04/09/2022
To our valued customers,
After 20 plus years, it comes with a heavy heart that I am making the call to retire from Paradigm Seafoods and place the company and boat up for sale. In my tenure, I have developed a direct-to-consumer business model in the truest sense, manufactured very unique small vessel salmon processing equipment, automated systems, built a strategically designed boat after losing the F/V Gulkana to the Gulf of Alaska in 2011, and introduced a new product form and quality specification that invites the consumer to “Discover the Processed at Sea Difference”. It is my hope that a young, aspiring, and energetic couple with direct marketing in mind would take over the company and operations. Paradigm Seafoods is a well-established business with self-invented top-of-the-line salmon processing equipment onboard to aid in production efficiencies of pre-rigor processing salmon to a higher specification. The F/V Paradigm Shift would propel a new owner, with the same passion and drive that I have given the company, towards success right out of the gate.
Believe me, when I say it has been a fun ride, it has been a fun ride. Going on the hunt for new markets and meeting people with a passion for high-quality seafood has been an extremely rewarding experience for us. Having my wife, Lori, join me in the business has helped propel our company even further because she took care of the shore side duties which allowed me to concentrate on catching the fish to fulfill your orders. Lori’s meticulous handling of the marketing and follow-through was simply tireless.
It's not to say it has all been easy going. Many of you know the effort required to launch and define a business. It takes more than eight hours a day and we have both given our all to provide and fulfill our customer orders with passion and a high quality product. These past two years were pretty tough during the pandemic, lack of workforce, and lower than average returns of salmon destined to the Copper River. This forced me to move from the Copper River to Prince William Sound (PWS) to work in those fisheries of which we do not typically market those fish. My business was predicated on Copper River salmon and meeting a higher quality specification to discerning customers. This platform can do the same in PWS for Sockeye, Chum, Pink, and Coho salmon if one so desires.
Many of you know that my winter marine design and welding business, building boats, and related hydraulic deck equipment for the fisheries in south-central Alaska had also kept me running at a fast pace year-round. There wasn’t an off-season for us as I just hung up the rain gear, put the welding attire on, and kept on pushing. My lifestyle of hard work has finally caught up with me with worn-out knees, hip, and lower back to the point it has become very painful for me to put in the long hours and do the strenuous work that is required to do this job. Having turned 65 in February and dealing with the health issues that have plagued me in recent years has finally brought me to this decision. I have to say I’ve gone back and forth with this all winter and am finally content with my decision. Yes, I will miss it and miss working for all of you.
Once we have successfully sold the company, Lori and I will reach out to you once again and introduce you to the new owners. My intent is to work with and set the new owners up for success to help move them into their new vertically integrated business.
Many of you folks have become friends of ours and I just can’t say enough of the satisfaction Lori and I have felt to have you as a valued customer. I am retiring from the boat building business as well and selling my building and Webber Marine & Mfg., Inc. Lori and I bought a small piece of land about 6-1/2 miles out of Cordova and plan on building a small off-grid cabin to call home. I’m not sure what other kind of business involvement I may get into or simply just stay retired. I do know when you close some doors in life, others sometimes seem to open. Let’s just say I’ll cross that bridge when it comes. It's been an absolute honor for Lori and I to be your personal fisherman from the Copper River fishery. We can’t thank you enough and with all hopes, if our paths have never crossed, we look forward to them doing just that, so we can say hello again and give you a personal heart felt thank you.
All our best, Bill and Lori Webber
