A love of trade shows combined with his family’s hardware store was the spark needed for Mike Levy with National Metal Industries to enjoy a life-long adventure in the fencing industry. His grandfather, Milton, opened the hardware store during the 40s, then his father, Norman, took over in the mid-50’s. His mother, Marie, became owner in 2009. As vice president and the third generation in his family to have a role in the company, Mike says being successful in business comes down to treating people right.
NATIONAL METAL INDUSTRIES IS A FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS. HOW DID IT BEGIN?
My grandparents opened a hardware store in Brooklyn, New York during the 40s. My father, Norman Levy, started running the store when he was 16 years old. He transformed the hardware store into a fence supply company. The growth of the business and changes in the current neighborhood prompted him to move to a new location in Long Island. He specialized in privacy slats, aluminum slats at the time. He expanded his offering into all types of fence products, leading the way to where we are today. My mother, Marie, became owner in 2009. I’m the third generation to
have a role in our family business.
WHEN DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THE COMPANY?
I spent my summers in the early 90s at the business. I began working full time in 1998. All my life, I was around my father’s shop. My earliest national trade show was FENCETECH in New Mexico when I was 13 years old. My parents took me to the regional shows in New England and New Jersey when I was in elementary school. Nothing was more fun than giving out the NMI bags of samples. As I got older, the shows were inspiration for going back to work the following week with a boost of what I wanted to do with the business. The
tradeshows started to become my favorite vacation of the year.
HOW HAVE THE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS YOU OFFER CHANGED OVER TIME?
We have adapted through the years, but our core model is to make sure the customer is satisfied with what they need in a timely way. From a customer walking in with a broken latch to truckloads of supplies, we are dedicated to making the person walk out feeling we did right by them. At the beginning of COVID last year, we started to make panel partitions for pizza parlors and delis. We also provided materials for freight companies to add packages to passenger airplanes that were converted into freight. We adapt, as needed.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT USING AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS?
A large percentage of our products are made right here in America, we are proud to be able to say that. I would like to see manufacturing come back to the USA and would love to see children learning in shop classes again. I felt so accomplished in school when I finished the metal toolbox
that sits in my office to this day.
WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY?
The heating oil company around the corner from my business has a quote from the founder, Irving Levi, on a plaque mounted to a boulder. It says, “Just let people know
that you genuinely like them. And then treat them the way you’d hope to be treated.” I find in business and life, if you are approachable, you tend to get further with people.
WHAT ADVICE DID YOU RECEIVE THAT HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN YOUR
CAREER?
Ken Piil from Piil Fence pushed me to get involved with the local chapter of the fence association, then he made me secretary. Next thing I knew, I was president. This was a huge confidence builder and transformed me as a person in business and in my personal life. I know that’s not advice, but you don’t want to hear about my mom judging every meal I eat at my desk during the day! There are some great people in this industry who I have had the pleasure to deal with; they have given me ways to grow my business or bounce ideas around and that is truly a gift.
