Press Releases

Here are the most recent press releases from Barn in the Sticks.

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5-22-2008- Monroe Evening Times
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Monroe Evening Times

5/22/2008 11:00:00 AM  Email this article • Print this article 
Times photo: Tere Dunlap

Chad Mathys, Monticello, kneels by one of his custom-made bird houses on his deck where whimsical martini and margarita hummingbird feeders line the rails. Mathys’ plans for making-your-own feeders and houses will be featured on his Barn in the Sticks Web site in the future.

Mathys' new business is going to the birds

Tere Dunlap

MONTICELLO - A Barn in the Sticks is a virtual reality for Chad Mathys of Monticello.

But Mathys is striving to turn his online business selling bat houses, birdhouses and bird feeders for other companies into a Web site for his own creations.

Mathys created many of the bluebird houses around his home. He built a giant bat house for his brother's farm. Building birdhouses and other outdoor products intrigues him.

"The idea of the 'Barn' in the Sticks came from my father's purchase of a farm outside of Argyle near Yellowstone Lake," he said. "I had this vision in my head of a barn out in the countryside, filled with bird feeders and houses in the front, using the loft upstairs for the woodworking machinery to build inventory. Don't know if I'll ever get that far, but that is one of my goals - to someday start a retail store from the Web site."

But with a full-time job at Duluth Trading Co. in Belleville, Mathys knew he didn't have the spare time to design and build enough feeders and houses to sell, so he looked into vendors like Woodlink, Looker Products, Droll Yankees, Aspects and others that carry products made mostly in the U.S.

Mathys has shipped products as far away as Oregon to Florida. Repeat business is strong all over, but Mathys said his best repeat business is in Monticello, for hummingbird feeders, hopper-style feeders and bird baths.

Many of the quality products at Barn in the Sticks are made in the U.S., and have been tested by Mathys - or his family members.

His first business task was to find for his parents a hummingbird feeder that prevented ants and wasps from stealing nectar. Mathys said he found a feeder designed with a moat and bee guard.

When they happily reported the feeder worked, Mathys added the product to his Web site.

Barn in the Sticks also carries oriole and chickadee feeders, wren, duck and bat houses and free building plans for the do-it-yourselfer who shares Mathys' love for wildlife.

Mathys' love for wildlife comes from a family tradition. The desire to build and sell his own habitats and feeders stems from a childhood fascination with bird feeders hanging from a birch tree in the front yard of his grandmother's home in Darlington.

"And at my grandmother's house, her rooms were filled with tons of knickknacks of birds," Mathys said.

His father helped nurture the passion for bird watching and wildlife conservation. He and his father have belonged to the Argyle Rod and Gun Club for many years and have been with Pheasants Forever almost since its inception.

"My dad had us feeding wildlife and building habitat when we were young, making duck houses, bluebird houses and making custom feeders. In the winter, we spent hours filling feeders and preparing nesting boxes for the next season," Mathys said.

Mathys' back yard is a bird's paradise of houses and feeders among the flowers and trees. He spends hours with his two children tending to the house cleaning and food replenishing, including hummingbird nectar in mock margarita and martini glasses.

For the full story click here.

5-06-2008- Birds and Blooms
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To view the article at Birds and Blooms, click below:

http://www.birdsandblooms.com/Building-a-Business/detail.aspx

Building a Business

A pest-proof hummingbird feeder was first on the list for this entrepreneur.

 

My love for birds and wildlife started when I was a kid. I remember going to my grandmother's house and admiring her many bird feeders hanging from the birch tree in her front yard.

My father also helped nurture my passion for wildlife and bird-watching by teaching me how to make birdhouses and feeders. In winter, we spent hours filling feeders and preparing new nesting boxes for the next season. Every day, it was exciting to walk through the woods around our house, watching the bird activity.

As I got older and started a family, I wanted my children to have this same appreciation for nature. My two kids love being outdoors. We plant flowers and trees, fill feeders, clean out birdhouses and more, all for our feathered friends. My daughter even raised butterflies last spring.

Hummingbirds are some of our favorite visitors, especially as the sightings around our house have increased over the years. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are amazing with their speed and iridescent colors.

A few years ago, I noticed that my free time being outside with my kids was quickly diminishing. I was so busy putting in long hours at work that I didn't really have time to do the things I loved most.

That's when I began thinking about starting my own business of building birdhouses and other outdoor products. It was too risky, though. I had no way of knowing if people would buy my creations, and I had no idea if it would even be worth my time.

So I headed in a different direction altogether. I started looking for wholesalers in the United States that that had good, quality products that I could sell. I found many great companies, so I decided to open up a new on-line company, Barn in the Sticks.

One of my first goals with my new business was to find a hummingbird feeder for my parents. They had a terrible time with ants and wasps at their feeder, and I knew others shared their concerns.

I found a great feeder with a bee guard and ant moat already on it. My parents were happy and verified the feeder's success, so I knew it was a must for my new store. Now, I have several hummingbird products, including a kit with a feeder, ant guard, nectar mix and cleaning tool.

I want my business to do well, but my goals really go beyond that. Most of the products on my Web site are made in the United States, and I've selected them all with pride.

When it comes down to it, I'm just like anyone else who wants a good, quality feeder or birdhouse. I trudge through mounds of snow to fill my feeders in winter. And I spend hours watching nesting birds in spring and summer.

As a kid, I never imagined my grandmother's bird feeders and father's lessons in building would lead to a business. But I'm glad it did. I'm having the time of my life running Barn in the Sticks, and I look forward to sharing my love of nature with many others.

12-26-2007
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United States of America (Press Release) December 26, 2007 -- Barn in the Sticks, an internet retailer of bird related merchandise including bat houses, screech owl houses, bird houses, bird feeders and books recently announced that it will target USA vendors due to the strong demand for USA made product.

Barn in the Sticks and www.BarnintheSticks.com are operated by the Mathys' Pen Company, LLC. Company spokesman Chad Mathys noted that, "Many hummingbird watcher enthusiasts and other bird watchers were calling and emailing me asking if I had more USA made product. I started searching and came up with a good line of product that is made in the America. We revamped our web site, and made sure that the far majority of the product offering will be products made in America. We stand behind a lot of quality products with names like Looker Products, Droll Yankees, Woodlink, Songbird Cedar, and Best-1 Hummingbird Feeders."

Barn in the Sticks offers many bird related products including bat houses, bird houses, bird feeders, and many books on the subject. "It makes a great one-stop-shop for people looking for a gift for someone who enjoys birds, or someone just starting the hobby. You can purchase a bird, owl, or wood duck house on the site, and easily add a book that covers the subject in depth. We also carry hangers and odd gift items that relate to bird feeding, like t-shirts and mugs." Mathys said.

To visit the site, or get added to its mailing list, visit www.BarnintheSticks.com.
For more information contact:

Chad Mathys

At chad@barninthesticks.com

or

W5243 Chesebro Lane
Monticello, WI 53570
http://www.barninthesticks.com
PH: 608-214-9511
FX: 608-325-5041

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