Lihtne Rannakalur: how revenue-based financing helps bring seafood from around the world to customers

With many years in the fish business, Margus Metstak knows that success depends not only on fresh produce, but also on reliable suppliers and personal relationships with customers. These are the principles on which he has built Lihtne Rannakalur, his fish shop in Tallinn. To keep bringing customers new flavours and make the most of good buying opportunities, he uses merchant financing offered by MakeCommerce in partnership with SoftLoans.

A passion for fishing led to a fish shop of his own

Margus Metstak is the man behind Lihtne Rannakalur, a fish shop in Tallinn’s Kakumäe neighbourhood. He has 30 years of experience in the fish business. His journey began when friends asked him to help sell fish from Lake Peipus, and later led to supplying cruise ships with seafood.

Fishing was initially a hobby for Margus, but after buying a summer house on Saaremaa, he also became a professional coastal fisherman. Nearly three years ago, he opened a fish shop that brings together decades of knowledge, a love of good food and a desire to offer his customers something special.

Lihtne Rannakalur – more than a fish shop

Lihtne Rannakalur offers fish and seafood from both Estonian waters and further afield, from perch and Baltic herring to oysters, scallops, Faroese salmon and sea bream. The shop also stocks everything that makes a fish dish even tastier: samphire, seaweed, freshly baked bread, sauces, wines and other gourmet products.

For Margus, quality and knowing where his products come from are essential. He deals directly with fishermen and importers and is always looking for new products to surprise his customers. One of Lihtne Rannakalur’s specialities is Knappe Tiden – skinless spiced sprats handcrafted on Saaremaa exclusively for his business. Given as gifts, they have already reached almost every corner of the world.

Alongside fresh fish and seafood, Margus offers made-to-order seafood platters and thoughtfully curated gift boxes.

He wants to be more than just the person behind the counter: a friend who offers not only good sea food, but also advice on how to prepare it.

Good business opportunities call for quick decisions

Selling fish and seafood is a business where fresh stock moves quickly and new orders need to be placed constantly.

Over the years, he has built relationships with fishermen and suppliers around the world. “Sourcing certain speciality products takes consistent communication and earning people’s trust,” he explains.

Alongside good supplier relationships, making the right purchasing decisions is essential. “You can order products from anywhere in the world, but you have to make the right decisions at the right time,” says Margus.

However, it’s not always possible or practical to wait until daily sales bring in enough money for the next order. Buying larger quantities of frozen products or exotic seafood can mean needing some extra working capital. This is where merchant financing comes in.

Merchant financing makes it possible to expand the product range

Before using merchant financing, Margus also looked into business loans offered by banks. However, the traditional loan process proved too slow for his business needs, and the paperwork was burdensome.

When Margus heard about SoftLoans financing available through MakeCommerce, the way the service worked seemed like a good fit, and it did not take him long to decide.

“I’m happy with SoftLoans. Applying for financing is very quick and flexible, and the customer service is friendly,” says Margus.

Revenue-based financing differs from a traditional business loan in that repayments depend on the company’s sales revenue. Instead of a fixed monthly loan payment, the business repays an agreed share of its sales revenue. This allows repayments to follow the rhythm of the business.

Plans beyond Tallinn

Margus is exploring new opportunities for growth and considering opening a fish shop elsewhere in Estonia, such as in Tartu. There is plenty of interest in what he offers: customers travel to Kakumäe for fish and seafood from other parts of Tallinn, as well as places such as Viimsi and Saku.

What motivates him as an entrepreneur is the chance to keep learning, discover new products and try new things. As the business grows, he wants to hold on to what makes Lihtne Rannakalur special: quality products and personal relationships with customers.

Merchant financing from MakeCommerce and SoftLoans

In partnership with SoftLoans, MakeCommerce offers revenue-based financing that businesses can use to replenish stock, make larger purchases or support business growth.

Learn more about merchant financing