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 Justin Hall
Fishmonger, Pike Place Fish
At age 13, Justin Hall began working at the venerable Pike Place Fish and over 22 years his one-and-only job has made him one of Seattle's frontline tourism ambassadors. He and his colleagues have been featured in countless newspapers, magazines and TV travelogues and they welcome visitors from around the world to Seattle every day.
Why does tourism matter?
We love tourists down here. They really support the fish market and Seattle's economy. About 60-70 percent of our business comes from tourists.
Why does tourism matter to you personally?
It gives me a good life. I own two homes and get to travel the world on pleasure and business. But, it's not about me. It's about working at this place. It's about taking business to the next level and making a difference for our customers.
Do you notice when a lot of tourists are in town?
Definitely! When a cruise ship is in, it's almost like they drop all the passengers at the market. We can tell when there's a big convention in town, too. We go the visitor bureau web site to see which group it is - that's smart from a business standpoint, but we also like to know who they are and to welcome them. They're surprised we know!
How do you see your role as a tourism ambassador?
Nowadays, you go to the place that treats you right. I build relationships with tourists. If they need help finding something, I point it out. If they're not buying now, they may buy later. It's about service as much as sales. That's why we're here. We serve people. We can make their day. If you give people a good experience, they'll tell their friends, "Hey, you've got to go to Seattle and the Pike Place Market."
[Justin is momentarily called away for a photo opportunity with a tourist]
I'm gonna go make a difference for a tourist right now - hold on bro!
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