
Franchise Development Takeaways from the 2017 IFA Convention
The 2017 IFA Convention provides insights into the growing franchise industry, highlighting the opportunities and barriers for franchise development.
Wild Birds Unlimited is a company in Burnaze's franchise knowledge graph, mentioned since 2015. 369 stories link here, each summarized from the original publisher. * Wild Birds Unlimited has an initial investment range of $226,601 to $378,977 and reported average gross sales of $858,133 in 2024 [[2026-04-08 Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise Costs, Fees and ROI 2026 (11e834)]]. * The company is among the top 15 specialty pet franchises for 2026, with diverse offerings [[2025-10-31 Top 15 Specialty Pet Franchises for 2026 (2dcf9a)]]. * Wild Birds Unlimited is also listed as one of the top established pet franchise opportunities for 2026, offering a unique business model and investment range [[2025-10-17 Top Established Pet Franchise Opportunities for 2026 (63d23a)]]. * Paul Pickett, chief development officer of Wild Birds Unlimited, discusses support systems for LGBTQ+ franchisees and founded the IFA Pride Council to increase inclusivity in franchising [[2025-01-02 LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Franchising: Support for Franchisors (ea8316)]]. * The company has opened new franchise locations in Columbia, Maryland, and Macon, Georgia [[2024-06-21 Newest Wild Birds Unlimited Location Now Open in Columbia, Maryland (4cd894)]] [[2024-06-20 New Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise Opens in Macon, Georgia (af6243)]]. * Wild Birds Unlimited claimed first place for Best Overall Performance in the STAR Awards, recognizing excellence in lead generation and recruitment [[2024-02-04 Shining Bright: STAR Awards Recognize Franchising's Recruitment Elite (f7b9f7)]]. * The company has been recognized for its commitment to delivering franchisee and consumer experiences, being among the inaugural brand recipients of the 2024 Franchise Customer Experience Certification [[2024-02-29 Franchise Customer Experience Certified Brands Announced (4f9ba8)]]. * Wild Birds Unlimited welcomes new franchisees from diverse backgrounds, including those celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month [[2023-10-04 Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month (68ed3a)]]

The 2017 IFA Convention provides insights into the growing franchise industry, highlighting the opportunities and barriers for franchise development.

Wild Birds Unlimited kicks off 2017 by opening new stores in key development markets, including Huntington Beach, California and Keller, Texas.

The franchising market is growing, with more options for franchise buyers, but emerging and mature brands face challenges to jumpstart growth momentum.

What makes Wild Birds Unlimited such a unique franchise opportunity?

Eight crucial steps to follow for conducting franchise research to make a more educated and profitable decision, including learning about the franchise business model.

Wild Birds Unlimited identifies Montgomery, Alabama, as a potential market for expansion.

Wild Birds Unlimited offers 300 locations for holiday bird feeding gifts.

Heidi Muma, a multi-unit franchisee, expands Wild Birds Unlimited's reach in North Carolina.

The article discusses the retail franchise industry and its future prospects, highlighting various consumer needs and market trends.

Wild Birds Unlimited sponsors Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch, a winter-long survey of birds visiting feeders at backyards and nature centers.

CNBC reports on consumer confidence and its potential impact on casual dining restaurants.

The pet industry is expected to spend nearly $63 billion in 2017, with pet owners treating their animals as family.

Wild Birds Unlimited celebrates its biggest year for development and growth in a decade, with 19 signed franchise agreements and another expected to become official.

To Wild Birds Unlimited , the holidays are an opportunity to rejoice, reflect and plan for the future.

The State of Local Marketing Report provides insights and advice for franchise executives on distributed local marketing and co-op funds spending.

Wild Birds Unlimited's franchise development and new owner teams collaborate to guide franchisees through the process of opening a location.

Franchisors are increasingly using LinkedIn to find franchise candidates, in addition to Facebook, and are seeking ways to improve their results.

Franchise Update's STAR Awards honor top-performing brands in recruitment practices, with 165 brands participating in mystery shopping.

Amy Moore, Wild Birds Unlimited's director of operations, has a storied history with the brand, starting at age 10 when the first store opened in Indianapolis in 1981.

Wild Birds Unlimited has long been recognized as one of the top brands in the franchising industry.

Franchising experts discuss effective social media strategies to generate leads, understanding ideal candidates and utilizing social networks for franchise development.
A panel of franchise rock stars shared strategies on using social media for franchise lead generation, including Facebook best practices, at the Franchise Leadership and Development Conference.

Wild Birds Unlimited offers its franchisees a comprehensive marketing planner to help guide them through the marketing process and build brand awareness for a loyal customer base.

Wild Birds Unlimited is targeting Roanoke, Virginia's mountainous terrain for growth, with plans to add 20 new locations by the end of the year.