Shaun Strobel is good at fishing. He’s also skilled at making connections with customers, explaining exactly where, when and how the fish he’s selling were caught.
But when it comes to growing his family business, Skipper Otto’s Community Supported Fishery, Strobel could use some help.
“What we need is help figuring out logistics and the nuts and bolts of pricing and business and setting up plants and financing,” Strobel told Business in Vancouver.
Skipper Otto is one of five social ventures accepted into a business accelerator program at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business. The year long program, now in its second year, helps to build businesses that direct profits toward creating positive social or environmental outcomes.
Strobel’s business operates as a community supported fishery (CSF), where customers sign up and pay in advance to receive seafood directly from Skipper Otto. The Strobel family also sells its fish at venues like Vancouver Farmers Markets.
Not only does Strobel have a backlog of potential customers who would like to participate in the CSF, he now also has a list of fishermen who want to sell their catch through Skipper Otto.
The system provides more stability and reduces the risk for independent fishermen, who must buy or lease pricey fishing quota licences for each species they want to catch.
“If we know before the season starts that we have several hundred customers, I can safely say to our halibut fisherman, go ahead and lease the quota,” Strobel said.
Participating businesses will get access to business mentors and training on marketing, making deals and approaching investors. The program is funded by Coast Capital Savings Credit Union. •
