steady. We’ve responded to the rocky conditions presented by Covid, rising interest rates, and inflation by varying our services, making calculated acquisitions, and having the absolute best people answering the phone and getting the job done.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We see our mission as simplifying the life of those that really build and/or entertain this city. A superintendent overseeing the construction of an apartment complex has a lot on their plate; the absolute last thing he or she wants to deal with is a section of fencing blew down or a porta potty hasn’t been serviced. Our approach to these seemingly fringe aspects of a job site is to treat them as if they were as essential as the structural engineer or master plumber. We want our clients to never have to think or stress about our part of the operation so they can focus on progress.
To do that, we train our crews to get things right the first time, overcommunicate to ensure nothing is missed, and when stuff happens (as it always will) we have people that will always answer the phone, day or night.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
There are too many books to name that have shaped my approach but some notable ones include They Ask You Answer by Marcus Sheridan, Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish, and Adapt by Tim Harford.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://austinrentfence.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/austin-rent-fence
