Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc.

The Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc., is a national franchisor of wild bird specialty retail stores which sell bird seed, bird feeders, baffles and poles, bird baths, nest boxes, binoculars and other bird feeding products and gifts.[1] Most stores offer educational programs to the general public including bird walks and seminars with local experts.[2]

Contents

History

Wild Bird Centers of America was founded in 1985 in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. by George H. Petrides, Sr.[1] The first Wild Bird Center retail store was located in Cabin John, Maryland,[3] where Petrides developed wild bird-related product patents.[4][5] The company and its franchisees have been recognized by industry publications and organizations.[1][6][7][8]. In 2010, the company published a history book about the backyard bird-feeding hobby.[2] and partnered with the Commerce Corporation to support a “store-within-a-store” program for garden centers and hardware stores.[9]

Present Company

The Wild Bird Centers of America supports approximately 100 retail outlets in about 30 states and provinces.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c “New Breed of Store Owners.” Birding Business Magazine Dec. 2004: 22.
  2. ^ a b Baicich, Paul J., Margaret A. Barker and Carrol L. Henderson. Feeding Wild Birds: A Short History in America (USA: Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc., 2010) ISBN 1451510055
  3. ^ “Entrepreneurs of a Feather Flock to Wild Bird Center.” Washington Post [Washington, DC] 26 February 1996.
  4. ^ Petrides, Sr., George. Bird Feeder for Goldfinches. U.S. Patent 4,996,947. Filed 13 April 1990. Issued 5 March 1991.
  5. ^ Petrides, Sr., George. Convertible Bird Box. U.S. Patent 5,746,156. Filed 14 February 1996. Issued 5 May 1998.
  6. ^ “A Birder Learns to Retail.” Birding Business Magazine Dec. 2008: 23.
  7. ^ “Back to Basics.” Birding Business Magazine Feb. 2009: 13.
  8. ^ Fenimore, Bill. Backyard Birds of Maryland. (USA: Gibbs Smith, 2008) ISBN 9781423603542
  9. ^ ”New Products from the Commerce Show.” News Across Channels. Today’s Garden Center. 18 October 2010. Web.
  10. ^ About Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc.

External links