Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 16/02) - Karl Lust has no idea how many buildings and homes in Yellowknife contain lumber from Johnson's Building Supplies.

"Quite a few," he says. After 57 years in business, who's keeping tabs?

Karl Lust, principal owner of Johnson's since the mid-1970s, takes a stroll through the domed expanse of the store's lumber warehouse. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

Lust was hired at Johnson's as a cabinet-maker in 1956. About 20 years later, he took over the company.

Oscar Ivar Johnson started the company as a construction business in 1945. Like many of Yellowknife's earliest enterprises, its roots were humble. There was no grand opening sale, no billboards, or flyers in the mail. The original building was a hastily erected tent-frame at the edge of Yellowknife Bay.

The company grew from there and remains one of Yellowknife's last cornerstone enterprises.

Generous employer

Johnson, who passed away more than 10 years ago, was more than just an employer, says Lust. He was a valued role model whose methods later served as the template for Lust's own approach to conducting business.

"He was the most gentle and understanding person I ever met," says Lust. "He always provided Christmas presents to all the employees, helped out with cash advances, or whatever personal requests that were required."

Johnson's generosity was obvious to Lust from the beginning.

Fours years after immigrating from Austria, Lust was in Winnipeg, Man., but his eyes were looking northward. The news coming out of Yellowknife was that there was plenty of opportunity for young, able-bodied men. This was confirmed when a friend living in the North paid a visit.

Lust's friend said he had just the place for the experienced cabinet-maker.

"He said, 'if you want to come along, why don't you write Johnson's and see if they have some work for you,'" recalls Lust. "I did that, and he (Johnson) sent me an airline ticket."

Airline tickets were no small expense in those days, considering Johnson had not met his newest employee. But that was the trust and faith Johnson held out for his staff, says Lust.

Johnson also extended credit when Lust wanted to build a house. It wasn't long before Lust was made supervisor of construction.

Change in direction

Up until 1968 a large percentage of Johnson's business was in construction. They built the town's first curling rink, the original Stanton hospital, and other Yellowknife landmarks.

After finishing work on the Cunningham building, Johnson decided not to pursue anymore construction bids, and focus on wholesale supplies.

"We use to stock up in the summer to keep us going in the winter months," says Lust. "We always carried a large amount of inventory to keep the construction going, and the other firms were asking if they could buy supplies. That's how we got into the supply business."

"There was a severe shortage in qualified subcontractors, and some new construction firms had come to town," says Lust. "We felt since we were in the business of supplying construction firms, we shouldn't be in construction."

It was the same year Johnson's store moved into its present location on Franklin Ave. The old store across the street became the wood shop.

Business was still good during the late 1960s, but with the completion of the Mackenzie Highway in 1961, there was more competition to worry about.

"We were definitely much busier before the other firms came in, and the Mackenzie highway, because other suppliers then began shipping up inventory," says Lust.

Lust attributes the company's survival to its good name and dedication to service.

"I think mainly service is the most important thing to keep the business going, and fair pricing, and maybe a little hard work."

Company changes hands

The reputation built up by the company's founder was good enough reason to keep the name when Johnson retired and sold the company to Lust and another partner in 1971.

A few years later Lust bought the majority of shares in the company and become principal owner.

After living in Yellowknife for years and getting to know many residents, moving from employee to business owner was relatively easy.

"You pretty well greet them as friends," says Lust. "Because a lot of the customers are long-time residents, and an important part of the community."

"We supply communities throughout the North, Iqaluit and the outlying communities," says Lust. "The farthest I ever shipped was a few hammers to Japan.

"A contractor from Yellowknife was building a church in Japan, and he couldn't get the right sized hammers, so he asked me to ship a few over."

Getting customers what they need, whether it be lumber, paint, tools or nails, has always been a source of company pride, says Lust. If they don't have it, they will find a supplier who does.

The long familiar reindeer atop the store roof got its home from such a request.

"The reindeer was something I ordered for a customer but he moved away. So I put it outside, but people kept destroying it," Lust says laughing. "So I put it on the roof, but even then people knocked the horns off."

Business for the future

Lust is uncertain how long Johnson's will remain a part of Yellowknife's business community. Hopefully, as long as the town lasts, he says. However, he realizes nothing is forever.

Lust has one daughter who lives in town, and grandchildren, but is unsure whether they may want to take over the business one day.

Although some employees have stayed with the store for several years, he says keeping staff is not always easy. The store has about 10 employees at any given time, but it is difficult to compete with wages being offered for jobs at diamond mines and exploration camps.

But Lust is happy that he and Johnson's are still around after so many years.

"At one time I thought I didn't have a choice but to retire," says Lust. "I had a couple of heart attacks four years ago, but things got better and I was able to go back to work.

"I enjoy what I'm doing. I enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the North. It's got a beautiful atmosphere that I haven't seen anywhere else before."