Bigfish Screenprinting opened for business in August 2001 with just one employee. The business has grown to currently employ 14 staff members plus our fearless leader for a total of 15 employees. As of now, there are 9 full-time positions and 3 part-time positions filled within the company.
The path to opening this screenprinting company began back in 1997. The owner strongly felt that this is something God wanted her to pursue. After much research on equipment, small business and marketing she was ready to take the plunge in 2001. The company’s first location was a building that was sitting empty in April of that year – and prayer ensued that if this is where God wanted Bigfish, then it would remain open and available until August of that year.
It did, and Bigfish called the National and Atlantic location home for the first 6 ½ years. By January of 2008 the business had grown and was ready to make the jump to a larger building that doubled its size. The larger facility accommodates not only the manual press but an auto press, embroidery equipment, as well as more office space – and there’s still room to expand!
The goal of Bigfish Screenprinting is to run business in a way that would serve all customers with integrity, as well as honor God for His faithfulness. That desire also encompasses providing staff members a place that fosters encouragement and provides a good work environment.
With the owner’s past experience in full-time ministry as a perspective, there is an understanding about limited budgets, along with the existing need for the non-essentials. These can include t-shirts and other items for identifying team members, fostering unity or for fund-raising efforts. Therefore, offering discounted pricing to ministries and not-for-profit organizations is a natural fit for Bigfish.
With continued growth, the desire is to take advantage of the opportunity to provide clothing and printing/embroidery needs for a few particular ministries (Competitive Edge International, Bridges for Youth, Wheelpower Christian Cyclists, and Team 413).
The following quote describes the attitude we strive to attain here at Bigfish:
“A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.” (mkg)