Blog - General
Best Birding Retailer Award Press Release
Press Release, Mexico, MO, Sept 30, 2015 – The first annual “Best Birding Retailer of the Year Awards Ceremony” was held at this year’s 2015 Wild Bird ExpoTM. From the thousands of backyard bird feeding specialty stores across the United States and Canada, the award for the “Best Store with a Birding Emphasis” was Lincoln Nebraska’s Wild Bird Habitat Store.
The award was sponsored by Ray David, publisher of the birding industry’s periodical, Birding Business, and Mel Toellner of Gold Crest Distributing in Mexico, MO when the annual Wild Bird Expo is held. Nominees for the award were submitted by a Candidate Search Committee with the winner selected by birding industry leaders from across the U.S.
The search committee determined which stores demonstrated a conscientious effort in advancing the hobby of birding and the birding industry. Nominee criteria to qualify included sales volume, selection of inventory, growth history, advancement of new trends in the birding industry, customer service, communication and education, and the overall impact they have on their community promoting bird conservation and education through outreach programming and birding activities.
Birding Business publisher Ray David said, “There are thousands of retailers in this country serving the wild bird products marketplace. The success of the birding industry as a whole is a testament to their hard work and creativity, and they deserve to be recognized for the work they do. Both birds and birders are better off for it, and we all appreciate their efforts.”
Other awards were presented to the best large birding store over 1800 sq. ft., best birding department in a multi-line store, and best birding department as a funding source for a non-profit organization.
Ray David continued, “Lincoln’s Wild Bird Habitat Store has done a remarkable job educating customers, merchandising and marketing wild bird products, and impacting their community with an appreciation for birds and nature. It is time these champions of the birding industry be given worthy recognition for their dedication and hard work.”
Lincoln’s Wild Bird Habitat Stores opened in 1993 with two locations, one in north Lincoln at 4840 Orchard Street and the other in south Lincoln in the Alamo Plaza at 56th & Highway 2. “We feel blessed to receive this award as Birding Retailer of the Year”, says Dave Titterington of Wild Bird Habitat. “But it would not have been possible without the support of our loyal customers, our dedicated staff, and all the partners in bird conservation, environmental education, and outdoor birding recreation we have been honored to work with and be part of”.
Over the 23 years Lincoln’s Wild Bird Habitat Stores have been in business they have received numerous other awards. The Lincoln Journal Star, Howard Wiegers “Conservationist of the Year Award”, the Edna Shields “Sharing Nature with Children Award”, the “Earthkeeper Award” and “Lyman’s Award” from Wachiska Audubon, and the Better Business Bureau’s “Integrity Award”. On September 30th Wild Bird Habitat Stores were recognized by leaders in the birding industry as the 2015 Retailer of the Year. On October 27th, 2015 at the Nebraska Wildlife Federation’s “Wildlife Awards Banquet” the Wild Bird Habitat Stores were honored to receive the 2015 Wildlife Communicator Award.
The successes Wild Bird Habitat has been recognized for is only because of the friends and customers our business has generated, our dedicated staff, and all those who continue to support bird conservation, environmental education, and outdoor birding recreation that Wild Bird Habitat has been honored and privileged to partner with over the past 23 years. We thank everyone for their support. Dave, Linda, and Katie Titterington
Pictured left to right – Linda Titterington, owner WBH, Raymond David, Editor Birding Business magazine, Dave Titterington, owner WBH, Katie Titterington, General Manager WBH, Mel Toellner, Gold Crest Distributing