1851

Since beginning<a href="https://1851franchise.com/wildbirdsunlimited/wild-birds-unlimited-introduces-omni-channel-initiative-to-enhance-e-commerce-platform-and-connect-online-sales-to-local-stores-2705037" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"> the roll-out process of its omni-channel Initiative last year</a>, leading birding retail franchise<a href="https://franchise.wbu.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=one-year-since-its-introduction-wild-birds-unlimiteds-omni-channel-initiative-has-business-soaring-to-new-heights-2709939" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"> Wild Birds Unlimited</a> has already seen considerable success.

The initiative works by leveraging multiple platforms within the<a href="https://1851franchise.com/wildbirdsunlimited" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"> Wild Birds Unlimited</a> system, including online and mobile ordering through the<a href="https://order.wbu.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=one-year-since-its-introduction-wild-birds-unlimiteds-omni-channel-initiative-has-business-soaring-to-new-heights-2709939" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"> MyWBUStore</a>. Each franchise location has its own online platform and controls which products from a list of approved inventory they put up for purchase on the online store. The online store is linked to the brick-and-mortar location&rsquo;s POS system so that pricing is locally determined. This means that Wild Birds Unlimited now enjoys 100--and eventually over 300--brand-consistent sites that customers can use to connect directly to a given franchisee&rsquo;s store. Under this model, WBU has just completed its seventh consecutive month of e-commerce growth.

Patrick Eckhardt, Wild Birds Unlimited&rsquo;s e-commerce Specialist, said that the initiative was developed to prioritize franchisee success.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s no secret that retail is rapidly changing, and we felt it necessary to invest in new, custom-built technology and new employees&mdash;me, for example&mdash;to equip our franchisees to thrive in both the now and the future of retail,&rdquo; Eckhardt said. &nbsp;&ldquo;Our franchisees do such an amazing job connecting with customers and providing an excellent in-store shopping experience. This platform allows them to make that same connection with current and new customers online, and allows those customers to have an exceptional shopping experience simply by picking up their phone or logging onto their computer.&rdquo;

Lauren DeRosa is the owner of<a href="https://fortcollins.wbu.com/who-are-we-meet-the-team-wbu-fort-collins?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=one-year-since-its-introduction-wild-birds-unlimiteds-omni-channel-initiative-has-business-soaring-to-new-heights-2709939" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"> Wild Birds Unlimited in Ft. Collins, Colorado</a>, one of the brand&rsquo;s highest-grossing stores and an early omni-channel initiative participant.

&ldquo;Wild Birds Unlimited is unique in that we don&rsquo;t have a central distribution center,&rdquo; DeRosa explained. &ldquo;When a customer goes to the brand&rsquo;s main consumer website, they&rsquo;re prompted to enter where they live and then they&rsquo;re directed to the closest store with online capability. There are more than 300 stores in the system and about 95 of those have elected to use the online platform, so those are the stores filling digital orders. The first time a customer goes to the website they are diverted to the local store&mdash;and then the next time they shop, they can go straight to the local store&rsquo;s MyWBU Store.&rdquo;

In order to become a participant, DeRosa explained, her Ft. Collins location had to agree to use a third-party credit card processing company for secure transactions via the online portal. Additionally, DeRosa emphasized that store owners who participate in the omni-channel program need to be sure that their online inventory numbers accurately reflect their in-store inventory so that customers don&rsquo;t mistakenly order an out-of-stock item. DeRosa said that her location is also in the process of upgrading their point-of-sale system to a cloud-based alternative that will streamline the ordering process.

&ldquo;Right now, we have to wait until the end of the day for those orders taken online to sync with our in-store POS system,&rdquo; DeRosa said. &ldquo;But our upgrades will integrate customers&rsquo; in-store accounts with their online accounts and both the in-store and online sales systems.&rdquo;

Asked how the implementation process went, DeRosa said that signing onto the omni-channel initiative was a smooth transition.

&ldquo;It really went off without a hitch and it helps our customers, which is great for us,&rdquo; said DeRosa.

Since implementing Wild Birds Unlimited&rsquo;s omni-channel program, DeRosa reports that her store has enjoyed a steady flow of new customers coming into the system.

&ldquo;We check and double check our orders, and I try to give the orders a sense of local flavor even when they come in online, because that&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re known for,&rdquo; DeRosa said. &ldquo;Other websites don&rsquo;t offer a local flavor but we do because we use local vendors.&rdquo;

In DeRosa&rsquo;s case, the omni-channel initiative has translated to customers from far and wide&mdash;including those from 150 miles away in North and South Dakota. This has meant that DeRosa and her team have had to nail down their shipping process, but DeRosa shared that the transition has been seamless.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve really honed the process over the last year since we introduced [the omni-channel program],&rdquo; DeRosa said. &ldquo;We have a dedicated computer that alerts us when orders come through, a process for packaging for FedEx to pick up at the end of the day, and a dedicated printer for mailing. Everyone is trained on how to handle the orders, so it&rsquo;s business I welcome.&rdquo;

DeRosa explained that, prior to the omni-channel initiative, much of the business that is now done online was instead done over the phone. Having an online platform that allows customers to see all available inventory makes the ordering process that much more efficient and eliminates the time an employee may have had to check the back room while an inquiring customer sits on hold.

&ldquo;This way saves time and is ultimately more secure because we&rsquo;re not taking credit card orders over the phone,&rdquo; DeRosa said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s translated to a lot of business that wouldn&rsquo;t occur otherwise.&rdquo;

With about a third of the Wild Birds Unlimited system engaged in implementing the initiative and another third slated to begin launch by the end of the year, 2019 promises to be full of continued growth and exceptional service for the brand.

One Year Since Its Introduction, Wild Birds Unlimited’s Omni-Channel Initiative Has Business Soaring to New Heights

1851 Franchise

The initiative connects online sales to local stores through an e-commerce platform that elevates the traditional shopping experience.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

one-year-since-its-introduction-wild-birds-unlimiteds-omni-channel-initiative-has-business-soaring-to-new-heights

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Hometown News: Like Father, Like Son — Family-Run Inspection Business Blends Generations of Expertise and a Keen Eye for Detail

father-son-home-inspection-franchise-florida

KLA Schools

KLA Schools of Beachwalk Hosts Admissions Kick-Off Celebration

kla-schools-of-beachwalk-hosts-admissions-kick-off-celebration

Good Day Columbus: Home Insurance Expert Reveals Why Central Ohio Premiums Are Rising and How to Combat Costs

rising-home-insurance-costs-ohio

CapitalSpring

Primetime Fitness Expands Crunch Portfolio With CapitalSpring’s Backing

primetime-fitness-expands-crunch-portfolio-with-capitalsprings-backing

Children's Lighthouse

How Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees Scale to Multiple Locations

how-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees-scale-to-multiple-locations

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Jollibee -Launch-Story-Brand-Page-Deep-Dive-2025

Jollibee Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

jollibee-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

How Network In Action Is Redefining the Franchise Model With Community, Connection and Fast ROI

network-in-action-franchise-scott-talley-interview

Design with image of employee holding card reader and customer paying

How Smart Retail Franchises Are Winning Against Online Competition

retail-franchise-opportunities

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

One Year Since Its Introduction, Wild Birds Unlimited’s Omni-Channel Initiative Has Business Soaring to New Heights

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS