Page 9 - Griffin Gazette - October 2026

LOOKING FOR A WAY
TO STAND OUT?

Explore these growing categories
and watch sales soar.

By Hannah Sadosky -
Retail Education Manager

SMART CAMERA FEEDERS
Smart bird feeders are turning
birding from passive watching into
ongoing customer engagement. This
fast-growing category is outpacing
traditional feeders—are you taking
advantage of the opportunity?
Backyard Nature Products and Birdfy
both offer smart bird feeders. What is
a smart bird feeder? It is a traditional
bird feeder upgraded with a built-in
camera, motion sensor, WiFi, and
a mobile app. Customers receive
motion-triggered videos of visiting
birds, while AI-powered technology
can quickly identify backyard species.
Most models run on solar power
or are rechargeable and feature
weatherproof housing. They still
hold seed like a standard feeder,
and Birdfy even has one designed
for hummingbird nectar. Backyard
Nature Products features the Chirpful
smart feeder. Smart bird feeders shift
the wild-bird category from passive
enjoyment to constant engagement.
At garden centers, birding has often
been a late-fall commodity: a customer
buys black-oil sunflower seed and a
feeder, then may not return until the
next season. Smart feeders change
that pattern by delivering species ID,
live video, and phone notifications that
keep customers engaged year-round.
This ongoing connection is helping to
drive repeat visits for seed, suet, and
app-inspired refill sales through spring
and summer. (Continued →u) →