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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2021)
8 JUNE 1, 2021 Smoke Signals The cooler side of things Tribal member Gene LaBonte launches outdoor business By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer KALAMA, Wash. – Grand Ronde Tribal member Gene LaBonte has always thought of himself as an entrepreneur. “I’ve had small side businesses that have been profitable,” he says on Saturday, May 22. “They paid for things like gas money and oth- er extras, but I wanted to create something that would really be profitable.” While Gene was off work last spring after the pandemic shut- tered Ilani Casino in Ridgefield, Wash., he began looking for some- thing to fill his time. Instead of sitting indoors, he chose to be outdoors. Living near the Kalama River provided ample recreational opportunities, so he took up fishing. “I wanted a nice cooler to take along, but then looked into buying a Yeti (cooler) and couldn’t believe how expensive it was,” he says. “They were no less than $300.” Gene, 37, began researching the outdoor industry and came across an article that noted it was expect- ed to double in business by 2025 due to the pandemic. That’s when the idea of creating his own outdoor gear busi- ness was born. He ran the idea by his wife, Ashley, a deputy clerk with the Cowlitz County Superior Court. They began brain- storming potential busi- ness ideas and names. “I really wanted to cre- ate a custom fishing rod, but did the research and there is already a busi- ness like that in this area, so I started looking into custom coolers and fig- ured we could add other products later,” he says. “When I reached out to manufacturers, I really saw the potential profit- ability and also a way to offer cus- tomers a cooler that would compete with the Yeti at a lower price point. I thought to myself, ‘What could kick a Yeti’s butt?’ Then it came to me: Godzilla. We shortened it to Zilla and hired a graphic designer to make a logo. They did multiple markups until we both liked it.” Ashley and Gene are partners in every sense of the word, right down to the font used on their logo. “We both had to agree on which font we liked before moving for- ward,” Ashley says. “We got our first cooler prototypes in June and instantly fell in love. Then, we got the ball rolling and hired a website designer and launched our company on Oct. 1. Most of our advertising so far has been through word of mouth and social media marketing.” Currently, Zilla offers three different coolers sizes, which can be utilized for everything from a long road trip to camping to keep- ing freshly caught fish. All Zilla coolers feature up to three inches Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez Ashley LaBonte looks on as her husband, Tribal member Gene LaBonte, demonstrates one of the bottle openers on a cooler at their Kalama, Wash., home on Saturday, May 22. They started a business, Zilla Outdoor Authority, in April 2020 to design and sell coolers aimed at people who enjoy fishing, hunting and camping. Their coolers have cup holders, a bottle opener and scales to measure fish. Ashley LaBonte goes over the interior of one of the coolers that includes a dry goods basket and a divider that is also a cutting board that she and her husband, Tribal member Gene LaBonte, designed. of foam-filled insulation, which keeps items cold for up to seven days, and include bottle openers on each side, a cutting board that can also be used to separate drinks and food, a basket to hold breakable items like eggs and a leak-proof drain plug. The Zilla 75 also has wheels for easier transport. The coolers range in price from $179 to $300 and come in 10 different colors. Ashley and Gene’s vision for the company is to continue to provide affordable outdoor gear while also giving back to organizations that helped make their dream a reality. Since Gene is an enrolled Tribal member, Air Force veteran and leukemia survivor, they will be giving a portion of proceeds to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, United Service Organization and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. “Life is a journey for us all, and if it were not for the support of family, friends and special organizations, Zilla Outdoor Authority would never exist,” their website states. “Zilla Outdoor Authority will al- ways strive to provide our custom- ers with an irreplaceable service through outstanding customer service, unmatchable passion, pro- found integrity, and the highest attention to detail, which will leave people with no other option than to purchase Zilla products. We look forward to your support and joining us on this journey.” The couple is hoping to grow their business to the point where it truly becomes a family organization, eventually employing their five children, who range in age from 5 to 14. “I’m hoping to not have to work for anyone else but ourselves,” Gene says. “We live near one of the most popular recreation areas in the Northwest and are hoping to utilize that.” Eventually, they hope to add tents, fishing rods, tumblers, rafts and inflatable paddleboards to their product line. “We also want to have an actual storefront and create our own sport- ing goods store,” Ashley says. “We have tried to make our prices com- petitive, and our cooler quality is very good as well as quite durable.” So far, the most popular size is the 25-quart cooler, although some customers seem partial to the 75-quart with wheels. “We are actually pretty equal when it comes to sales,” Gene says. “We did sell more 75s, but we also had more product.” Gene says that his experiences in the Air Force and having beat cancer in his 20s contributed to his entrepreneurial drive. “The Air Force helped straighten me up, helped me become an adult and pay more attention to detail,” he says. “It just made me a better person overall. My battle with leukemia helped me appreciate life a million times more and also helped me to be more willing to try new things. I feel like I have been given extra time and should make the most of it. The experience really humbled me and I enjoy the little things in life more.” He added, “Buy a Zilla. You won’t regret it.” For more information about Zilla Outdoor Authority, visit www.zilla- coolers.com, which includes links to social media channels. For a Grand Ronde Tribal mem- ber discount code, contact gene@ zillacoolers.com or ashley@zilla- coolers.com. n