The Go Fish Story
People often ask "how did you get into this business?" While the question seems simple enough, the answer is not. As a person who calls on the name of Jesus, I have come to believe that He has directed my steps in ways that I could never have imagined. I have had the privilege of working with and being involved in the lives of people in countries all over the world. From a small jungle village in Indonesia to one of the driest areas of the world in Northern Peru, God has given me a glimpse of what His world looks like. He has shown me what true joy can look like in the faces of those who have nothing. I believe He has also asked me to consider those who He has put into my path and to care about the things that He cares about. This is Go Fish. We are not a Christian Company. We are a company that understands our call as Christians and "as we have the opportunity, do good to all people." Galatians 6:10.
In 1985 I went on my first Mission Trip to the country of Peru. There were many things I did not expect, and one of those was the beautiful and unique items that were being made by the poorest of the poor in Peru. I was surprised at the level of talent they had and their desire to be given an opportunity to sell their goods. Virtually no one I met was asking for a handout... just an opportunity.
The day I was preparing to leave Peru for home, I took a few hours and walked around a small market watching and taking in all of the sights and sounds of this foreign land I had, in such a short time, grown to love. I watched as men, women and children tried to capture the attention of just a few foreigners hoping that someone would give them a glance…that someone would buy what they themselves had made. What I saw angered me. What I saw were people from other nations…people who would never know what it would be like to go to sleep hungry…arguing the prices with these poor. What I saw were men and women who had nothing, being forced to sell what they had made for just a fraction of what it was worth in order to put food in the mouths of their children. It was then that I felt God tell me that I was never to take advantage of His poor. It was at that moment that I felt as if God was giving me a vision of a business that would glorify Him and impact the lives of many.
My wife Barbara and I opened our first Go Fish store in Pensacola, Fl in 1987. Our company purchases most of the items we sell from the indigenous people of developing nations. We never argue price or take advantage of the poor, but always give them the dignity and respect of buying these hand-crafted goods at their asking price. All we ask in return is consistent quality. We have established very meaningful long term relationships with families and individuals that just needed that opportunity. Through the efforts of Go Fish staff, store partners and customers the lives of many of these people have changed... we believe for the good.
