To tell this story, we need to go back to the beginning.
Back to when we were trying to find our feet with commercial products.
We’ve always been keen to celebrate our hometown of Grimsby, and Chris thought it would be funny to create a plaque featuring one of Grimsby Town Football Club’s most iconic chants. But in all honesty, he hadn’t expected them to sell. They were – it’s fair to say – a little bit of a joke, that he threw together in the run-up to Christmas 2024.
Then, we went on holiday. Whilst away, we shared a story that they were available (they’d actually been in the shop a few weeks by this point) and it was re-posted by In Good Hands (previously The Original Emporium).
Before we knew it, all of the plaques on our shelf had sold out and we started taking orders. We got so many orders whilst we were away, I had to create a spreadsheet to keep up with them all. It was absolute chaos, and in the year since Chris first had the idea, they continue to be our biggest seller.
The problem? Some people don’t “get it” and aren’t too impressed with the language:
Apparently the phrase “We Piss On Your Fish: is “not funny”, it’s also “not big, and it’s not clever”, and apparently it definitely should not be displayed in the shop window.
We appreciate that swearing of any kind, is never going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but the implication seems to be that if one person is offended by it, then we should stop selling it.
But the thing is: this one product outsells every other product we currently offer, combined! The idea of removing it because a few people are offended by it, is a little bit absurd, in all honesty.
Of course we never set out to upset anyone with this product; it is literally an iconic chant of our local football club. So, anyone who is offended by it, definitely isn’t going to be the target audience for this product. And that’s okay. We can’t please everyone, and with this product, we’re definitely not trying to.
The thing that does baffle us, however, is why people feel the need to express their hatred towards this simple and let’s face it, harmless product. And why they feel the need to express it so loudly.
We’re of the opinion that if it’s not your thing, that’s okay, just carry on with your day, as long as it is not hurting anyone.
Fancy buying one of our deeply offensive We Piss On Your Fish plaques? Grab one now from our shop 🙂