Today I’m speaking with Buttnski founder Kelly Mazanti. After leaving her corporate life in 2017, Kelly founded a brand design & strategy company, Pier Collective, which she ran for five years between LA and Breckenridge. She is an alumnus of the CU Boulder Leeds School of Business with a degree in Marketing & Management. She recently had the opportunity to participate as a Capstone partner with the CU Boulder Master's of the Environment program. Facebook​ ​Twitter​ ​Instagram​ Love the show? Subscribe, ​rate, review, and share!​ Sign up for my Newsletter ​HERE​ I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: ​[email protected] Brought to you this week by Thrive Market Show Notes 04:53 Skiing memories shape who I am now. 09:10 Skiing, eighties shorts, parents in Colorado. 09:43 Woman keeps old fleece shorts for warmth. 15:27 Supplier flexibility allowed working with local and overseas. 17:18 Family and friends supported our business launch. 21:47 Learning new things, like dealing with customs. 25:20 Thrilled to partner with smart master's student. 27:44 Using local eco-friendly company for packaging materials. 29:27 Customs issue with sourcing animal products. 32:43 Learning the high cost of building a business. 37:25 Developing product line with local designers, prototypes. 41:18 Exciting event at Arapahoe Basin with free riders. 44:16 More women supporting each other in sports. 46:05 Advice: be prepared and buckle up. 46:45 Favorite Piece of Outdoor Gear: Tire Repair Kit with Bacon and Noss Tire Sealant Favorite Book: Let My People Go Surfing, by Yvon Chouinard; Losing and Finding My Virginity by Richard Branson   Thanks for listening, and don't forget to subscribe and spread the word! Learn More You can follow up with Kelly and Buttinski on Instagram and their website Buttnski.com Next Steps If you enjoy interviews devoted to the outdoor industry, find us online at ricksaez.com/listen. We love likes and comments, and if you know someone who is also an outdoor enthusiast, go ahead and share our site with them, too. And be sure to Subscribe to our newsletter Keywords #small business, #retail partnerships, #local brand, #online sales, #brand awareness, #bootstrapping, ski resorts, #women's products, #winter sports, #summer activities, #outdoor industry, #sustainable materials, #local manufacturers, #eco-friendly Podcast produced using Descript, CastMagic Podcast hosted by Libsyn use code 'outdoorbizpod' for 20% OFF Show Notes powered by Castmagic Website powered by Wordpress Note: As an Affiliate of Amazon and others, I earn from qualifying purchases.