Best Birding Retailer of the Year Awards Announced at the 2018 Wild Bird Exp™

The Best Birding Retailer of the Year award winners were announced at this year's Wild Bird Expo™, sponsored by Gold Crest Distributing in Mexico, MO. Winners were announced on Wednesday, October 3rd during the event's Share Night gathering and are as follows:

• Best Large Store with a Birding Emphasis (Over 1,800 Sq. Feet): Wedel’s Nursery, Florist, & Garden Center in Kalamazoo, MI
• Best Small Store with a Birding Emphasis (Less than 1,800 Sq. Feet): Front Range Birding Company in Littleton, CO
• Best Birding Department in a Multi-Line Store: Rucker Pet in Cumming, GA
• Best Birding Department as a funding source for a Non-Profit Organization: Friends of Blackwater in Cambridge, MD
• Best New Birding Store or Birding Department (24 months or less): The Bluebird Shed in Bentonville, AR

Nominees for the awards were submitted by a Candidate Search Committee who were tasked with determining who, in their opinion, demonstrated conscientious effort in advancing the birding hobby and industry. The required criteria included several factors such as: sales volume (total and per / sq. ft.), growth history and advancement of new trends, best practice systems, product selection offered, merchandising, advertising, customer communication and education (websites, social media, etc.), and overall impact within their community and beyond.

The Wild Bird Expo is co-sponsored and hosted by Gold Crest Distributing in Mexico, MO. Grant Toellner, Vice President of Gold Crest Distributing, was quoted to say, "This is the fourth year that Gold Crest has been privileged to host the Best Birding Retailer Awards. We are honored to take part in helping recognize the leaders of this industry."

For more information about the Best Birding Retailer Awards contact:

Posted Date: 2019-09-30