Since 2006, Gold Crest Distributing has hosted its Wild Bird Expo, but that changed in 2020, as COVID-19 cast caution over the tradeshow industry. But after a year’s hiatus from being …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous website, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
![Gold Crest Distributing was all a flutter this week, hosting their Wild Bird Expo. Held Oct. 12-14, the event featured wild bird and gift vendors from all over the country, seminars, and more. Among highlights was the free barbecue - headlined by ribeye sandwiches and served by the Mexico Booster Club. Above, Boosters Lara Ryan, Julie Broeker, Robbin Denham, Troy Teel and Julie Rowe.serve diners in the Gold Crest tent. Well-attended, the Expo also included vendors like Keysa Cummins of Overland Sales LLC, Maryville, Mo. [Nathan Lilley]](https://epsilon.creativecirclecdn.com/mexicoledger/original/20211016-144430-MX%20Goldcrest%20Cummins.JPG)
![Gold Crest Distributing was all a flutter this week, hosting their Wild Bird Expo. Held Oct. 12-14, the event featured wild bird and gift vendors from all over the country, seminars, and more. Among highlights was the free barbecue - headlined by ribeye sandwiches and served by the Mexico Booster Club. Above, Boosters Lara Ryan, Julie Broeker, Robbin Denham, Troy Teel and Julie Rowe.serve diners in the Gold Crest tent. Well-attended, the Expo also included vendors like Keysa Cummins of Overland Sales LLC, Maryville, Mo. [Nathan Lilley]](https://epsilon.creativecirclecdn.com/mexicoledger/original/20211016-144408-MX%20Goldcrest.JPG)
![Wild Bird Expo attendees stroll the Gold Crest aisles Wednesday afternoon. The Expo returned to in-person after a one-year absence and Gold Crest purchasing manager Grant Toellner credits his team for helping make it the success it was. “We are lucky to have a great staff that makes the event such a big success by going above and beyond preparing for the event and during the show,” Toellner said. [Nathan Lilley]](https://epsilon.creativecirclecdn.com/mexicoledger/original/20211016-144451-MX%20Goldcrest%20Inside%202.JPG)
Since 2006, Gold Crest Distributing has hosted its Wild Bird Expo, but that changed in 2020, as COVID-19 cast caution over the tradeshow industry. But after a year’s hiatus from being in-person, the Expo returned this week, hosting over 200 people. Kicking off Tuesday, it ran through Thursday and included seminars, exhibitors and brain-storming sessions.
“The show overall went great,” said purchasing manager Grant Toellner. “Attendance was what we expected given the environment we are in, and our staff did a great job getting everything rearranged and ready.”
Tuesday night included the annual Oktoberfest at the Gold Crest warehouse with burgers, brats, and Oktoberfest beer on the menu. Wednesday night was Share Night at the 4-H center where retailers brought their best merchandising and marketing ideas to share with everyone else in the industry.
While the Expo is centered at Gold Crest, it brings an influx of folks to Audrain County.
“It's great to be able to bring the event back to Mexico,” Toellner said. “It helps support a lot of local businesses and clubs, but also it’s a great way for our staff to meet our customer base in a personal way that I think our staff and our customers both enjoy.”
Over the years, the Expo has grown in size. Toellner says this year’s edition was a little scaled back as COVID continues to loom.
“Hopefully by next year we can boost it back up to full capacity and get back up to the 300 mark,” he said.
While there have been challenges over recent months, things are going well at Gold Crest.
“It's been busy,” Toellner said. “We have been fortunate as the birding industry has grown as a result of people feeding the birds more as they work from home or look for hobbies to do outside.”
Like other industries, Gold Crest’s biggest challenge right now is getting some products in a timely fashion due to import delays.
But after a successful week and a growing interest in all things birding, Toellner and company are glad to be taking one step closer to back-to-normal.
A little more about Gold Crest
Founded in 1995 by the Toellner family, Gold Crest Distributing is a leading distributor of wild bird products and accessories as well as nature inspired gifts, home décor, and entertaining accessories and necessities.
