# 67 - Andy Kurtts from Buttermilk Creative

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2021-07-21
- Length: 48m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-07-21-67-andy-kurtts-from-buttermilk-creative
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/67-andy-kurtts-from-buttermilk-creative-3aa

## Summary

Andy Kurtts, founder and creative director of Buttermilk Creative, discusses his journey from an in-house graphic designer at The Fresh Market to establishing his own packaging design agency in Greensboro, North Carolina. He explains how his experience managing private label packaging for a large grocery chain informed his decision to launch Buttermilk Creative, focusing on small to medium-sized specialty food and beverage brands. Kurtts details the agency's intentionally small team structure, contrasting it with large agencies, and emphasizes the importance of direct client relationships and retail shelf appeal over purely digital channels.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-07-21-67-andy-kurtts-from-buttermilk-creative#t=4) Introduction: Andy Kurtts and Buttermilk Creative
- [4:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-07-21-67-andy-kurtts-from-buttermilk-creative#t=283) Andy's Background: Ringling College and The Fresh Market
- [11:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-07-21-67-andy-kurtts-from-buttermilk-creative#t=696) Transitioning from In-House to Agency Founder
- [18:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-07-21-67-andy-kurtts-from-buttermilk-creative#t=1137) The History and Focus of Ringling College of Art and Design
- [28:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-07-21-67-andy-kurtts-from-buttermilk-creative#t=1692) Buttermilk Creative's Niche: Specialty Food and Beverage
- [34:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-07-21-67-andy-kurtts-from-buttermilk-creative#t=2097) Agency Structure: Small Teams vs. Large Agencies
- [40:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-07-21-67-andy-kurtts-from-buttermilk-creative#t=2447) Fixing Packaging: Budgets and Sustainability

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Buttermilk Creative (company)
- The Fresh Market (company)
- Ringling College of Art and Design (other)
- Wegmans (company)
- Publix (company)
- Pentagram (company)
- Clubhouse (other)

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- [Founders Feature: Lucy Dana of One Trick Pony](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-21-founders-feature-lucy-dana-of-one-trick-pony) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
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## Citing this page

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