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Heather Creelman,
1 Fish 2 Fish Seafood Market Inc.

Langley Hooked on Fish.

Forget the kid's book -- in Langley when someone mentions "1 Fish 2 Fish" it can only mean one thing: they are off to buy fish at the best seafood market in town.

In 1998 Heather Creelman was 23, but already an old hand at fish mongering, with nine years experience. Her close friend Sue Jardine had even more experience in the wholesale industry. The two decided it was time to start trolling for their own business.

But when she started looking for financing, Creelman met a roadblock. "Nobody wanted to play with me," she laughs. But that changed when she approached the Women's Enterprise Centre.

Since 1996, Western Economic Diversification Canada has funded Women's Enterprise Centre to provide financial and business services to women entrepreneurs as part of its Women Entrepreneurs Initiative across Western Canada.
"You guys took a chance," says Creelman. "And it was awesome. I'm so thankful."

Last year Creelman took a chance on herself and bought out her partner. She then turned 1 Fish 2 Fish into an incorporated seafood market and settled into business under her newly acquired married name, Jenkins. She has seen nothing but success since.

“Our sales and customer base continue to grow at about 10 per cent each year,” says Creelman. “I feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment knowing that I am now one of the oldest businesses in my area. I sometimes feel overwhelmed with gratitude for all the people who have supported me over the years to help make 1 Fish 2 Fish what it is today.”

Not only was 1 Fish 2 Fish was named the 2005 Small Business of the Year for the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, but is now bringing in customers from as far as Kamloops and Vernon for the increasingly famous Annual Fresh Whole Halibut and Salmon Sale. In fact, this year’s sale sold over 3000 lbs of halibut.

"We make sure our product is the freshest possible. We're very very picky," says Creelman. "We have a friendly atmosphere, we give our customers recipes, and we basically bow to their needs." And she's had some interesting requests. For her east coast customers she brings in delicacies from the sea such as cod cheeks and cod tongue. Her ‘you catch it, we cut it’ service is also gaining popularity.

Creelman admits that business can still be a struggle during the slower months, but each year is getting easier as she learns more. “I’ve realized that we can only specialize in what we know, too much diversification can lead you astray from your original ideas. Also, the more you concentrate on your business the more it will prosper, so don’t obsess about the competition, but still keep a keen eye on them.”

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