By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The notion that Apple got its start in a Los Altos, Calif. garage turns out to be more myth than fact. But a Great Bend company did start out of a garage. Three decades later, Wally Eldridge and staff are celebrating 30 years at Eldridge Fencing.
"Who would have ever guessed it: 30 years ago starting a fence company out of my garage that we would have 25 employees now and be doing stuff all over the United States," Eldridge said. "We even did a job in Puerto Rico."
Vinyl fencing dates back to the 1950s, but its use in the United States began to gain traction in the 1980s. Sensing that trend, Eldridge started his business in 1994 and has watched it and the industry grow. More than 100 dealers throughout the Midwest now purchase from Eldridge Fencing.
"In the vinyl industry, they've come up with more colors, more styles, and better product over the years," he said. "As far as my business, we had the opportunity shortly after I became a dealer, a couple of years later, to become a distributor for the state of Kansas. That eventually became more than the state of Kansas. Since we were distributing the vinyl fence to our customers, we decided we might as well be distributing every kind of fence."
Eldridge Fencing quickly moved into a 500-square-foot facility with a small yard to keep material in stock. In 2005, the business was upgraded to an 800-square-foot facility. In 2006, the company joined forces with Western Kansas Fence Supply, a wholesale distributor specializing in vinyl fence, deck, and handrails, as well as chain link, iron, and aluminum fencing.
In the early years, Eldridge attended home shows throughout the state. Traeger representatives also attended those shows looking for dealers of their relatively new product.
"At every home show, I said no," Eldridge said. "Ron Oetken, who was my general manager at the time, said if you don't do it, I'm going to do it and quit Eldridge Fencing. I became a dealer for Traeger and that's what got me in the grill business, thanks to Ron Oetken."
Eldridge Fencing now sells Traegers, SABER gas grills, and other outdoor cooking equipment.
Eldridge Fencing will celebrate its 30 years at Dry Lake Brewing in downtown Great Bend on Friday, March 22. A live band will play from 6-10 p.m., and Eldridge Fencing is sponsoring a happy hour from 6-7 p.m. The event will also feature door prizes and a Traeger giveaway.