MY EARLY YEARS WERE SPENT SELLING consumer goods at the wholesale level. I worked the booth at a few trade shows along the way, but was never involved in trade show management until I ran a trade show. Along that same line, I never published a magazine until I published a magazine. Now I’m about to become an editor.

SEMINARS ASSOCIATED WITH RETAIL CONFERENCES such as BirdWatch America provide an opportunity to learn new ideas, re-look at your business with fresh eyes, and gain insight. Recently one speaker gave me a practical idea that made the entire conference worthwhile.His point was simple. “If you find yourself answering the same question five times per week”’ he said “you should make a sign. If it happens more than ten times, create an informational handout”. That made sense to me.

MANY WHO ARE RELATIVELY NEW TO THIS INDUSTRY THINK of the 1980s and ‘90s as the early years. And as far as the specialty shops go, that’s true. Before the opening of Wild Birds Unlimited and Wild Bird Centers of America there were almost no stand-alone stores set up to cater to this market except for the occasional nature center attached to a conservation area managed by a non-profit organization. But commercial bird food and feeders were around long before then. As much as one hundred years before, in fact.

It’s winter and the 
purple martins are safely tucked up in warm, sunny Brazil. It may seem as though there’s nothing for a martin landlord to do until spring, but retailers can keep purple martin interest high by helping customers prepare for the coming season.