Samuel Curtis Johnson’s Persistence Paid Off: SC Johnson History Has an Unlikely Beginning

Samuel’s first venture — working in the railroads — seemed promising. It was the 1800s and the railroad industry was booming. Samuel took a job helping develop a new railway, even investing half of his salary in the business. His confidence was great, but the company couldn’t keep up. When the business went bankrupt, Samuel lost his job and his savings. 

He turned optimistically toward a new opportunity. Samuel’s next position was as a partner at a book and stationery store. Over a few years, he earned enough capital to buy out his partner. But Samuel’s enthusiasm got ahead of him yet again. The company failed, and he once more found himself looking for a fresh start.

Samuel found his new beginning in Racine, Wisconsin, where he relocated his family in 1882. Nearing 50 years old, he wasn’t your typical employee. But he gamely joined the Racine Hardware Manufacturing Company as a parquet flooring salesman. After four years, he bought the flooring business. 

The rest is SC Johnson history. With only four employees to start, Samuel worked tirelessly, doing his own sales, accounting and management. And it worked. The company showed a net profit in its first year. 

But even more important, by 1898, he had developed a line of floor care products that generated more sales than the entire original flooring business.

Samuel had seen an opportunity that others were missing – wax products to keep new flooring looking great. Though now in his 50s, for the first time, his persistence had paid off. Samuel’s belief in himself and his products resulted in a successful and growing business.