Start Up Stories: Qual Line Fence

Those on the outside may think owning and growing a business is glamorous. They see the current building, the staff, the equipment and the profits. What they don’t see are the startups. The small beginnings, the ever-present worry, the dreams and the everyday decisions that can either make it or break it.

Fence News honors those who put their hat in the self-employment ring and built their business one small step at a time.

“Almost everyone knows that we are the best and they are willing to pay for quality.”

Founded in 1956 by Ray Statz, Qual Line Fence in Waunakee, Wisconsin, came about thanks to a series of seemingly unrelated events when one-step-leads-to-another.

“My mom and dad had 12 boys and two girls. We lived on a small farm so dad hired us boys out, usually by the month,” explains Statz. “Over time, we worked on bigger farms that were owned by bankers or corporation presidents, who might have a hard time talking directly to the farmers, so they would have John Craig of Wisconsin Farm Management as the go-between.”

Upon discharge from the U.S. Army in the Korean War, the farm service wanted Statz to return to work on the farms. He declined, but they asked if he could build fences on some of the farms.

“So, John Craig and I went to the University of Wisconsin Agriculture School and learned all that was written about farm fence, which was not much. I think I have written more about it since that time,” he says.

Qual Line Fence crew in 1966.

He started the company by himself; eventually hiring another employee to help handle the workload. Today, he has 12 employees and an annual sales volume of between two and three million.

“In the beginning days of the company, we offered farm fence only. Through the years, we’ve added many products. We manufacture aluminum flagpoles, and we make roll top fence from 6-gage welded wire, and we manufacture drive anchor brackets for all sizes of posts,” Statz explains. “All of our wood fences have steel posts including the split rail fence.”

Employees of Qual Line Fence installing drive anchors.

Qual Line Fence uses the drive anchor method for hanging gate leaves. Each post is driven 5’ deep and then has 3 anchors which are 8’ long, driven at 45 degrees. All underground, like the roots on a tree. “This holds as well as concrete and is strong immediately and makes no mess. No clean up and the team is back to the shop by noon. We also use this method for setting hundreds of tennis net posts over the last 30 years. We set 40’ flag poles guaranteed to the last 30 years. We set 40’ flag poles guaranteed to stay perfectly plumb forever with no concrete. This method is approved by ASTM,” he says.

Most entrepreneurial businesses go through ups and downs over the years. “There was a rough time in the 1970s when I had to take money out of my house to subsidize the business,” Statz reflects. Since that was over 50 years ago, it’s safe to say the business is on solid ground today.

Statz’ approach to business success revolves around two things: knowing the competition and knowing the customer. “By focusing on those, a business can remain competitive while supplying what the customer is wanting to buy. That’s been our recipe for success,” he says. “Almost everyone knows that we are the best and they are willing to pay for quality.”

“My son, Al, and I are 50/50 partners. I know the business is in capable hands and our future is bright,” Statz says.

To learn more about Qual Line Fence, visit www.quallinefence.com.