Seeking Adventure: How Tyler Johnson Became “The Boot Guy”

Favorite Boot: Right now, my favorite is the 877.  

Tyler Johnson has always sought out adventure. Growing up on his parent’s plant nursery farm, he and his brother built their own dirt bike jumps, building them higher and higher, to find the perfect thrill. 

“We would watch the professionals on tv and see the jumps they were doing,” said Tyler. “As long as we paid for the gas, my parents let us use any of the tractors to build ramps. Once we got bored, we made them bigger.” 

The appetite for adventure has moved Tyler across the US, from Arkansas to Florida, Colorado, and most recently, Texas. 

“When I moved to Colorado, I knew that I wanted to make a career in retail. I was looking for a company where I could plant my roots. I always say that my interview with Red Wing Shoes was the luckiest interview of my life. I found a company that I could grow with.” 

Accepting the position with the Red Wing Shoe Store in Lone Tree, Colorado was perfect for Tyler. He lived just a half a mile away from the store, skateboarding to work each day.

“Ryan Garmers, Region Operations Manager, really took me under his wing. He showed me how I could grow at Red Wing Shoes, how to be a successful salesperson, and grow with a company that I had always been looking for.”

Adventure Awaits: Moving Cross Country

Tyler and his wife, Alicia, knew that a relocation could be in their family’s future, and the couple had been putting off buying their first home together in anticipation of a move, but decided it was time to plant roots in Colorado and in Mid-March 2020, Tyler and Alicia closed on their first home.

The Monday after closing on their home, everything locked down as the pandemic hit. “It was crazy getting moved into our house and trying to navigate the pandemic with two small kids.”

Tyler, Alicia, and their two sons, Deklan and Ronan, began settling into a new rhythm when a region operations manager role at Red Wing Shoe Co. was posted in Texas. “It was the same day my wife started a new job. The ROM position was the job that I had been waiting for. My wife is amazing. She said you have to apply, and we’ll figure it out.”

Tyler was offered the ROM position and the family moved to Liberty Hill, Texas for their next adventure. “I knew this was a company that I could grow and establish roots with. The company believed in me and gave me an opportunity. If we are going to move somewhere, Texas is a great place to raise a family.”

The family of four stayed in a one-bedroom hotel suite with their dog, Remington, as they looked for a new home in a tough housing market. 

“I was going a bit stir crazy in the apartment,” recalls Tyler. “Back in Colorado, I would spend time in a full-blown workshop in my garage so now I needed a new hobby and picked up the banjo. My son Deklan said he wanted to start playing the guitar. I know the fundamentals so now I can help him learn.” Every day before dinner, Tyler and Deklan bond over music and practicing their instruments together.

Now in their new home, the Johnson family is getting back to their roots and loves spending time outdoors and exploring their new city. Their New Year’s resolution is to spend 1,000 hours outside this year. “We love biking around the neighborhood and spend most evenings at the pool. We have about 500 hours outside so far this year.”

Becoming the Boot Guy

“The reason I applied to Red Wing Shoe Co. nine years ago was because of the plant nursery business my parents owned,” said Tyler. Tyler recalls that his stepdad never spent money on himself, but every year he would buy a pair of Red Wing boots.

“I remember him telling me that the reason that he bought Red Wings was because his grandfather bought Red Wings. Farming has always been a part of my life – Red Wing Shoes has always been a part of my life.”

Tyler is bringing together his family’s roots and passion for retail into his ROM position. “I have a lot that I can contribute,” said Tyler. “My current role allows me to have influence on where we are heading as a retail organization and do the things that I enjoy most.”