Jim Stewart, owner and creator of Shred & Butta a thriving renovation business based at Marsh Farm in Surrey. Jim and his team have over 80 years of combined experience, in building and converting epic vehicles, shops and creative spaces. In 2022 Jim fronted the new six-part series Full Metal Junkies on Discovery, which saw Jim and his team of ace angle grinders and craftsmen make people’s dreams come true. From converting an American school bus into a luxury hotel, a transit van into a mobile barbershop and creating a mobile wakeboarding camper van that defies the laws of physics (and storage space). Jim's crazy ideas combined with the everyday happenings and bantor in the yard made this series so much fun to watch. You may also recognise Jim from the Johnny Vegas Carry On Glamping show for Channel 4 where Jim and his gang of vintage bus enthusiasts created the country's coolest glamping site out of old, repurposed vehicles.
Jim’s story started with a desire to get invited to some really good Snowboard parties and events. When Jim decided to set up a snowboard wax brand called Butta he had very modest aspirations but as the only UK board wax brand Butta took off. Within months Butta was sponsoring some of the UK’s best snowboarders including Olympic medalist Billy Morgan with demand for the product becoming insatiable….and indeed Jim was invited to every event going.
To keep up with demand for Butta while on the road touring Ski Shows, Jim created his own Breaking Bad style bus for ‘cooking up’ his wax. The bus started to get a lot of attention from other adventure sports brands thanks to it’s practical set up perfect for showcasing products at tradeshows. Jim was approached by a representative for the surf brand O’Neill who asked if he could create a surf showroom allowing them to take to the road. It was the beginning of a relationship that would see Jim travelling and working with O’Neill for the next few years – but more importantly it was the start of life working professionally on vehicle conversions. The concept of Shred & Butta was starting to fall into place…
Soon demand and focus began to shift and over the next few years one project led to another allowing Shred and Butta to build an incredible portfolio, working for a number of major brands including Hasbro, Casio, GoPro, Nandos and O’Neill. More recently Jim has developed a niche in importing and converting traditional-style American School buses offering further opportunities for Shred & Butta to build on it’s reputation through projects with Dinoski, Ben and Jerry’s and the National Literacy Trust.
At a time when remote working and staycation concepts are booming, business for Jim is busier than ever and his flexible, open-minded and creative approach to the changing travel market, has allowed them to thrive when others are struggling to stay afloat. Future plans involve a focus on quirkier staycation conversions – planes, boats, helicopters…if he can get his hands on it he’ll adapt it. Jim also hopes to continue to build relationships with the glamping industry offering high-end, versatile and unusual accommodation conversions.
Jim has built up a vast client list and portfolio over the years converting skoolies, airstreams, trucks, vans and containers for a range of projects. From mobile cookery schools to cutting-edge glamping facilities, pop-up shops for the White Shirt Company, show rooms for G-Shock and One Piece, a roof-top hot tub, surf showrooms, mobile music venues, and a Nerf battleground.
Turns out, sometimes the best ideas blossom from the desire to get into the best parties!
Credits Include:
Full Metal Junkies (Presenter, Expert, Discovery)
Carry On Glamping (Expert, C4)
Shred & Butta (Owner)