Austin Phelps, entrepreneur and University of Alabama graduate with a B.S. in Business Administration, has experienced phenomenal success in the Huntsville fencing industry. His company, Redstone Fencing, LLC, has skyrocketed since its launch in 2016, with an expansive portfolio of custom-built, individually styled fences across the Tennessee Valley. We interviewed Austin for an exclusive look behind the scenes of this enterprising Huntsville fencing sensation.
Your company has experienced massive growth over the last year.
What has that been like?
Since starting this business in Oct of 2016, we have grown tremendously. We celebrate this by me taking the crews out for dinner once a month. I want them to know I appreciate them and what they do for the company. They are the backbone of Redstone Fencing. Without them, there wouldn’t be a business.
The challenge we face with this growth is scheduling. There’s only so much time to get so much done. We know people do not like to wait for their fence but we are booked nearly two months ahead. Another challenge is getting another crew for the growth we are experiencing. We recently got another truck and more tools to make another crew. It is just time-consuming making sure we hire the right guys for the job.
What’s it like owning your own company before the age of 30?
Owning a business before thirty has been challenging at times. Some people wouldn’t take me seriously because of my age. I think if you are able, no matter what age you are, you should do it.
It’s nice owning my own business, though. I saw the opportunity and took it because I didn’t know when or if it would come around again. I couldn’t have done it without trustworthy and hard-working employees. Without them, it probably wouldn’t have been feasible.
In childhood, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a child, I wanted to grow up to be a professional soccer player. When I graduated high school, I had scholarships to play in college, but I was led down a different path and ended up in business school at the University of Alabama. In high school and college, I knew I wanted to own my own business, I just didn’t know what or when it would be. I would tell people that if they have multiple dreams, that’s ok –you don’t have to have just one; pick one and follow it until the very end!
Who have you always admired?
More than anyone particular person, I have always noticed and studied successful people in general. I would listen to their stories and see how they were able to make it — and I hope to keep growing and be more successful in many ways.
What’s the most bizarre request you’ve ever received?
Being asked to build a pergola based off of a picture on a customer’s phone. We loved that project! Also, having to build a fence basically into a tree on each side.
What’s the most extreme weather you’ve worked in?
The most extreme weather condition has been in the pouring rain with very high winds. The storm came out of nowhere and we had to frantically get everything put up. Another extreme condition is freezing temperatures. It is very cold in the winter months and there are times when you can’t feel your fingers but just keep pushing through to get the job done. It’s not the best times to be working outside but it’s part of the job
