By Taylor Tryon, Tumwater High School Intern to ThurstonTalk
The entrepreneurial spirit found in small business owners across the nation is a key trait in achieving the “American Dream.” While they may seem few and far between these days, success stories of this nature are out there. Some can even be found right in our backyard. Johnson’s Smokehouse, tucked away in East Olympia, exemplifies a small family business finding success through hard work and dedication here in Thurston County.
Established in 1983, it began as a side job while founder Ron Johnson worked as a meat cutter at Colonial Meats. Ron began crafting his now locally renowned products only on the weekends, then on the weekends and weekdays after work, slowly progressing towards making it a full time job.
He and his wife worked together cutting and wrapping the meat, setting the tone for a family-oriented business. From this point on everything just fell into place for the Johnsons. They began making sausages, which Ron calls “a lost art.”
Through word of mouth from those who had tried and loved his products and slow but steady business connections, Johnson’s Smokehouse and Sausage Kitchen began to establish itself in the local small business community. However, what they really credit for getting the ball rolling was offering their products at the Olympia Farmer’s Market. “It really just gave us the exposure we needed,” shares Johnson.
Today, the Johnson kids primarily run the business, something that happened naturally. “My son wanted to stay and work for the business,” Johnson explains. Thirty-two years in, Johnson’s Smokehouse products can be found in many retail outlets such as WinCo and locally at Bayview Thriftway. Products are shipped all across Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, and even Alaska. They also run their own truck routes from Everett to Portland, transporting their meats across the Pacific Northwest. Yet however many business connections Ron has made throughout the years, he still credits the direct consumers with the success of the company. “Without the people who buy the product and love it, none of it could have happened,” he says.
The tale of the Johnson family’s small business success is one of many interconnections that would have never formed without the consistently high quality products they produce. In the Johnson’s opinion their most-loved product is their trail mix, which they plan to market even farther afield in the near future. (By the taste of the package they sent home with me, this is a campaign I can certainly get behind.) Their most underrated product, they share, is their Swiss and Ham sausage. Ron believes it’s the combination of the ingredient names that makes it less popular. “It just throws people off,” he explains.
Without a doubt, the Johnson’s busiest time of year is the holiday season. With their proven family recipe and home-grown feel, they’ve naturally gotten more business during the holidays when people are entertaining or looking for locally produced gifts. This eventually sprouted the idea of a tree farm. Ron says it was his eye for the opportunity to cross-market, noting the free land he had, and knowing there was a market for locally-grown, U-Cut trees. Once the tree farm was in place, the smokehouse became the one-stop Christmas destination it is today. For the holiday season Johnson’s offers multiple gift-boxes for anyone on your list.
Sausage Box ($13.99) – One Each: Summer Sausage, Smoked Cheddar Cheese, Smoked Pepperjack Cheese, and Honey Mustard
Old World Sampler($29.99) – One Each: Ronnie’s Salami, 10 oz. Pepperoni, 7 oz. Smokehouse Jerky, Snack Pack
Variety Gift Box ($29.99) – One Each: 7 oz. Smokehouse Jerky, 7.5 oz. Mild Peppersticks, Summer Sausage, Smoked Cheddar Cheese, Smoked Pepperjack Cheese, Honey Mustard
Sausage Sampler ($24.99) – One Each: Jalapeno Cheese Sausage, Teriyaki Summer Sausage, Summer Sausage, Smoked Cheddar Cheese, Smoked Pepperjack Cheese, Honey Mustard
Grand Slam ($49.99) – One Each: 7 oz. Smokehouse Jerky, 7 oz. Teriyaki Jerky, 7.5 oz. Mild Peppersticks, 7.5 oz. Teriyaki Peppersticks, 7.5 oz. Fire Peppersticks, Summer Sausage, Teriyki Summer Sausage, Jalapeno Summer Sausage, Smoked Cheddar Cheese, Smoked Pepperjack Cheese, Honey Mustard
Johnson’s Smokehouse & Sausage Company
8212 Diagonal Road SE
Olympia, WA 98501
360-459-8169
