The bird watching community is underserved
Birdwatching, a hobby that has seen a surge in popularity, presents a unique opportunity for businesses to cater to this niche market. Birdwatchers are passionate individuals who often invest significant time and money in their hobby. By understanding their needs and preferences, businesses can tap into this lucrative market. In this article I will be listing just some of the business ideas that came to mind while talking to a couple of bird watchers who stay in Pharr, TX for the winter.
Consider the Demographics
The Rio Grande Valley, with its unique blend of subtropical climate and diverse ecosystems, attracts a significant number of visitors each year, particularly during the winter months. These visitors, often retirees or active adults over the age of 50, are drawn to the region's abundant bird watching opportunities. The area's diverse habitats, including coastal wetlands, riverine forests, and desert scrub, provide ideal conditions for a variety of bird species, making it a birder's paradise. Many of these visitors are experienced birdwatchers who come to the Valley to add new species to their life lists, while others are simply nature enthusiasts seeking to appreciate the beauty of the natural world. Their average income is around $65,000.00 per year.
Understanding the Birdwatcher
Birdwatchers are a diverse group, ranging from casual observers to serious enthusiasts. However, they share common interests:
Bird Identification: They are constantly seeking to identify new species and improve their birdwatching skills. That’s why they would be interested in book form catalogs that could be used as a checklist. Start a social media group where they can go share their pictures and chat with others about their interests.
Birdwatching Equipment: Binoculars, spotting scopes, and field guides are essential tools for birdwatchers. When we visited The World Birding Center in Mission, TX, I was surprised there wasn’t anyone promoting or showing up with a mobile store offering this type of equipment. It’s quite the missed opportunity. Think food truck for bird watchers.
Bird-Friendly Habitats: They are interested in creating and maintaining bird-friendly habitats in their yards or local parks. If you are a landscaper and you advertise that you specialize in bird or butterfly friendly gardens, that would be a great marketing opportunity. If you are a retailer, putting together a bundle of bird friendly plants could be a very lucrative idea. Picture a wooden crate with the baby plants, ready to put out around the porch.
Conservation: Many bird watchers are passionate about bird conservation and environmental issues. Starting a non-profit that helps bring awareness can be a superb opportunity to do good and pay yourself a salary while doing something that you believe in.
More Opportunities to Sell to Bird Watchers
Birdwatching Gear and Apparel:
Retail Stores: Sell a variety of bird watching equipment, including binoculars, spotting scopes, field guides, and clothing. Adding a small section within your store that has related items. For example if you own a clothing store, you can add a collection of t-shirts with the picture of a local bird on each item. This would encourage the customer to collect them all.
Mobile Stores: Offer a wide range of birdwatching products, including specialized gear and accessories. Whichever of the many products that interest bird watchers can be offered where they go. Consider wrapping a van in eye-catching colors and sell the goods out of the back doors.
Custom Apparel: Design and sell custom birdwatching merchandise, such as hats, jackets, water bottles, blank journals, and other related items with your own designs featuring the birds of our region.
Birdwatching Tours and Workshops:
Guided Birdwatching Tours: Organize guided birdwatching tours to local hotspots and popular birding destinations. Did you know that you don’t have to be an employee of the parks to take people on guided tours?
Birdwatching Workshops: Offer workshops on bird identification, photography, and habitat conservation. It can be as simple as partnering up with a restaurant or bar to offer a special menu while you give your presentation.
Nature Photography Tours: Combine birdwatching with nature photography to attract a broader audience. If you know anything or are willing to learn about photography, you could teach people how to get started. There is also the possibility of selling or licensing your photographs online.
Bird-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening:
Landscape Design Tutorials: Offer landscape design tutorials while you garden your own yard with native plants to attract birds. This is an opportunity that can be local or worldwide.
Specialized Nursery: Sell native plants and bird-friendly seeds out of your own home. If you like gardening, set up by appointment visits to your backyard and sell the plant and seeds. Check your local zoning, but most micro businesses like this can be run out of a home without a problem.
Bird Feeders and Baths: Sell a variety of bird feeders, bird baths, and birdhouses. If you have some artistic ability, you can build, paint or manufacture these items for the public or partner up with landscapers and let them do the selling for you by offering them a commission on every piece they sell.
Bird-Themed Products and Services:
Bird-themed Art and Decor: Sell bird-themed art, sculptures, and home decor items. I recently read about a woman who would buy landscape paintings at thrift stores and garage sales. She would then paint calligraphy words on them and resell them for many times what she paid for them. If you are artistic, you could paint birds of the Rio Grande Valley.
Bird-inspired Jewelry and Accessories: Offer unique jewelry and accessories featuring bird motifs. These items can be easily carried around in a small suitcase and boom, you have an instant store that you can take anywhere. You can even accept credit card payments on your phone. Check NoBizFees.com for more information on that.
Bird-themed Food and Beverages: Create bird-themed food and drink items, such as bird-shaped cookies or bird-themed cocktails. Individually wrapped cookies can be taken anywhere and sold easily when they are themed for your audience. If you have a bar, you can attract new customers with creative drinks that cater to the bird watchers.
Why Birdwatchers Are an Underserved Market
Despite the growing popularity of birdwatching, this market is still relatively underserved. Many businesses have yet to tap into the potential of this niche market. By understanding the specific needs and interests of birdwatchers, businesses can create unique products and services that cater to this dedicated community.
If you would like some help on how to start or develop any one of these business ideas, we can help. Call or text us with the word “bird” at 956-483-9557 or ask about setting up an appointment to help you get started. AT ARTC Consulting, Your Vision is Our Mission. We are here to help people start and grow their small businesses.
By recognizing the potential of the birdwatching market, businesses can attract a loyal customer base and build a successful business.
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