Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
January 11, 2007 issue
Blue Ridge Birds & Gardens—Everything But The Bird For Three Years
Story by Sam Calhoun
North Carolina has one of the longest lists of resident bird species compared to other states according to the National Audubon Society, with several of them nesting in and living throughout the High Country. Considering this fact, you might think the High Country has a host of bird-related stores, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
There is only one exclusively-bird-related store—Blue Ridge Birds and Gardens—but bird enthusiasts could argue that it is all they need.
Fully stocked doesn’t begin to describe the selection at Blue Ridge Birds and Gardens. Owner George Martin—known as Marty—describes his store as the “High Country’s best source for wild bird feeding supplies,” offering “a complete selection of feeders, seed, squirrel baffles, baths, garden accessories and gift ideas.”
But that’s just the short list.
In the shop at 195 New Market Center in Boone, Martin sells binoculars, birdbaths, birdhouses (some locally made), caged and selective entry feeders. feeder accessories, bird and nature art by local artists Curt Hiller and Carla Rae, hummingbird feeders, Identifyers (audio contraptions that produce bird calls so that people hiking or out in their yard can learn about different species of birds), peanut feeders, platform feeders, pole systems, bafflers, seed, suet, squirrel-proof feeders, suet cages, sunflower feeders, wood feeders, window feeders, tree faces, wind chimes and decorative spinners. Oh, and he also sells gift certificates and jewelry boxes that he makes when he’s not at the store.
Even more impressive than the long list of products is the fact that 85 percent of them are American made, with 95 percent of the bird feeders Martin sells made in America as well. American-made products are important to Martin, not only because of pride but also because it makes it easier to find replacement parts.
“How many people can go into a store these days and get American-made products?” said Martin, who has owned the store for three years.
Martin runs the store with only the help of one other employee—his mother Pat. Pat also lives next door to Martin and his wife Cathy.
Cathy and Martin have been married for 14 years and met in their hometown Charlotte. In Charlotte, Martin spent more than a decade in the auto parts business in the Queen City. Loving the mountains and wishing for a change, Martin asked his employer for a transfer to Boone. About six years ago, his wish was granted and he and Cathy uprooted.
For three years, Martin worked for Advanced Auto Parts in Boone before long hours with no vacations began to wear on him. Three years ago, having no background with birds whatsoever aside from basic knowledge, Martin opened Blue Ridge Birds and Gardens.
He wanted a store that was nature based to fit the culture of the area, but he also wanted it to be unique. He found that bigger cities such as Charlotte and Raleigh had multitudes of bird and bird accessories stores, but Boone did not.
Martin loved the idea of birding. Regardless of physical ability, birding is a pastime that all can enjoy. So, the seed was planted and he went to work learning everything he could about birds and bird accessories.
Martin’s store is packed with every obvious bird-related item as well as the not-so-obvious and unique. He offers selective feeders with cages that only allow certain sized birds to feed; birdbaths that have heaters and thermostats because more birds die from dehydration than starvation in the wintertime; locally made birdhouses; tree faces that adhere to the bark of trees for a unique piece of lawn art; made-in-America squirrel-proof bird feeders called Flippers, Tippers, Whippers and Dippers that rid the feeder of uninvited eaters; suet supplies, think PowerBars for birds; and Martin’s handmade wooden jewelry boxes.
In the next few weeks, Martin will introduce the region’s first custom regional seed blends, tailored specifically for the birds of the High Country, with some of the seed purchased locally. Martin also sells a large amount of spinners—made in Minnesota—that hang like wind chimes and add color and interest to any outdoor setting.
Martin’s biggest sellers are the feeders and seed, but he also sells a great number of yard accessories and tree faces. He prides himself on being a lot more hands-on than other retailers, meaning that he loves to troubleshoot with customers and solve their problems through matching them with the appropriate products from his selection.
As far as business secret for success, Martin thinks it’s as simple as being knowledgeable and helpful. Although he had little training before going into the business, his knowledge about birds and bird accessories today could impress even the most avid birding enthusiast. Martin also prides himself on carrying the best products possible.
In the future, Martin hopes he can eventually add another store to his growing business, but he needs to see a slight increase in volume to warrant that. His biggest problems have been people not being able to find his location and not even knowing about his store. He attributes this to the large population transitions that occur in any primarily vacation town.
He sees the most business during the spring, over Christmas and on Mother’s Day, but his online store—www.blueridgebirds.com—is busy all the time.
Blue Ridge Birds and Gardens is located at 195 New Market Center in Boone and is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and is closed on Sunday. For more information, click to www.blueridgebirds.com or call 828-265-0408.
Internet Blurb…
North Carolina has one of the longest lists of resident bird species compared to other states according to the National Audubon Society, with several of them nesting in and living throughout the High Country. Considering this fact, you might think the High Country has a host of bird-related stores, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
There is only one exclusively-bird-related store—Blue Ridge Birds and Gardens—but bird enthusiasts could argue that it is all they need.