Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Johnson.
Hi Kevin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
MyBemidji first started out as a side project benefitting residents of the city in 2014. I would photograph events happening in the city, post fun memes, jokes, introduce new businesses and restaurants, etc.
In 2018, we introduced a few hats with our Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox logo, which turned into shirts, then hoodies, and has now grown into over 300 branded products. We opened our first brick-and-mortar store selling Bemidji merchandise in 2021.
All products and graphic design are done by us in house. We also build many of the wood based products ourselves in our shop.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a fairly smooth road for me. The main reason is that I also work full-time as a web developer so I have a second source of income when the retail side is not busy. Whether the shop is busy or not, I am always working.
Opening a retail store during the Covid-19 pandemic was not an easy decision but it has been worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My main business for many years was as a full=stack web developer. Full-stack means I would handle the entire process of building a website from initial client meetings, logo design, graphic and print design, to the front and back-end of the website itself.
Transitioning some of that skill to graphic design intended for actual product manufacturing was a natural process. I get to create as many things as I like, turn my ideas into reality, and put my corny jokes on products for everyone to see.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My dad is my biggest mentor. Growing up he was always also a self-employed artist and despite struggling through the occasional hardship that naturally arises from such a venture, he was never interested in working for anyone other than himself.
Contact Info:
- Email: kevin@mybemidji.com
- Website: https://mybemidji.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mybemidji/
- Facebook: https://fb.me/mybemidji
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/myBemidji
- Other: Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@mybemidji / Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/mybmdji
