Fish New England Sits Down with James Hamilton, founder of GuideHire
This week, Fish New England had the pleasure of speaking with James Hamilton of GuideHire about his company and his experiences with and perspectives on the outdoor industry. James is a passionate outdoorsman with an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for getting others involved in the many outdoor opportunities that New England offers. James founded GuideHire in 2014 to help people interested in guided outdoor experiences to connect with outdoor experts in a variety of different areas ranging from charter fishing to skiing to hunting. James has been blazing new trails in the outdoor industry ever since launching GuideHire, and had some perspectives to share on the state of the business today and where he sees it heading in the future.
How did the idea for GuideHire come about?
The idea for GuideHire sprung from a deep connection with and love for the outdoors. I definitely have to thank my parents and grandparents for helping to instill that passion in me. The "a-ha!" moment happened while I was sitting at my desk in Denver, trying to book a fly fishing guide to show me around the different fisheries in the Front Range. It wasn't that there was a lack of options - there are tons of fly shops in and around Denver. It's that there was no way for me to judge the quality of the guides & get a feel for what the experience would be like. There also wasn't an easy way for me to book the trip without making a blatantly non-work call at the office, which I wasn't stoked about. So, I got to thinking...the modern consumer uses marketplaces for just about every major purchase, why not outdoor guides & instructors? The price-tag is often comparable to a flight, and the experience is extremely personal.
What types of experiences can people book through GH?
Fish New England would like to thank James Hamilton for taking the time to sit down with us and for supporting our efforts in the fishing community. Keep GuideHire top of mind for the next time you're looking to book a guided outdoor adventure - they have something for everyone! We'll look forward to keeping an eye on GuideHire and James as they continue blazing new trails in the outdoor industry!
