Wild Birds Unlimited Franchisee's Enthusiasm For the Outdoors Translates to Success

Gary Fortcher has been operating his Oakdale, New York-based Wild Birds Unlimited franchise for almost a decade, and to this day, he still has the same passion and excitement as when he started. He co-owns the franchise with his wife Kathleen Mulligan.

 

Before investing with the brand, Fortcher was working as a chief financial officer for a large pharmaceutical company. As that phase of his life started to wind down, he was looking for an investment opportunity that he could operate in semi-retirement. He said he had always been a nature-oriented person and enthusiastic about the outdoors, but he never thought he would be able to translate that love into a business. With Wild Birds Unlimited, he was able to do just that. He was impressed by both their successful business model and the enthusiasm by everyone involved.

 

“We were impressed by the strong level of financial and corporate support offered to franchise owners, and we decided to bring Wild Birds Unlimited to our community,” Fortcher said. “After doing more research on the brand and the franchise system, we visited several existing locations and were impressed by the amount of enthusiasm and excitement exhibited by each franchise owner; they were all very passionate about nature and giving customers the best experience possible.”

 

Fortcher said this devotion to the brand is one of the reasons why Wild Birds Unlimited continues to thrive. Franchising with Wild Birds Unlimited is an investment that allows franchisees to be their own boss and be a part of a successful industry. The average gross sales for a Wild Birds Unlimited store open for a full year is $534,140.

 

Even if you are not a nature enthusiast or have a background in business, Wild Birds Unlimited provides nature and hobby education, training on how to run finances and has a devoted human resources department and information systems to assist you if you have any questions. Potential investors should expect their investment for a franchise to range from $125,978 to $199,172, with a $25,000 franchise fee.

 

With its franchise business model and loyal customer base, Wild Birds Unlimited has been very successful. Fortcher said franchising with the brand was one of the best decisions he has made, and he’s quick to recommend the opportunity to anyone.

 

“We are most proud of our ability to start a business from a proven model that has been profitable since day one. We opened our franchise around the time of the economic downturn and were able to grow when many other companies were going out of business,” Fortcher said. “We are very pleased with the vendors, superior product line and the unique customer base we’ve been able to build and grow. Being a part of a company like Wild Birds Unlimited is truly a great experience, and we credit that to the support we have received from the corporate office.”

 

For more franchising information about Wild Birds Unlimited, click here.