Paul Pickett

Paul Pickett has a masters degree in ornithology, the study of birds, but when it came time to work in a lab, he hated it. A stroke of luck had him meet Jim and Nancy Carpenter, the founding family of Wild Birds Unlimited, the 300-plus-unit backyard bird-feeding franchise, at a party.

Nearly 32 years later, Pickett still works closely with the Carpenters and his chosen field of study: birds.

As the chief development officer of Wild Birds Unlimited, Pickett knows what to look for in a potential franchisee. Under his watch, birds of a feather have flocked together as the franchise continues to grow.

• About Wild Birds Unlimited:
• They are the largest specialty retailer of backyard bird feeding supplies and products.
• They have over 350 franchised locations across the U.S. and Canada, all owned by people who are passionate about the hobby of backyard bird feeding.
• Their owners are passionate people; they’re passionate about the hobby of backyard bird feeding and their businesses.
• They love nature. They love wild birds, and they love sharing their enthusiasm about both with their customers.
• Wild Birds Unlimited owners are their local communities’ backyard bird feeding specialists and a premiere source for nature information, as well as quality products.
• But who they are goes far beyond the items they sell.
• It’s their owners’ commitment to their customers that distinguishes them from other retailers, a fact that makes them very proud.
• They enjoy helping their customers understand birds and nature, swapping stories about the latest bird sightings, and seeing other people share their excitement.