Life between the fence posts

A week in the life of Nick Terry, Custom Fencing Owner/Operator and Shareholder, Custom Construction

Getting the day started

My alarm usually goes off around 5am. If all’s quiet in the house, I’ll get in a solid hour or so in the office before the kids are up and about. That’s the ideal scenario – but with young kids, it doesn’t always play out like that. If I’ve been up during the night with them, that early start doesn’t always happen.

Business as usual

I run Custom Fencing, and I’m a shareholder in Custom Construction. Like most contractors with a few staff, every day is different, and no two weeks ever really look the same. A fair chunk of my week is spent quoting new jobs, sorting crews, and checking in on progress across our sites. I’ve learned over the years that if I don’t write something down in my calendar, it just won’t happen – it goes in one ear and straight out the other. So the phone calendar is sacred.

Last week gives a pretty good snapshot of what life looks like at the moment. I was pricing up a job in Mosgiel, which is about a 45-minute drive from home. I try not to waste a trip out that way – so I tied that in with some work we had going at HeliOtago, where we were installing and commissioning a new electric gate. That job ended up taking up a good half of the week.

Midweek was also month-end, which meant I was back in the office sorting invoices and sending them out. Paperwork might not be glamorous, but it’s got to be done. I’ve been in business since 2011 – I kicked things off as a one-man band at the age of 26. Back then, it was just me, my ute, and my tools. Things have grown a fair bit since, but the hands-on stuff, including quoting and admin, still comes back to me. I would love to employ someone to do the bookwork, but by the time I have spent 20 minutes discussing the pricing of a job, I could have just done the work myself.

Juggling the workload

I’ll be honest – I’m not one of those people with a perfect work-life balance routine. There are no hard-and-fast rules for when I clock on or off. Some days I’ll choose to be outside doing something physical when I probably should be inside sorting paperwork. Then I find myself up at 10pm finishing the office stuff I put off – and kick myself for not being a bit more disciplined. But I’ve also learned that you can’t afford to sit and stew on things too long. It’s better to just get stuck in and get it done – otherwise your brain’s in overdrive when you should be sleeping.

We’ve now got 10 full-time staff in the fencing business, split into three crews working at different locations most days. It’s a great team – I’m lucky with the crew I’ve built over the years. They’re all great guys, but yeah, there’s always something that crops up. Just this morning, I got a message from one of the guys saying his little one was sick and he’d need the day off tomorrow. That’s life – we just reshuffle a few things and keep the wheels turning.

Workload-wise this year has been flat out. It’s a good problem to have – even if it’s a bit painful at times. This time last year, I was running around like a blue-arsed fly trying to line up enough work to keep the team busy. At any one time, we’d only have a couple of weeks ahead of us – and that’s a stressful way to operate when you’ve got mouths to feed and wages to cover. So, while we’re now dealing with a big volume of jobs on the go, I’d take this situation over last year’s any day.

Team culture

Once a month, we bring the whole team together – fencing and construction – for a full-group toolbox meeting. If everyone’s got their paperwork up to date, I’ll take them all to the local café and shout them. If not, it’s just at the shed with our thermos. At those meetings, we’ll run through any health and safety issues, near misses, incidents, maintenance needs, or equipment breakdowns. Each crew also holds their own weekly toolbox meetings, and we use an app to keep everyone accountable – logging hours, job updates, and health and safety notes on the go.

“We’ve now got 10 full-time staff in the fencing business, split into three crews working at different locations most days. It’s a great team”

Logistics is a big part of my week. Most clients will show us where they want a fenceline and then leave us to it, so part of my role is making sure crews have what they need, where they need it. Most days, the teams will load up from our yard and head out – but sometimes I’ll be running gear or materials out to sites, especially if it’s something urgent or forgotten. That’s the nature of this kind of work – there’s always an unexpected turn.

“Upskilling my team has always been a priority for me, and I encourage them to get along to fencing competition days and learn from the best”

Growing the industry

Upskilling my team has always been a priority for me, and I encourage them to get along to fencing competition days and learn from the best. Tomorrow I’m heading up to the FCANZ National Conference and Awards, and I’m taking one of our guys who has entered the Emerging Talent award. He doesn’t know it yet – but by the time this story comes out, he’ll know that he’s won it. He’s entered the last couple of years and hasn’t quite got over the line, so he’ll be chuffed to take it out this year.

A couple of years ago, I joined the FCANZ Board, and I really enjoy being part of a group of like-minded people who want to raise standards and build community within the fencing industry.

Community support

Being a small business in a tight-knit rural area also means I’m often asked to sponsor events, fundraisers, and local clubs. I don’t really have a set budget for it – I just go with what feels right. If a client is involved in a community project and I know they’ve supported us in return, I’m more than happy to help where I can. But you can’t say yes to everything, and it also depends on cash flow at the time.

Family and community are a big part of my life. My wife Anna and I have two young kids – Alf, who’s five, and Maeley, who’s three. They’re full of energy, and life at home is pretty full-on. I coach Alf’s Year 1 Rippa rugby team, which is chaotic but a heap of fun. It’s great seeing the kids run around, building their confidence and having a laugh.

Anna and I are also part-owners of a couple of harness racehorses with some mates. It’s something we’ve really enjoyed getting into over the past few years. Cup Week in Christchurch is a highlight on the calendar, and over summer we love heading to race days around Central Otago. Last year, both of our horses won consecutive races, including one winning the Cromwell Cup – that was an absolute buzz and a great day out with good people. It’s a nice way to step away from work and switch off.

I’m also involved in our local rugby club and have served a stint as president. These days I’m still on the committee. The Eastern Rugby Club is a great community hub – it’s family-friendly, well-supported, and a place where everyone chips in. It’s good to be involved in something bigger than just business.

When I’m not running the business, you’ll find me out on my dad’s farm, which is nearby. If he’s away or tied up, I’ll jump in to shift a break, feed out, or lend a hand where needed. Just this morning, I spent a few hours carting baleage. It’s always good to muck in – it helps keep the bigger picture in perspective.

Final thoughts

Looking back on where the business started and seeing how it’s grown year on year is something I’m proud of. I’m not really one to sit around and pat myself on the back – there’s always the next job, the next crew to organise, or the next invoice to sort. But every now and then, I guess it’s good to take stock and be grateful for the ride.

As told by Alice Scott