The right franchise

Paul describes operating a retail business as hard and complex. He and his team focus their efforts on creating systems and strategies for the franchise store owners to simplify and focus their efforts on finding and keeping customers and providing an outstanding experience in every one of the company’s stores. They offer various tools and take training measures for the owners to be experts in marketing, product assortment, pricing strategies, cost control, community involvement, budgeting, and goal planning, which are just some of the many support services that WBU’s franchise provides.

Paul says that WBU franchise business owners who are genuinely passionate about being entrepreneurs and backyard bird feeding are the most successful and content. He seeks people who are full of drive, determination, and grit to thrive at WBU. “We are looking for people who genuinely have a passion for people and want to connect with their local community in creative ways and are focused on building a business, creating a financial asset, and building generational wealth,” says Paul passionately. “When looking at locations for WBU stores, we are looking at population, income levels, and, of course, the backyard bird population.” 

WBU does have a strong operating system in place, like any other franchise in the market, in regards to support, tools, and guidance in every discipline. Its annual marketing plan provides all of the marketing collateral for both new customer acquisition and existing customer retention. Additionally, and even more importantly, the team provides both the strategy and guidance to make these marketing efforts work to drive both in-store and online traffic with and for their franchise store owners. “Our corporate culture is well established and starts with our mission, vision, and values,” mentions Paul. The focus is on providing an outstanding customer experience, both for its franchise store owners as they start, grow, and operate their business and for their retail customers as they enjoy the hobby of backyard bird-feeding in their yards. The franchise also has a very strong focus on ‘How did we do?’ in its brand, constantly requesting feedback at every opportunity. “We survey our franchise store owners and our retail customers on their experience at every opportunity,” he adds. Moreover, the franchise store owners’ partner with many local nature-related organizations, including local bird clubs, local Audubon Societies, Humane Societies, local Native Plant Gardening clubs, and other like-minded organizations, to both support their efforts and educate their members and the general public on the joy of bird feeding, how to do it responsibly, and how to create backyard refuges.