An idea hatched over a beer session at a summer barbecue has turned into a booming business for Wellington entrepreneur Lindsay De Bes.
He provides fences to cordon off anything from building sites to Hollywood actors.
His company's biggest job was the 2km of fencing along Courtenay Place for Wellington's Lord of
the Rings movie premiere in December.
"The event side of the business has really snowballed," De Bes said.
Four years ago, he was working on a property development in the eastern suburbs when he started talking with some mates about how it was impossible to hire portable fencing in Wellington.
"Unlike Christchurch or Auckland, no one in Wellington was providing portable fencing for cordoning off construction sites and other earth-works," he said.
"And with Occupational Safety and Health stepping up its vigilance, I thought it would be an ideal time for someone to start supplying the market with what it wanted."
Now his company, Portable Fence Hire, is humming.
He said business was so good that "it's starting to get a little bit unsociable".
Company turnover had doubled in each of the past four years, and he credits the increase to quality Wellington events.
"When we started, our business was 90 per cent construction.
"Now it's only 30 per cent construction and 70 per cent concerts, special events and crowd control situations.
"Business is good," he said.
"We've found a gap in the market and developed it as our niche.
"I'd have to say I'm pretty happy."
- NZPA
