Describe your business in one sentence.

A women-owned, family business that sells wild, sustainable, seafood to communities around the country.

Are you an Islander? How did you decide to open a business on Mercer Island?

Yes, both Joci and I are Islanders! Our children go to school in the MISD, and my husband Tyler Besecker was a part of the MIHS championship basketball teams back in 1997 and 1999. It was perfect to begin providing our amazing seafood to our Mercer Island community first!

Do you remember the moment or time when you told yourself, “I have to do this”?

We had been wanting to do this for some time. When COVID hit, we really saw the value in providing a healthy and sustainable protein source that people could cook at home with their families as more of us were staying at home.

What makes your business so unique?

You don't often see women within the fish industry. It's typically a rough and gruff male-dominated industry, so the fact that two women have launched a beautiful retail brand within this industry, all while communicating and nurturing relationships with vessels and fishermen in Alaska and the Pacific Ocean, is very unique!

What was your experience adapting to the new COVID reality?

Our business was born out of COVID reality! We packaged our seafood in a way that was not only efficient for families to cook but also featured no-contact pickups. We made it easy for our customers to drive up to one of our seafood pop-up shops and get their seafood directly into cooler in their trunk, all without leaving their car!

We often say innovation comes from questioning the status quo. Have you uncovered new ways of doing business or launched new products or services that you would not have thought of before? How did it work out?

Yes. We bought a freezer van! We began heading up to Bellingham to pick up our fish that we flash freeze at the docks to preserve freshness. We have even gone directly to Alaska Airlines to meet a plane that has flown in fish from Alaska that very day! We began hosting pop-up shops around Mercer Island as well as other local communities, providing fresh, wild, and sustainable fish and crab to families across the greater Seattle area. Most people have never bought their fish directly out of a freezer van before!

If there was a single product, service, or expertise your business should be known for, what is it?

The fact that we only sell wild, sustainable, Pacific Ocean seafood. We only sell what we love and eat at home ourselves, and in the form that we prefer it ourselves! Bone-out, pre-portioned, and vacuum-packed, ready to thaw and eat for family meals.

Tell us something about your business that would surprise us.

We are only 6 months old! My sister-in-law Joci and I launched this company just the two of us and have built our website & customer base, marketed, designed packaging, and chosen product all on our own. Two sisters-in-law hustling and building, all while raising our families!

What is your favorite Mercer Island spot?

For me, it’s Mioposto for their Pepperoni Puntura Pizza and Island Books for their incredible kids gift section and wrapping birthday gifts! For Joci, she loves The Roanoke Inn and randomly running into so many friends there each time, as well as Slater Park to enjoy the lake with her family and her two dogs.

Since you've been in business on Mercer Island, what have you discovered about Islanders or the Island community in general?

As we knew, they are extremely supportive. They have been our cheerleaders, have spread news of our seafood to their friends, and continued coming back for more!

When you aren't working, what's your favorite pastime?

I really enjoy going to baseball games. I was raised in a baseball family, played softball myself, and love the feel of watching the Mariners on a sunny July afternoon. For Joci, she loves to host people in her home, cook, and spend time with her family. Her food spreads are always amazing, and she is such a natural hostess.

If you had to convince a non-Islander to come discover Mercer Island, what would you tell them?

Mercer Island is amazing! We have a diverse community with young families and original generation Islanders with stories of the old ferry, the Roanoke back in its heyday, and a unique blend of cultures, churches, and community organizations, all on one little island. Also, our parks are the best around.

Learn more about Premier Catch and order your fresh catch at www.premiercatch.com.