A Fencers Life- Lessons from the Trenches

In this episode, Simon Davis reflects on the tumultuous year of 2025, sharing both the challenges and lessons learned in his fencing business. He discusses the tight cash flow, compliance issues, and personal health struggles that impacted his ability to create content and manage his business effectively. Simon emphasizes the importance of mental health, the dangers of desperation in business deci...

In this episode, Simon Davis reflects on the challenges faced over the past year, including significant drops in turnover due to severe weather conditions in Australia. He discusses the strategies he implemented to adapt to these challenges, such as increasing prices, diversifying services, and focusing on quality over speed. Simon emphasizes the importance of resilience and the cyclical nature of...

In this episode, Simon Davis discusses the challenges of overcoming burnout and rebuilding momentum in both personal and professional life. He shares his experiences with managing stress, financial pressures, and the importance of creating effective systems and routines to alleviate the burden of leadership. Simon emphasizes the need for self-care, resetting priorities, and the value of a supporti...

The importance of benchmarks in trades like fencing – and how to use them to measure, manage, and grow your business. In this episode, Simon Davis breaks down why benchmarking is one of the most underutilized but powerful tools for trade businesses. From spotting red flags in your numbers to improving your quoting accuracy, benchmarks offer clarity, consistency, and confidence in decision-making....

In this episode, Simon Davis discusses the importance of benchmarking for businesses, particularly in the fencing industry. He explains how industry benchmarks can help business owners assess their performance, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions. Simon shares insights on financial ratios, labor costs, and operating expenses, emphasizing the need to understand where a busin...

In this episode, Simon Davis reflects on the recent fencing conference and awards held in Australia, highlighting the importance of industry recognition, innovation, and the future of fencing. He discusses the achievements of his team, the significance of networking, and the need for sustainability in the industry. Simon encourages listeners to participate in future awards and emphasizes the value...

n this episode, Simon Davis reflects on his nearly 30-year journey in the fencing industry, emphasizing the importance of reflection for personal growth and mental health. He shares his early experiences as a subcontractor, the challenges he faced, and the lessons learned along the way. Simon also discusses the significance of networking within the fencing community and the industry's growth poten...

In this episode, Simon Davis discusses the common myths surrounding the fencing business, emphasizing that fencing is a skilled trade that requires more than just physical labor. He highlights the importance of business acumen, proper pricing strategies, and the need for good workers. Simon also addresses the evolving standards in the industry and encourages listeners to share their experiences an...

In this episode, Simon Davis emphasizes the critical importance of building an email list for small business owners, particularly in the fencing industry. He discusses the risks associated with neglecting list building, including missed opportunities and reliance on unstable platforms. Simon provides actionable steps for building an email list from scratch, including identifying the target audienc...

In this episode of A Fencer's Life, Simon Davis reflects on the past year and sets the stage for 2025. He emphasizes the importance of growth, resilience, and discipline in both fencing and life. The podcast aims to share real stories from industry professionals, explore practical lessons, and build a community of like-minded individuals. Simon invites listeners to join him on this journey of moti...

In this podcast episode, Simon Davis discusses the challenges of raising prices in the fencing industry, emphasizing the detrimental effects of competing solely on price. He advocates for collaboration over competition, the importance of creating value, and the need for a mindset shift to overcome psychological barriers. Simon shares practical strategies for implementing price increases and highli...

In this conversation, Simon shares his 10-step guide to mastering the hiring process. He emphasizes the importance of defining your needs, crafting a compelling job ad, choosing the right platforms to advertise on, screening resumes, conducting interviews, checking references, and making a comprehensive offer. Simon also highlights the significance of onboarding and training new hires to ensure th...

In todays episode ( better late than never) I want to highlight what's been happening in my world & what ive been focusing on. Some people focus on customer satisfaction & some on safety & some on leads & some on team building & so on & so forth. Now all that comes into running a business & is super important, but what I have found is that if I try & focus on everyt...

Summary In this conversation, Simon discusses the importance of fast-tracking your business and the benefits of using someone outside of your business to coach or mentor you. He shares his own experiences of struggling with cash flow and growing his business without proper systems in place. Simon emphasizes the need for a cash management system and the value of working with a coach who can help yo...

In this conversation, Simon Davis interviews Vince Carige, a trainer and assessor in the agricultural industry. They discuss the importance of staying current and compliant in training and certification, particularly in relation to work health and safety. They emphasize the need for small businesses to prioritize safety and invest in training their staff. They also highlight the role of communicat...

Simon Davis, owner of North Coast Fencing and The Profitable Fencer, shares his journey in the fencing industry and his experience in coaching other fence businesses. He emphasizes the importance of having a big vision and a plan to achieve it, rather than just working hard without direction. Simon also discusses common challenges in the industry, such as finding reliable employees and pricing str...

Simon shares his excitement about being a guest on a podcast and highlights the importance of focusing on the little things. He talks about the positive things happening in his fencing business and how he has been able to elevate his role. Simon also announces the amalgamation of his building construction business with North Coast Fencing, creating a one-stop-shop for construction needs. He expres...

In this episode, Simon discusses the top 10 pain points of the fencing business. These pain points include competition, customer acquisition costs, pricing, labor shortages, material costs, weather, permits and regulations, insurance, liability, and taxes. Simon provides strategies for addressing each pain point and emphasizes the importance of staying informed, building relationships, and maintai...

This time round I got to be the guest & Katie from Profit First did the hosting - Come listen to my story & how Katie & Profit First is changing the scope of how we not only make money but retain it for ourselves

Summary This conversation discusses the opportunities and challenges in the fencing industry, particularly in relation to gate automation. The importance of safety measures and education for customers and installers is emphasized. The need for standardized guidelines, training, and qualifications is highlighted. The conversation also touches on the benefits of collaboration and knowledge sharing w...

In this conversation, Simon Davis interviews Adrian Pretzel, the visionary mind behind ideal fencing and gates. They discuss the GATE Task Force, a transformative initiative shaping the Australian fencing industry. Adrian shares his inspiration for forming the task force, which stemmed from the need for safety regulations in the industry, particularly in schools. The task force aims to create a co...

In this episode, Simon discusses the importance of procedures and policies in a business. He emphasizes the need for job descriptions and outlines key tasks for different roles. Simon also highlights the responsibilities and criteria for hiring, including the importance of skills, knowledge, and qualifications. He emphasizes the value of personal qualities and punctuality in employees. Simon expla...

Summary In this episode, Simon shares a personal story about training his dog and relates it to challenges in business. He discusses the chaos that can occur when things go wrong and emphasizes the importance of resilience and tenacity. Simon provides strategies for finding work and leading a team effectively. He also highlights the significance of making strategic decisions and dealing with chall...

In this episode, Simon recaps the challenges he faced in the previous year and expresses his excitement for the upcoming year. He emphasizes the importance of future planning and generating leads for sustained success. Simon discusses the limitations of relying solely on word-of-mouth marketing and the need to expand beyond one's immediate area. He highlights the impact of marketing on sales a...

How do you fast track your business when you feel so overwhelmed? This episode explains how i managed to do it & the mistakes I made on the way . Need help in your fencing business - Give me a call or visit www..theprofitablefencer.com for a free 10 min chat