Meet Carissa Johnson | Luxury Picnic Owner & Nonprofit Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carissa Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carissa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always wanted to create something myself, that I can be in complete control of and build how I want. Building a business is hard work, stressful, confusing, but also extremely rewarding to see your dreams come to fruition. Life is too short to be doing something you don’t love and aren’t passionate about.

My background is in marketing and event planning, so I love creating memories for people. My luxury picnic business fits perfectly with my passions. There wasn’t anything like this in my community, so I took a leap of faith to start something I knew there was a market for.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own a luxury picnic business in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I was the first and currently only luxury picnic business within Eastern Iowa. I elevate the traditional picnic experience to create a magical experience. At Boujee Picnic, we provide a low standing table, rug, pillows, table decor, bluetooth speaker, games, customizable sign, and set-up, tear down your picnic. We help clients choose what location within the Cedar Rapids area and do all the work to create that picnic experience. I genuinely love meeting everyone who books a picnic with me. It makes me heart soar when someone supports my small business!

This summer I will now be able to offer picnics for larger groups of 6-10 people. My husband built me two new tables this winter and I am so excited to continue to grow my business. I am also going to be offering “pop-up picnic” where we will set-up at a designated location for the majority of the day, and provide time slots for people to book.

Cedar Rapids is a very supportive community and I felt the love and support from the moment I launched my business. Social media and referrals have really helped get my name out there. I launched in September of 2021 and that fall I did 25-30 picnics. A challenge I am finding now is continuing that momentum after a break during the winter. It is almost having to re-launch to get back on people’s minds as the weather warms up.

I started this business on somewhat of a whim. I saw the idea originally done in Arizona and thought “Why couldn’t I do that in my city?”. Several months later, I randomly went to Hobby Lobby one day a bought pillows and a rug and said to myself “I am going to do this and if it fails, at least I tried and I will have some cute pillows out of it”. I have found so much joy out of creating these picnics for others and cannot wait to see how a full season of picnics go.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I going to say that this will happen in the summer, because Iowa… hah

There is actually a lot more to do in Iowa and specifically Cedar Rapids, than most people think. A few “must-do” items would be a hike on Mt. Trashmore – the view of the city are amazing, do a bike ride on one of the many bike trails in the city, Kernels baseball game, take some of the e-scooters or e-bikes on a ride around downtown and stop at a few bars. A hidden gem right outside of Cedar Rapids is Prairie Patch Farms, which is a llama farm that has been events to interact with the llamas. There are also many great museums in the area, including the African American Museum, The National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library, History Museum and more. You also can’t forget about live music. There are many bars and restaurants that have live music several nights a week or you could definitely buy tickets to a show at the McGrath Amphitheater – an outdoor near the river, Alliant Energy Powerhouse or CSPS in the Newbo District. Cedar Rapids also has ax throwing, an indoor go-cart track, or an indoor market called Newbo City Market that houses start-up, local businesses as an incubator.

As far as places to eat and drink go, I could go on and on! A few favorites would be Map Room, Cliff’s Dive Bar, hip-stir, Local Pour Street Food, Bari Italian, Cobble Hill, Caucho Rodina, 30Hop or The Bohemian for a great rooftop option. Almost Famous Popcorn is a staple for popcorn or ice cream. Coffee shops are a must when visiting and there are so many great options including, Dash, Brewhemia, Craft’d, Stillwater, and Feedwell.

So many things to do and explore in Cedar Rapids!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Besides the support of my core group of friends and family, I owe a major shoutout to my husband and my sister. They have been there for me and my business every step of the way. They help me pack up my car with my picnic items, set-up and tear down the picnics, give me advice when I need it and challenge me to be better and always think outside the box. Without their support, I know my success wouldn’t be as great as it is now.

Website: https://www.boujee-picnic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boujeepicnic_/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Boujeepicnic

Image Credits
Randi Lea Photography