Last month I was lucky enough to catch up with some old friends, Jim Stewart and Dan Soane and interview them about their product and brand… BUTTA! Here’s how it went…..
RW: For the few people outside the industry who have not yet heard of Butta and its products, please can you provide an introduction to what it is all about?
BUTTA: Butta is our brand, the most amazing thing that has happened in our lives. What started as one eco wax has grown and turned into the greatest family and lifestyle brand ever! We started with a vision of producing greener waxes, protecting the mountains and the techs from the high flouro waxes out there, but as we have grown we have taken on new challenges and products, spreading across not only snow, but now skate and surf.
RW: When did Butta first launch?
BUTTA: November 2011 was our launch date, but we’d been working hard in my dads garage before that perfecting recipes
RW: Butta was the brain child of Jim Stewart and Dan Soane AKA Burns, how did you guys meet and what was the inspiration behind Butta.
BUTTA: We met through mates back in 2002 ish? We were both into our VW’s and used to cruise to shows together, then we went off on season back in 2005… that’s where the journey started I guess.
RW: How and why did Dan get the nick name Burns, I’m just being nosey?
BUTTA: Its along the lines of toilets, lads holidays and The Simpsons….. we’ll leave it there.
RW: Butta is now recognised as the leading ski/snowboard wax brand in the UK, what is the secret behind the success?
BUTTA: We’re not giving away secrets… but some advice would be to get yaself out there, we love the industry we are in, its our life, we put our brand in the eyes of the consumer, whether that’s being technicians for top events, or setting up a stand outside a bar and doing free hot waxing. I think we have had great success with the image, branding and personality of our brand too.
RW: You now offer a wide range of products including brushes, scrapers and apparel. Which one(s) are your favourite and why?
Jim… Definitely the new graphite wax, and the snap back caps, I’m a cap connoisseur!
Dan… I’m all about the surfwax at the minute and the sweatshirts!
RW: Butta now sponsors an array of snowboarders and skiers. Can you tell me a little more about the Butta Ski and Snowboard team and what you look for before sponsoring a rider?
BUTTA: Not a team, its our family…. All our riders are so important to us, they are the faces of our brand. So we do look carefully when selecting riders. Its important they carry themselves as well off the slopes as on!
RW: What does the Butta brand receive from having sponsored riders (exposure, branding etc.) and what do you expect from your team?
BUTTA: Exposure is key here…. We just had a load of riders at the Brits in Tignes and so far we have about 5 medals! All riders on podiums repping are gear too! (also proves the wax works!)
Its also good for us to be able to support these guys, help them with their career!
RW: Butta has now ventured into the surf wax and skate wax market, can you tell me a little bit more about that?
BUTTA: We both grew up surfing, so it was natural progression to turn our focus to the oceans once we cleaned the mountains!! Its another great sector of the action sports industry we both love
RW: I know both of you are avid snowboarders, what is your favourite resort and why?
Jim… Val d’Isere will always hold a special place in my heart as its where I did my seasons, but there’s many others I love… Morzine, LAXX
Dan… Val d’Isere, again because of being ‘seasoned’ there! And I love a bit of the stash in Morzine.
RW: You have recently expanded the Butta empire and now also run Shred and Butta. Please can you tell me a little bit more? What it’s all about and how it started?
BUTTA: Shred and Butta grew naturally from Butta. Its an agency that is set up to help build and develop new and existing brands in the action sports industry. Whether that’s through PR, Sales, Events or creative design etc. We had such success with Butta and people that helped us within the industry, that we wanted to offer the same service back!
RW: You’ve had amazing success over the last few years, what’s next for the brand(S)? Can you give me any exclusive info on your latest product/project?
BUTTA: Building tour buses seems to have been big for us, so look out for the new Butta PRO team tour bus that will be hitting the surf and snow starting this summer with our riders! Other than that, we will always be developing new waxes and adding to the apparel range! So just keep following us!
RW: Finally, when and where is your next mountain trip?
Jim… Morzine on the 12th April, then Kaunertal for Spring Break in May!
Dan… Same, wherever the business goes… we go!
RW: THANKS GUYS!!….. Any room in the van for one more for Spring Break?
To find out more about Butta, Shred and Butta and of course Jim and Dan check out their websites: www.butta.co.uk and www.shredandbutta.co.uk you can also drop them an e-mail. Or you can contact us here at Ski In Luxury via email or by calling 0044 (0)1202 203650 and we can put you in touch.
