1851

As many kids head back to the classroom to kick off the new schoolyear, there&rsquo;s one group of students that have already graduated&mdash;the latest class of Wild Birds Unlimited University.

Every year, <a href="http://franchise.wbu.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=wild-birds-unlimited-university-teaches-both-new-and-existing-franchisees-best-practices-5873" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Wild Birds Unlimited&rsquo;s</a> growing system of franchisees, managers and employees have the chance to come together to sharpen their skills, share unique expertise and learn more about what makes the brand tick. Also known as New Owner Training, the week-long program&rsquo;s goal is to provide interactive training to help store owners and their employees learn more about the best practices for running their store. In August, <a href="https://wildbirdsunlimited.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=wild-birds-unlimited-university-teaches-both-new-and-existing-franchisees-best-practices-5873" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wild Birds Unlimited</a> celebrated the graduation of one of the largest classes in recent years&mdash;there were 25 attendees from 14 stores in attendance. These attendees also represented a wide variety of franchise store owners; six new franchisees, seven existing franchisees and one transfer store owner. And according to Paul Pickett, the Chief Development Officer of Wild Birds Unlimited, having such a diverse group of people come together to learn more from one another about the brand is what makes the Wild Birds Unlimited program truly unique.

&ldquo;This variety in a class is a real asset to attendees, giving them a wealth of knowledge and perspective on being a small business owner,&rdquo; Pickett said. &ldquo;From the franchisor perspective, it&rsquo;s gratifying to see new, existing and transfer store owners engaging with each other and appreciating the value each individual brings to the class for the benefit of the company as a whole. Having existing store owners attend the University shows a commitment to making their store the best it can be. And having new store owners attend shows a willingness to learn.&rdquo;

Ben Roush, who is a Wild Birds Unlimited franchisee in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was one of the store owners to attend the University, along with his manager, Jonas Thor.

&ldquo;As a Wild Birds Unlimited owner for 32 years and having never attended any formal training (it wasn&rsquo;t available back then), I was pleasantly surprised at how much I learned about the best practices for running my store. Attending Wild Birds Unlimited University was a great experience that I would recommend any existing franchisee to attend if they need some fresh inspiration and ideas on how to become a better leader and enterprise manager,&rdquo; Roush said. &ldquo;I chose to attend the training with my new general manager. Even though I had put him through my own extensive training, I wanted to make sure that he understood all the best practices for running our store efficiently and effectively. We both learned so much during our week of training.&rdquo;

Ellen and Stacy Davis, who are also Wild Birds Unlimited store owners in Franklin, Massachusetts, attended the training this August for the second time; this time with their new manager, Haley Perry. Participating in the workshops helped reenergize the two business partners and their manager, giving them a fresh outlook on how to run their Wild Birds Unlimited location and putting all of them in a better position to accomplish great things together.

&ldquo;Confirming that I am implementing the basics and learning many new ideas to implement was wonderful. Things change all the time in the business world, and returning to Wild Bird Unlimited University was like having a refresher course,&rdquo; Ellen said. &ldquo;The University also gives an existing franchise store owner extra, one-on-one time with their business coach to drill down into some of my own store&rsquo;s personal opportunities. This opportunity to learn more about the business was above and beyond any other kind of training I&rsquo;ve ever received, and it arms you with the information you need for your business to thrive.&rdquo;

It is easy for the franchisees to become overwhelmed during Wild Birds Unlimited University, according to Casey Giselbach, Training and HR Manager for Wild Birds Unlimited. But with the support of seasoned franchisees, Giselbach believes the New Owners Training offers an unparalleled&mdash;an invaluable&mdash;level of support.

&ldquo;Having existing owners in the class sharing their experiences adds another layer to the training that we can&rsquo;t replicate without having them in the room. The experience sharing creates a desire and confidence that the franchisee will succeed and in turn creates enthusiasm for our program,&rdquo; Giselbach said.

1851 Franchise

Every year, Wild Birds Unlimited's growing system of franchisees, managers and employees have the chance to come together to sharpen their skills.

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

Wild Birds Unlimited University Teaches Both New and Existing Franchisees Best Practices

wild-birds-unlimited-university-teaches-both-new-and-existing-franchisees-best-practices

Caring Transitions

From Saving Lives to Easing Transitions: Why EMT Veteran Paul Yang Chose Caring Transitions

from-saving-lives-to-easing-transitions-why-emt-veteran-paul-yang-chose-caring-transitions

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers® Achieves Major Milestones in Q1 2025 as Fully Franchised Model Accelerates Growth

comfort-keepers-achieves-major-milestones-in-q1-2025-as-fully-franchised-model-accelerates-growth

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Boston for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-boston-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Beansquad

BeanSquad Kicks Off 2025 with Strong Q1 Momentum and Aggressive Growth Goals

beansquad-kicks-off-2025-with-strong-q1-momentum-and-aggressive-growth-goals

Sylvan Learning

Jacksonville Daily Record: Sylvan Learning Expands in St. Johns County

jacksonville-daily-record-sylvan-learning-expands-in-st-johns-county

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 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

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

Restaurant Business: Crumbl Cools Its Expansion, Refocuses on Profitability

restaurant-business-crumbl-cools-its-expansion-refocuses-on-profitability

Franchise Face-Lifts: Why Major Restaurant Brands Are Betting Big on Remodels

franchise-face-lifts-why-major-restaurant-brands-are-betting-big-on-remodels

How New Tariffs Are Causing Price Hikes and Surcharges for U.S. Businesses and Franchises - 1851

Tariffs Prompt Price Hikes, Surcharges as Businesses (and Franchises) Brace for Rising Costs 

tariffs-prompt-price-hikes-surcharges

Pizza Hut - EYM Group - Chapter 11 Bankruptcy - 77 Pizza Hut Locations Sold - 1851 Franchise

77 Pizza Hut Locations Sold After Franchisee Bankruptcy Filing

pizza-hut-franchisee-bankruptcy-eym-group

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

&pizza - Fast-Casual Pizza Chain Begins Franchising - 1851 Franchise

&pizza Embraces Franchising To Fuel Bold New Growth Strategy

andpizza-franchising-ceo-mike-burns

Fly Dance Fitness Expands With First Franchise Location in Georgia

fly-dance-fitness-franchise-expansion

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Most Profitable Restaurant Franchises To Own in 2025 - 1851 Franchise

The Most Profitable Restaurant Franchises to Own in 2025

most-profitable-restaurant-franchises-to-own

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

Wild Birds Unlimited University Teaches Both New and Existing Franchisees Best Practices

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS