Our History

The Zoo & Aquarium Buyers Group (ZAG) began as an informal gathering of merchandise buyers from nonprofit, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums who met annually for dinner during the Smoky Mountain Gift Show in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Funded by donations from key merchandise vendors, the dinner provided a rare opportunity for buyers to connect, share ideas, and build relationships within a small, close-knit group. Early volunteer organizers included Greg Cain of Zoo Atlanta, Marie Gottwald of Knoxville Zoo, Charlie Fry of the Columbus Zoo, and Laura Romano of the Santa Barbara Zoo.

As interest grew, ZAG evolved from a social gathering into a more organized professional network. Leadership transitioned to a team of dedicated volunteers who expanded membership to include for-profit and non-AZA-accredited facilities and broadened participation beyond zoos and aquariums to safari parks, marine science centers, butterfly houses, and other wildlife attractions. A member contact directory and quarterly newsletter were introduced to strengthen communication and knowledge sharing.

To support this growth, ZAG established a vendor sponsorship program that fully funds the organization. The annual Gatlinburg dinner was expanded to include structured roundtable discussions on merchandise trends, a showcase of sponsor products, and resources to help members navigate major gift shows. ZAG also began encouraging regional meet-ups and building partnerships with gift show organizers to provide networking opportunities and member support.

ZAG later incorporated as a nonprofit organization with a mission to increase communication and networking among zoo and aquarium merchandise buyers so that members can operate their gift shops more profitably. A formal board of directors was established to guide governance, financial accountability, and long-term planning.

Over time, ZAG expanded to include botanical gardens and introduced industry benchmarking surveys, a website with member resources and sponsor listings, social media engagement, and electronic communications. Travel scholarships were created to help buyers from smaller facilities attend major gift shows, ensuring broader access to education and networking opportunities.

Today, ZAG represents hundreds of zoo, aquarium, garden, and nature focused facilities and vendor partners. Through collaboration, shared best practices, and strong industry relationships, ZAG continues to support independent brand management, conservation commerce, and the financial success of retail operations across the zoo, aquarium, garden, and nature community.