Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Elliott and Karen Theodorou.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Bird Watcher is a local wild bird and gift store that opened its first location in 1988. Over the years it grew to 5 stores. I (Julia) have been working for the company since 1997, and Karen started in 1992. Karen and I both started out as store managers. I moved around to different locations over time and eventually was given the position of Retail Operations Manager. From there I could tell I was really being groomed to take over one day.
In 2015, the original husband and wife team decided to retire. I knew I couldn’t do it alone, and so Karen and I teamed up and bought the company from them. We joke that we were too old to start over learning something new, but we seriously love our jobs. We have lots of regular customers that are like family, and many wonderful employees that have been with us for years.
People come to our stores for advice, to just hang out, and to talk to like-minded folks who also love and appreciate the natural world. Whether they are just buying seed to fill their bird feeders or looking for a special gift for someone, we are always available to help. But I believe we serve a larger purpose. We all want to feel like we are a part of something bigger than ourselves, and I feel like we help reconnect people to nature.
Has it been a smooth road?
The transition from employee to the owner has been interesting! We were really thrown into some aspects of business ownership and have had to learn on the fly. Understanding cash flow, keeping steady inventory, and just the burden of knowing it’s all on you – that can be overwhelming. But it is NEVER dull.
Also going from a friendship/coworker relationship to being business partners has had its challenges. We are both very opinionated and what I would call Type A personalities. We are very different but also enough alike that we make it work. Three years in and we are still on speaking terms, lol! Even though we don’t always agree, we can really talk to each other and hash things out and there are no hard feelings.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Bird Watcher Supply Company story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a wild bird and gift store. We started out as strictly wild bird supplies – bird seed, feeders, bird baths, bird houses, hardware, etc. But over the years we have really expanded our garden and gift lines, and even carry home decor and jewelry. Much of it is focused on the natural world – so birds, butterflies, botanicals – we like for the gift items to have a nature feel to them or center on being outdoors.
I am most proud of our staff. 80% of our staff has been with us for 5 years or longer! We treat our customers like family and really go out of our way to be of service, Whether it’s helping someone choose a gift, giving advice about stopping squirrels, or helping someone identify a bird they have seen, the relationships we build with our customers are incredibly important to all of us.
Because we keep employees for so long, our customer really get to know us and vice versa. I love knowing that a customer can come in a month after a purchase and see the same person who helped them. And they will likely remember that purchase and ask how a product is working for them!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Brick and mortar retail is obviously struggling a bit. Online sales have definitely taken a chunk. But I also know that people crave human interaction. Sure it’s easy to buy certain things online, but it will never take the place of talking to a real person. Especially one with the knowledge to answer all of your questions or help you to solve a problem.
We will continue to excel at providing a great experience in our stores, with a warm, welcoming vibe and friendly staff who are ready and willing to help.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.BirdWatcherSupply.com
- Phone: (770)499-7597
- Email: info@birdwatchersupply.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/birdwatchersupplyco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/BirdWatcherSupplyCo
Image Credit:
Luke Theodorou
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