Burt Shavitz, namesake and co- founder of Burt's Bees has passed
July 6, 2015 2:36 PM Subscribe
Burt's Bees (SLYT) Ingram Berg Shavitz, known as Burt Shavitz, was an American beekeeper and businessman notable for founding the Burt's Bees personal care products company with businesswoman Roxanne Quimby. Burt's likeness is featured on the Burt's Bees products.
Burt was born Ingram Shavitz on May 15, 1935 in Manhattan and was raised in Great Neck, New York. He changed his name in 1953 when he finished high school and spent time in the Army. Later, while living in Manhattan, he took photographs that appeared in Time and Life magazines.
Shavitz eventually settled in Maine, discovered beekeeping as a source of income and met Roxanne Quimby, who would sell his wax candles at local fairs. An increase in sales and production led to them launching Burt's Bees in the 1980s. As the partnership and business grew, operations were set up in North Carolina in 1994. Soon thereafter, the partnership between Shavitz and Quimby waned, leading to Quimby buying out Shavitz's stake in the company. In 2007, Clorox purchased Burt's Bees for more than $900 million.
A documentary film, Burt's Buzz, was released in 2014. The film discussed the life of Shavitz, his history with Burt's Bees, and his later activities as a beekeeper and businessman. Shavitz died yesterday in Bangor, Maine, from respiratory problems.
His rise to success was filled with strife, but Shavitz was able to enjoy his twilight years without electricity or running water in the backwoods of Maine with his three beloved dogs. He'd occasionally hit the road to promote the Burt's Bees brand at special events for Clorox.
Burt was born Ingram Shavitz on May 15, 1935 in Manhattan and was raised in Great Neck, New York. He changed his name in 1953 when he finished high school and spent time in the Army. Later, while living in Manhattan, he took photographs that appeared in Time and Life magazines.
Shavitz eventually settled in Maine, discovered beekeeping as a source of income and met Roxanne Quimby, who would sell his wax candles at local fairs. An increase in sales and production led to them launching Burt's Bees in the 1980s. As the partnership and business grew, operations were set up in North Carolina in 1994. Soon thereafter, the partnership between Shavitz and Quimby waned, leading to Quimby buying out Shavitz's stake in the company. In 2007, Clorox purchased Burt's Bees for more than $900 million.
A documentary film, Burt's Buzz, was released in 2014. The film discussed the life of Shavitz, his history with Burt's Bees, and his later activities as a beekeeper and businessman. Shavitz died yesterday in Bangor, Maine, from respiratory problems.
His rise to success was filled with strife, but Shavitz was able to enjoy his twilight years without electricity or running water in the backwoods of Maine with his three beloved dogs. He'd occasionally hit the road to promote the Burt's Bees brand at special events for Clorox.
🐝
posted by the man of twists and turns at 2:45 PM on July 6, 2015 [15 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 2:45 PM on July 6, 2015 [15 favorites]
"A good day is when no one shows up and you don't have to go anywhere", he says in the documentary - hell yes!
I hope I'm lucky enough spend my declining years in cranky, cruddy rural splendor like Burt.
posted by ryanshepard at 2:46 PM on July 6, 2015 [8 favorites]
I hope I'm lucky enough spend my declining years in cranky, cruddy rural splendor like Burt.
posted by ryanshepard at 2:46 PM on July 6, 2015 [8 favorites]
I forgot to add, the part about his past life in photography is simply mind blowing. "Wait, he was that big? He took those photos?!"
posted by Atreides at 2:47 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by Atreides at 2:47 PM on July 6, 2015
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posted by Bringer Tom at 2:50 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by Bringer Tom at 2:50 PM on July 6, 2015
In 2007, Clorox purchased Burt's Bees for more than $900 million.
"Burt's Bleach" should be a product.
posted by thelonius at 2:50 PM on July 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
"Burt's Bleach" should be a product.
posted by thelonius at 2:50 PM on July 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
The company has a hand-cream that I use and its the only hand cream I've ever used that doesn't leave me with a greasy feeling on my hands after usage. A fascinating individual with a varied life.
posted by Fizz at 3:14 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by Fizz at 3:14 PM on July 6, 2015
As a North Carolinian, I've been a fan of their products for 20 years. When we lived in Durham, we knew people who worked there before the Clorox buy-out--it seemed like a pretty good place to work overall. They still make good stuff.
posted by hydropsyche at 3:18 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by hydropsyche at 3:18 PM on July 6, 2015
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posted by Gelatin at 3:36 PM on July 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Gelatin at 3:36 PM on July 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
Big thank you from my lips. I switched to ChapStick for a (misguided) period of time out of nostalgia for an ex. But even then I knew Burt's was my one true balm.
posted by sallybrown at 3:49 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by sallybrown at 3:49 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
the partnership between Shavitz and Quimby waned, leading to Quimby buying out Shavitz's stake in the company.
That's probably the most generous way one could dream up to describe what really happened to old Burt.
I watched that documentary with Mrs. allkindsoftime, and exactly what she thought would happen, happened. I walked away incensed with Ms. Quimby for the lowlife, backstabbing, outright greed and thievery that clearly robbed Burt of what was rightfully his. A pox on that woman and all her ill-gained fortune.
I hope Burt gets the exact opposite of the warm spot in hell that is reserved for people like her.
posted by allkindsoftime at 4:06 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
That's probably the most generous way one could dream up to describe what really happened to old Burt.
I watched that documentary with Mrs. allkindsoftime, and exactly what she thought would happen, happened. I walked away incensed with Ms. Quimby for the lowlife, backstabbing, outright greed and thievery that clearly robbed Burt of what was rightfully his. A pox on that woman and all her ill-gained fortune.
I hope Burt gets the exact opposite of the warm spot in hell that is reserved for people like her.
posted by allkindsoftime at 4:06 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
The architectural firm I used to work at in Raleigh prepared schematic drawings for a new production facility for them. I was an intern then so didn't go to the meetings with Roxanne.
But, I was tasked with the schematic drawing and the non-production part of the building was based on hexagons....a new intern's false dream come real. For some reason they didn't build the facility....
He seemed to be out of the main picture at that time but I'll always have a happy memory of my brush with "fame'. Thanks, Burt.
posted by mightshould at 4:13 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
But, I was tasked with the schematic drawing and the non-production part of the building was based on hexagons....a new intern's false dream come real. For some reason they didn't build the facility....
He seemed to be out of the main picture at that time but I'll always have a happy memory of my brush with "fame'. Thanks, Burt.
posted by mightshould at 4:13 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by Smart Dalek at 5:05 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:05 PM on July 6, 2015
When I was very small (2 or 3) Burt would come around and ask people if he could put his bees on their land for awhile. This was in Garland, ME.. Quimby came along somewhere around the same time and provided the business drive and sense to do it. Burt never cared that much, so as much as Quimby was a bit of a back-stabber, it's a bit of a "who cares".. especially given that a large amount of money that Quimby ended up with is being used to preserve forest land in the State of Maine (good article here for anyone interested in the fight between her and the 'forest tourists' aka snowmobilers, 4wheelers, etc).
posted by mbatch at 5:18 PM on July 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by mbatch at 5:18 PM on July 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
The documentary also mentions that his relationship with his wife soured after he had an affair with a college student when he was in his 60s or 70s. That transformed his image, in my mind, from an eccentric weirdo to an entitled lecherous man.
Maybe the company was rightfully his and maybe it wasn't, but that's a shitty thing to do to his wife. Regardless, he seemed happy enough with his life, so I'm not sure what he would want with another zero on his paycheck.
posted by Turkey Glue at 5:21 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Maybe the company was rightfully his and maybe it wasn't, but that's a shitty thing to do to his wife. Regardless, he seemed happy enough with his life, so I'm not sure what he would want with another zero on his paycheck.
posted by Turkey Glue at 5:21 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by gusandrews at 5:43 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by gusandrews at 5:43 PM on July 6, 2015
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posted by oceanjesse at 6:06 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by oceanjesse at 6:06 PM on July 6, 2015
About 13 years ago when I was launching a soap company, he gave me a recipe for lip balm, and gave me the name of another old hippy in my area that kept bees. He had great stories, and was a hell of a guy, and I'm both sad at his passing, and sad at the way the hitchhiker he picked up and turned into a zillionaire cut him and his family out of their rightful inheritance. I hope his heaven has lots of trees and flowers and is filled with his buzzing friends.
posted by dejah420 at 6:13 PM on July 6, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by dejah420 at 6:13 PM on July 6, 2015 [6 favorites]
We recently discovered at work that every single person in the office had a tube of Burt's Bees lip balm on them. It's great stuff.
🐝
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:35 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
🐝
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:35 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Sure, she kept all the honey but she gave him beads
"BEADS???"
posted by Sys Rq at 6:45 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
"BEADS???"
posted by Sys Rq at 6:45 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
The colored lip balm is good for everyday not-too-girliness color.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 6:49 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by bitter-girl.com at 6:49 PM on July 6, 2015
Had no idea they were actually Clorox until his passing, and his bio. /R/, just not as keen on the stuff as gifts anymore; being big corporate and all.
Gotta admire the individual; very real in his actuality.
posted by buzzman at 7:17 PM on July 6, 2015
Gotta admire the individual; very real in his actuality.
posted by buzzman at 7:17 PM on July 6, 2015
The Bangor Daily News had a nice write-up, which includes a video of Burt talking about his early days in NYC and his photos, some of which are seen in the video. He was an interesting fellow, that's for sure.
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posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:03 PM on July 6, 2015
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posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:03 PM on July 6, 2015
I have worked for npos in Maine for more than a decade, and have had the pleasure of working with both Ms. Quimby (whom I respect in a lot of ways) and, separately, Burt (he was never Mr. Shavitz to anyone). As some may know, Ms. Quimby has a huge philanthropic footprint here in Maine.
While I understand the angst around idea that Burt was somehow defrauded when they split, I have never come away from a meeting with Burt feeling anything but complete contentment from him. This was a man who was able to live exactly how he chose. He had enough to provide for himself, and then some. He was a wonderful, kind, gentle, articulate, thoughtful, eccentric man who lived a life much larger than is implied by his woodcut visage on the tins of balm.
If you watch the video in the BDN obit you will really get a sense of him. I'm always amused by people who are surprised that he doesn't talk like an old Mainah. He spoke, and thought, like the well-educated NYC man he was.
Being wealthy doesn't necessarily mean having lots of money. By any measure, Burt Shavitz was one of the wealthiest -- and happiest -- men I ever met.
posted by anastasiav at 8:29 PM on July 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
While I understand the angst around idea that Burt was somehow defrauded when they split, I have never come away from a meeting with Burt feeling anything but complete contentment from him. This was a man who was able to live exactly how he chose. He had enough to provide for himself, and then some. He was a wonderful, kind, gentle, articulate, thoughtful, eccentric man who lived a life much larger than is implied by his woodcut visage on the tins of balm.
If you watch the video in the BDN obit you will really get a sense of him. I'm always amused by people who are surprised that he doesn't talk like an old Mainah. He spoke, and thought, like the well-educated NYC man he was.
Being wealthy doesn't necessarily mean having lots of money. By any measure, Burt Shavitz was one of the wealthiest -- and happiest -- men I ever met.
posted by anastasiav at 8:29 PM on July 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
🐝 .
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 9:30 AM on July 7, 2015
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 9:30 AM on July 7, 2015
The Washington Post remembrance has some more salacious details:
posted by peeedro at 10:24 AM on July 7, 2015
His life changed in 1984 when he encountered Roxanne Quimby, a single mother and graphic artist, who also enjoyed the simple life. She was hitchhiking when he gave her a ride. The pair clicked.Way to go Burt.
“She was man-hungry,” he told the New Yorker, “and she and I, by spells, fed the hunger.”
...
By 1994, the company had relocated to Durham, N.C. Product development was Quimby’s responsibility, supervising retailing was his. But he claimed that he was forced out within a few years, following an affair with a young store employee. He got a house in Maine and about 50 acres, valued at about $130,000.
posted by peeedro at 10:24 AM on July 7, 2015
It's nice to hear the first hand stories and soften my apoplectic position on Ms. Quimby just a hair. Thanks everyone.
Godspeed to your beehive in the sky, Burt.
posted by allkindsoftime at 3:03 PM on July 7, 2015
Godspeed to your beehive in the sky, Burt.
posted by allkindsoftime at 3:03 PM on July 7, 2015
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posted by Atreides at 2:43 PM on July 6, 2015