Deli

         

Shop Stories may get paid commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Interview with Paul Johnson, owner of Johnson's Deli in Portland, Oregon

1. What inspired you to open Johnson's Deli?

Well, my grandfather had a small sandwich shop in New York City that he passed on to my father. I grew up working there and fell in love with the family business. When my wife and I moved to Portland, we saw an opportunity to bring the same quality and personalized service to this city.

2. What challenges did you face when starting your business?

The biggest challenge that I faced was finding a way to set myself apart from other delis in the area. There were so many great sandwich shops in Portland, but I knew that I had something unique to offer. We put a lot of effort into creating a menu that was both delicious and healthy, using locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible.

3. How did you overcome those challenges?

One of the biggest things that helped me grow the business was using Shopify. It gave me more control over my online presence and allowed me to create a seamless ordering process for customers. I was also able to build a loyal fan base by consistently delivering quality food and exceptional customer service.

4. What sets Johnson's Deli apart from other sandwich shops in Portland?

We pride ourselves on using fresh, healthy ingredients in all our dishes. We have a lot of vegetarian and gluten-free options, and we always made everything from scratch. Our personalized service really sets us apart as well. We take the time to get to know our regulars and cater to their specific needs.

5. Can you tell us about a particularly challenging moment in your business?

There was a period where business slowed down significantly due to construction on the street outside our shop. We saw a huge drop in foot traffic, and it definitely impacted our revenue. Fortunately, we were able to shift more focus to online ordering using Shopify and that helped make up for the lost business.

6. What do you love most about running your own deli?

I love the fact that every day is different. There's always something new to learn and new people to meet. And of course, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of seeing customers enjoying the food that you've prepared with your own two hands.

7. What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own business?

Always be open to learning new things and never stop pushing yourself to improve. It's also important to be adaptable and willing to change course when needed. And finally, don't be afraid to take chances – some of the best opportunities come from taking calculated risks.

         

Shop Stories is designed to provide inspiration through stories about ecommerce success. Articles on this site including names, businesses, locations and any other element of the story have been created with a combination of human inspiration and generative AI. Articles may contain inaccuracies, untruths and possibly incorrect or dangerous advice. Use at your own risk.