Wilds Birds Unlimited Targets Albany for Further Upstate New York Expansion

Wild Birds Unlimited has brought people and nature together for nearly 40 years, and the premier backyard and birding nature retail franchise is continuing to grow. Today, Wild Birds Unlimited has set its franchise development sights on Albany, New York. The brand is already doing very well in New York, with more than 10 stores up and running throughout the Empire State, and a store in the state capital would boost its regional profile. 

Nearby bird-watching opportunities include the Christman Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary, the Ann Lee Pond Nature and Historic Preserve and the Papscanee Island Nature Preserve, all of which are within a one-hour drive of Albany. 

“The timing is perfect for a Wild Birds Unlimited store in Albany,” Chief Development Officer Paul Pickett said. “Not only is the city surrounded by several nature preserves that provide plenty of bird-watching opportunities, but our brand already has proven success in the region. A Wild Birds Unlimited franchisee in Albany can build upon the strong momentum we have in the area and really hit the ground running in their community.” 

One Wild Birds Unlimited franchisee who can vouch for success in the region is Matt Kosty. His Wild Birds Unlimited Fayetteville store, which he purchased in 2018 from the former franchise owner, is located about a two-hour drive west of Albany and within a one-hour drive of major nature sites such as the Derby Hill Bird Observatory, the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 

“The main reason that Upstate New York is so great for Wild Birds Unlimited is that we have such a variety of places we can bird,” Kosty said. “From a birding standpoint, this region is really a mecca. We’re able to see a very diverse population of birds and Wild Birds Unlimited helps us really take advantage of those opportunities. We can educate and show people all of the different ways to view birds.” 

At the Derby Hill Bird Observatory, for example, bird watchers can see up to 10,000 broad-shouldered hawks, Kosty said. Kosty also noted the large amounts of falcons and bald eagles in the area. 

Kosty, who grew up in a franchise family and worked for a Fortune 500 company prior to joining Wild Birds Unlimited, had originally explored other franchise opportunities, but nothing came close to the nature-centric brand. A Wild Birds Unlimited franchise requires a brick-and-mortar location, but since products are only sold through the brand, franchisees do not need to worry about being overshadowed or pushed aside by e-commerce. This was a huge draw for Kosty. 

“Wild Birds Unlimited checked all the boxes for me,” he said. “First and foremost, it’s a shopper-motivated business. I’d worked in retail before and I wanted to be in a place where people were happy to come in. That’s definitely the case at Wild Birds Unlimited. Our customers love the brand and they love to visit our stores.”

Kosty, a self-described “farm kid from Michigan” who is now happy to live in Upstate New York, loves how franchising with Wild Birds Unlimited allows him to give back to his community and help fulfill the brand’s mission of bringing people and nature together. His Fayetteville store frequently gets high online reviews from enthusiastic customers who gush about the store and thank specific employees for the help they provided. 

“Franchising with Wild Birds Unlimited allows me to run my own business and control my destiny,” Kosty said. “I felt comfortable with the leadership team and with my fellow franchisees from day one. They are all like family to me, and the brand’s Franchise Support Center, in particular, is incredibly good about linking me with any resources I need. There’s a reason why Wild Birds Unlimited franchisees are the most satisfied in franchising. We are always treated as part of the solution.” 

With proximity to major nature preserves and proven regional success, it’s no wonder that Wild Birds Unlimited wants to grow in Albany. 

Wild Birds Unlimited is the original and largest franchise system of backyard bird feeding and nature specialty stores with more than 340 locations throughout the United States and Canada. The investment level to open a Wild Birds Unlimited location is $170,382 to $281,606. To learn about franchising opportunities with Wild Birds Unlimited, please visit www.wbufranchise.com.