Hidden Gems: Meet Crystal Loveless of Fountain Hills Gate and Fence

Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Loveless.

Hi Crystal, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My family has been involved in the welding and fabrication industry in different ways for over 20 years. My father is a welder, my mother and stepfather owned a trailer manufacturing company in Florida and are still in the trailer business today, and my husband is a welder/fabricator by trade who can build anything. When my parents owned the trailer manufacturing company, I managed one of the retail locations and learned a lot about steel, fabrication, and logistics. My mother was also a licensed interior designer, and both she and my stepmother dabbled in many creative outlets like repurposing, crafting, and florals, which contributed to my creativity and love for design.

As an adult, I chose a different path in my professional career and was able to work my way up the ladder to being a call center manager and corporate training manager. Simultaneously, my husband was working for different companies and honing his skills, the last being a fencing company. He would tell me stories of how the owner cut corners, made numerous mistakes, and treated customers poorly. One day, he shared a story where the homeowner was in tears because the owner of the company was belittling her. I told him we should start our own company for fencing and gates, we would treat customers better, not cut corners, and educate them on options and processes. We are also in Fountain Hills which had no local state-licensed fencing contractors.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think any business owner has a smooth road. Everyone who takes on this type of endeavor will always have new challenges. I feel, as with many businesses, the current struggle is finding employees. Yes, there are many welders, but our work requires individuals with strong fabrication skills….skills which are hard to find.

We’ve been impressed with Fountain Hills Gate and Fence, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We fabricate gates and fencing and are known for our quality, attention to detail, and custom work. We make everything, so what we install is made specifically for each customer’s project. If our customer has an idea, we can make it a reality.

We are the preferred fabrication company for some local home builders and architects, and we find ourselves being called back multiple times by our customers for future projects. Normally, we are initially called for a gate or fence, then we’re doing an air conditioning or pool equipment enclosure, a privacy panel, or even a mailbox insert or custom address plaque. The variety of projects gives us the ability to be creative and we’re constantly challenged, which is why we love doing this.

Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I am fortunate to have parents that have had different small businesses in the past, some were good, and some weren’t.

They are great when it comes to advise and can empathize when challenges arise, so I had mentors on standby.

Networking was a whole other beast. When we first started, we reached out to home builders, realtors, and contractors, but none of that really panned out because they had established relationships with companies they came to trust, and we were unknown.

What worked best for us is, when fencing companies were booked and the builders and contractors couldn’t wait, they reached out to us to complete their projects sooner. When those opportunities presented themselves, we took advantage and let our attention to detail and quality speak for itself.

Pricing:

• Standard Pedestrian Gate: $1,000.00 – $1,500.00
• Standard RV Gate: $2,500.00 – $3,000.00
• Repairs: $150 per hour plus materials
• Custom Design Projects: vary
• Quotes: Free

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fountainhillsgateandfence.com