Early Days
Johnson Wax, owned by billionaire and avid sportsman Samuel C. Johnson Jr. diversified in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this growth, Johnson acquired a boat engine and fishing reel manufacturer in Minnesota.
Growth
The Johnson family and management split the fishing and recreational divisions into separate companies in the mid-1980s. In 1987, Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc., went public at $15.50 a share.
Expansion
In the 1980s, in addition to its fishing products and reels, Johnson was making Eureka tents, Minn Kota boat engines, Camp Trails camping equipment and Old Town canoes.
Overseas
Keeping its focus on fishing reels, at the end of the 1980s, Johnson acquired S.A. Mitchell Sports, a fishing reel manufacturer based in Cluses, France. Mitchell Sports had been renowned for its Mitchell 300 fishing reel.
Today
Johnson streamlined its production focus in the late 1990s. Fishing reels and products remained its mainstay, with divisions for canoe and kayaks, diving equipment, outdoor equipment, and outdoor clothing. Johnson reels continue to be one of the cornerstones of its product line.
Article Written By Eric Cedric
A former Alaskan of 20 years, Eric Cedric now resides in California. He's published in "Outside" and "Backpacker" and has written a book on life in small-town Alaska, "North by Southeast." Cedric was a professional mountain guide and backcountry expedition leader for 18 years. He worked in Russia, Iceland, Greece, Turkey and Belize. Cedric attended Syracuse University and is a private pilot.
