Meet Annie Shaw of Fencing & Gate Centre
Annie Shaw’s journey into the fencing industry began quite unexpectedly. "When I first applied for a sales assistant job at Fencing & Gate Centre, I was honestly just looking for a day job that I could do whilst I was in uni," she recalls. Studying for a double degree in criminology and psychology, Annie could hardly imagine that she'd develop a passion for fencing.
"I had no idea that I was going to fall in love with not only this industry but the company that I work for," she says. “The company is so customer centric. We really value the input from our customers, and a lot of what we do is custom made to create the dream fence a customer wants.”
Despite her initial lack of experience in fencing, Annie’s natural aptitude for picking up new concepts and information led to rapid advancement, paving the way for her promotion to branch manager. The role is both interesting and multifaceted.
"I stay hands on with sales operations," she explains. "I still quote my customers and process sales orders, but I also manage the team here in the Queanbeyan branch." Leading a small team of four, Annie’s leadership style is hands-on and inclusive. Her dedication to both her team and customers is evident in every aspect of her work.
Annie’s background in psychology has proven to be an asset in her managerial role. "Working where I do has given me such an interest in organisational psychology," she says. This unique perspective allows her to foster strong relationships with both employees and customers as well as focus on workplace wellbeing that has enhanced productivity and satisfaction within her branch.
Women in the industry
Navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry has not been without its challenges. Annie acknowledges that there is often a sense of surprise from new customers when they realise she is the branch manager. "We definitely do experience that," she says. "But it just makes me work even harder to prove to them that I know what I'm doing."
Annie's perseverance has won her the respect and trust of her colleagues and customers alike. "I had a large number of my male customers and male colleagues advocate for me when I was being considered for the branch manager position," she shares. "It's incredible to see that I had made an impact and that they didn't see me for my gender but for what I could do."
In the spirit of paying it forward, Annie is passionate about encouraging other women to consider careers in the fencing industry. "Women have an extraordinary eye for design and great attention to detail, which is so valued in this industry," she says. Her advice to women is clear: "Use any preconceived ideas about women in this industry to push yourself even harder and show that women have a place here."
The D&D Difference
Annie speaks highly of the relationship between Fencing & Gate Centre, a family-owned company with branches in Sydney, Bathurst, Moruya, and Queanbeyan, with D&D Technologies.
"Any company that offers the lifetime guarantee that they do is obviously a company whose products you want on your gates," she says. She appreciates the opportunities D&D provides to connect with other knowledgeable women in the industry, such as her D&D area manager, Dominika. "It's great to see another woman striving in a male-dominated industry," Annie says.
