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Sells a variety of products, including books, binocular harnesses, bird-themed boxers and prints of their magazine cover art
Involved in bird-watching community activities, such as hosting symposiums, speaking at events and leading birding trips
Bird Watcher's Digest (BWD), an ACCTivate! user since 2000, has come a long way since the publishing company was founded
in 1978 from a family room in Marietta, Ohio.
Bill Jr. and Elsa Thompson wanted to start their own business, and with Bill's background in journalism and Elsa's strong developing interest in birds
and bird watching, they chose to start a magazine for bird watchers.
Bird Watcher's Digest magazine was born as a publication by bird watchers, for bird watchers. Based in the couple's family room for the
first five years and starting out with one mechanical typewriter, popularity for the magazine grew.
Today BWD is known worldwide, having played a significant role in making bird watching a popular outdoor activity in North America.
The magazine remains an integral part of the company, but the company reaches out to bird watchers and bird lovers in other ways, as well.
The magazine is a bi-monthly publication and in the alternating months Backyard Birds Newsletter is published. They also send a free e-newsletter
BirdWire every month and are soon launching a digital edition of their flagship magazine.
They also have 14 titles included in their Backyard Booklet Series, the most recent additions to which are Bird Watching for Kids and
Enjoying Cardinals More. BWD is also contracted by other well-known publishing companies to write books.
In addition to their publications, BWD sells a variety of products including books, binocular harnesses, binders for archiving their magazine issues,
bird-themed boxers, and prints of original artwork.
The prints they sell are actually part of their magazine's identity. Other bird magazines feature photography on their covers, but BWD's
covers feature original artwork. This tradition began when the company was founded, and they have turned their collection of cover
art into signed, limited-edition prints.
As well-known bird experts, BWD also gets involved in bird-watching community activities, such as hosting symposiums, speaking at events and leading
birding trips.
They also run an award-winning website, www.birdwatchersdigest.com,
host podcasts and stay heavily involved in social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and a blog, Bill of the Birds, written by their editor.
From the Thompsons' family room more than 30 years ago, BWD began and continues to operate as a family owned business. Bill Jr. and Elsa's sons Bill, III
and Andy are current owners, and act as the magazine's editor and the publisher, respectively; their daughter Laura is the circulation director.
Read about BWD's success with ACCTivate! as their inventory management and control solution since 2000.
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