Special Section:

Wild Bird Landing at the 2005 Colorado Garden and Home Show!
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January 19th-- Move-In Day! It really is like moving. Our temporary "new store" is small, but it still has to be equipped with everything it takes to display stock and make sales. We've been preparing, making lists, and drawing diagrams literally for months.  Even so, once we got in there and started setting up, we realized that there were practical things we should have brought that we didn't, such as a broom and dustpan! and trash bags! And we realized that some of our ideas for arranging our space would have to be reconsidered. Luckily, we have two more days to come back and finish unpacking, bring in additional supplies, and make finishing touches such as printing signs and decorating the displays. The exhibit hall is HUGE! Cars, trucks and trailers bring in their booth materials by driving right onto the hall floor! This is going to be the Garden and Home Show, but first thing in the morning, it looks more like the "Big Yellow Truck" Show! A few hours into set-up, construction is well under way. Wait... CONSTRUCTION?? Not for us, but throughout the hall, structures are being framed, decks built, stone walls erected, enclosing gardens immense enough for live trees to be planted! This easily could be called "Extreme Makeover, Garden and Home Show Edition!" As for us, empty booth... full truck. We're really messy. Everything that was in our truck, now is piled in and around our booth, in and across the aisle. It's starting to look familiar and feel like Wild Bird Landing though, with Audubon Birds displayed, and Squirrel-Be-Gone, Black Forest, and Solar Lantern feeders hanging from an Erva pole and topper! By the end of the night, there's still unpacking and decorating to be done, but we've accomplished a tremendous amount today. Our booth is looking a lot like a smaller version of our store. And I think we may be going for the record for the most merchandise ever packed into a 10' x 10' booth! The staff have been helpful, the other exhibitors have been friendly, and we had a full and productive move-in day. It'll be great to see what our booth looks like when we're completely set up for the show's opening on Saturday morning.  We hope you'll all come down and see it too! TO BE CONTINUED... (next page) (Garden Show 05 report index)   (home)