By Danica LaFaire, FISH Window Cleaning
How a favorite color, a family-first decision, and a belief in opportunity built Fish Window Cleaning.
If you’ve lived here long enough, you’ve probably seen it.
A red bucket on the sidewalk.
A red truck parked just off the curb.
A team quietly at work, making something clearer.
What you may not have wondered is why red.
At Fish Window Cleaning, the color isn’t a marketing decision or a branding exercise. It’s something far simpler — and far more meaningful.
Red is Linda’s favorite color — Linda Merrick, Mike’s wife and partner in the earliest days of the business.
In 1978, after being unexpectedly laid off from his job in banking, Mike Merrick found himself at a crossroads familiar to many families: start over, or stand still. With a future suddenly uncertain, Mike chose to buy a small window-cleaning route from a local cleaner — about 100 accounts, no fanfare, and no guarantees.
What he did have was work ethic, faith, and the quiet confidence of someone who believed he could build something better.
Linda believed it too.
She has spoken openly about knowing Mike was a hard worker — someone with initiative, discipline, and the willingness to grow a business through effort and persistence. That shared belief became the foundation on which Fish was built.
When it came time to name the business and decide how it would show up in the world, Mike and Linda made that decision together. They chose the name Fish Window Cleaning, believing the opportunity before them was guided by something larger than themselves. And the color red — Linda’s favorite — became the symbol of the business. Not flashy. Not loud. Just visible. Dependable. Hard to miss.
In the early days, Mike did the work himself. He carried the buckets. Cleaned the glass. Built trust account by account. What began as a way to provide and persevere gradually grew into something larger — a realization that this kind of business could create opportunity for others too.
Behind the scenes, Linda’s attention to detail and systematic thinking helped transform a hands-on service business into something that could be taught, shared, and eventually franchised. Over time, processes moved from being stored in Mike’s head to becoming repeatable systems — developed through trial, error, and a commitment to doing things the right way.
As Fish grew, so did the vision behind it.
Mike and Linda recognized something important about blue-collar work and small business ownership: many capable, hardworking people never see a clear path to leadership or ownership. Fish became their way of changing that — by turning a simple, honest service into a scalable system where everyday people could build something of their own, not by cutting corners, but by showing up consistently and following a proven process.
That belief is what ultimately drew me to invest in Fish Window Cleaning.
At first, it was the simplicity and focus of the service. At its core, this business is about helping others look great. But what truly stopped me in my tracks was a message I saw on the wall:
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.
That philosophy has guided my life and leadership for a long time. I knew Fish would help me live out my purpose of helping other business owners, while empowering those who never thought they could level up their lives through leadership or gain more control over their earnings. All of which is woven into our company mission.
Interestingly, red was never a color I was naturally drawn to — except for my heels and my lipstick. In a previous chapter of my life, when I wore those, it meant I meant business. It meant what I was about to do had purpose and would make a difference. It meant I was a force. Red was my color of confidence.
That feeling hasn’t changed.
Today, I’m proud to wear red almost daily. The confidence is still there, but the mission has grown. My focus is helping others shine — through developing our team, serving our community, and fostering connections that help people grow. Fish is one of the ways I get to do that.
And yes, we also make windows shine — because first impressions matter. Whether it’s a commercial storefront, a home being listed for sale, or a place where a family lives and gathers, clean windows quietly tell a story. They say someone cared enough to pay attention to the details.
For me, Fish is about opportunity — created through care, belief, and a genuine love for helping others grow.
When you see a red bucket outside a business or home, you’re not just seeing a brand. You’re seeing a story that began with a favorite color, an unexpected turning point, and two people who believed in each other — and continues every time someone is given the chance to grow, to lead, and to build something meaningful.
Sometimes, the clearest things tell the truest stories.
At Fish, we believe clear windows tell a story of care. If you are ready to brighten your home or business, contact us for a free estimate at (850) 842-2162 or FishWindowCleaning.Com/3249. Or, if you’re looking for an opportunity to grow within a team that values leadership and ownership, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s shine together.
