Name: Butler Amusements, Inc.
Standort: Fairfield, CA (USA)
Adresse: P.O. Box 2210, Fairfield, CA 94533-0220 (USA)
1006 Travis Blvd, Fairfield, CA 94533 (USA)
Vorsitz: Michael S. Brajevich (Chief Executive Officer 1st unit & President), Sean Butler (Chief operating officer 2nd unit), Lance Moyer (Chief operating officer, 3rd unit)
Gegründet: 1970 (Gründer: George “Bud” Butler und Ehefrau Evelyn zusammen mit dem gemeinsamen Sohn Earl “Butch” Butler). Heute in der vierten Generation im Besitz
Anzahl Fahrgeschäfte: 125
Anzahl Games: Partnerunternehmen
Anzahl Concessions: 10
Reiseroute: Arizona, Kalifornien, Oregon, Washington, Idaho
Webseite: butleramusements.com
Facebook: facebook.com
Instagram: instagram.com
Butler Amusements at 50: Strong Economy, Proactive Fairs & Spectacular Rides
By: Timothy Herrick
Monday, February 24, 2020
The largest California-based carnival company turns 50 in 2020 and the outlook is positive, if the economy remains as strong as it was in 2019 and the weather follows 2018 patterns. As Sean Butler, Chief Operating Officer & Unit Manager of Butler Amusement explains, “2018 was very dry and with the economy starting to boom we had a stellar 2018. In 2019 we had a very wet spring but luckily the summer had some big hits and we set records at most of our fairs from June onward. All in all, a great year. Overall our fair season either matched 2018 or was up slightly.”
Butler Amusements is unique, even among the cadre of the largest carnival companys. The company has a ride inventory upwards of 150 rides and for much of the summer, the company runs three main units, although the units merge for the larger fairs during the summer. The company consistently ranks 4th on Carnival Warehouses' annual list of Carnival Companies playing the Top 50 Fairs, which in 2019 included : Big Fresno Fair, the California State Fair, Alameda County Fair, Kern County Fair, and the Evergreen Fair.
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Typically, the seasons begins in January and concludes in mid-October, followed by a coda of two Christmas events in December.
Tough Start, Good Finish
The second decade of the 21st century was not always as positive as its final years, especially on the west coast, which was ravaged by the Great Recession, and for California especially, plagued by a drought that negatively impacted the state's agricultural industry. “This region was hit pretty hard by the recession a few years ago and it seemed to linger longer,” said Butler. Now, the economy is very strong in California, there are still some cities in the central valley of California that are struggling to recover from the recession. All of our fairs, except for one or two are done with drought restrictions in California, but most of our fair partners have tried to keep control of water waste.”
But as the season begins, like most carnival companies, workforce issues cause the most apprehension. In the 2020 season, the company will employ “340 H-2B employees and around 75 American employees for our rides,” said Butler. “We had to start our 2019 & 2020 season a full month earlier than we ever had in the past in order to secure the employees we need for our season.”
As finding and hiring qualified personnel becomes more challenging, the company has also geared up training and retention programs, realizing that the company growth requires a stable and skilled workforce. “ Our employees are the lifeblood of our company and industry; we have been very lucky to get them,” he said. “Just like any company that has been around for over a generation, we have to train more people to learn positions that some of our core employees have been in for decades. We have had many great new additions to our staff in the last couple of years and we will have to continue to add more as time goes on.”
Fair & Event Security
The other worry – but also a rising cost— of this California company is safety. Security is a nationwide issue but last summer, a mass shooting took place at a small fair in California, sending shockwaves throughout the west coast fair & festival industry. The lethal incident occurred at the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California, a popular fair well-known among foodie circles. The gunman killed himself and three others, and wounded 17 people. Understandingly, increased security measures have been reviewed and most outdoor events are implementing stricter measures and protocols.
“Security at our fairs is becoming very expensive due to local events like the Gilroy Garlic Festival tragedy and the fear of terrorism,” said Butler. “ We endure a portion of the cost of security at our fairs and all of the cost at our still events, which has cut our bottom-line overall.
In honor of the half-century milestone, staff uniforms will feature new designs, with new anniversary logos. What fairgoers might notice more however is a bigger, brighter and more spectacular midway. “We have added a couple of new LED midway signs from Galaxy Amusement Supply as well as many different beautification displays,” he said. “ We will continue to beautify our midways and increase customer experience at our fairs in 2020.”
The spectacular part though, due to fairgoer and fair board's requests, will be most noticeable in the ride inventory. “Spectacular rides are the focal point of most of our fairs,” he said. “The most asked question from our partners is “What is going to be new at our fair this year?” We are focusing on maximizing our larger, more spectacular rides.”
In addition, the 2020 inventory will have six refurbished rides and two key new additions. “We purchased a new Himalaya themed “Hawaiian Express” from Wisdom and a Afterburner 2.0 from KMG.”
The company has also expanded its social media presence for the first season of a new decade. “We hired a team in 2019 dedicated to social marketing and to drive more traffic to our website and to boost attendance our still dates,” he said. “We continue to work closely with our fair partners to support them in their marketing endeavors.”
Half-A-Century
Half a century ago, an earlier generation of Butlers headed west From Minnesota, according to company lore, after George “Bud” Butler along with this wife Evelyn and son Earl “Butch” Butler sold the family grocery store to fund the purchase of a Tilt-A-Whirl. The company is still family owned and according to its website “is now operated with active leadership and involvement from the fourth generation of Butlers.”
And all these years later, midways still have a firm spot in the entertainment landscape of the west coast. “Not only do people want to come out and try new foods and see headline entertainment, but also there is nostalgia to coming to a fair and playing games and riding rides that people love,” he observed.
The longevity of this regional midway provider has a lot to do with its fairs, which possess “a drive to continue to grow and be better. Government employees who want to make their fair a premier destination for costumers is what gives me confidence in the future. We can't wait to see what 2020 has in store for us, but we are so happy to have our partners, employees and customers to share it with.”
Butler Amusements Celebrates 49 Years Providing Midways to the Western United States
Show adds Napa Fair & Fiesta and Tehama County Fair to route
By: Genie Davis
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
2019 will be the forty-ninth year that Butler Amusements, Inc. has served fairs, celebrations, festivals and fundraising events in the Western United States. With a huge array of rides, attractions, games and food concessions, Butler Amusements has been a dominant player in the carnival business in the West for decades. The carnival operates three units, which sometimes split in two each, running as many as six events on any given week.
According to Butler's marketing director Andrea Stillwell, Butler carries about 100 amusement rides and attractions, with each unit carrying 12 - 22 rides each and combining for larger events.
Their ride arsenal includes a Chance Giant Wheel, Turbo, Zillerator Coaster, Ex-Scream Coaster, Mega Flip, and Freak Out, among others.
And among the newest ride offerings are the Speed, manufactured by KMG of the Netherlands. Other new rides include KMG's Inversion; ARM manufacturing's Quasar; and a Wacky Shack funhouse from Owen Trailers. When it comes to food and games, tradition is tops, with food sales of staples such as corn dogs and cotton candy still best sellers, Stillwell attests. Popular games include water races, balloon dart games, and the duck pond, all games with strong classic, family appeal.
Some things do change, however. Stillwell says “We have added two new fairs to our 2019 route: the Tehama County Fair, in Red Bluff, Calif., and Napa Fair & Fiesta in Calistoga, Calif.” The company's season begins in February at the Holtdale Carrot Festival, followed closely by the Cloverdale Citrus Fair this year. Both of these events take place in California. The company's season concludes in October, also in California, at the Desert Empire Fair in Ridgecrest. Throughout the operating season, Butler Amusements moves throughout California, and while many of its venues are located in the state – which is also where the company began; Butler also has dates booked in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington State for the 2019 season.
While among Butler's more unusual venues are the Coalinga, Calif. Horned Toad Derby and the Chandler, Ariz.
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Ostrich Festival, the company's top earners are large fairs.
“We provide the carnival at five of the top fifty fairs in the United States, including the California State Fair in Sacramento; the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif.; the Kern County Fair in Bakersfield, Calif.; the Big Fresno Fair in Fresno, Calif., and the Evergreen State Fair, located in Monroe, Wash.,” Stillwell says, noting that “In 2018, Butler Amusements experienced all time high record ride grosses at 17 of the 36 fairs where we are the sole carnival contract holder.”
The impressive grosses support the company's strong record for earnings at their carnivals; earnings that increase revenue for the locations where they perform, as well. As an example, the Southwest Washington Fair extended the company's contract from 2018 through 2022, so that Butler Amusements will continue to provide carnival games, rides and food that provide increasing revenue for the county.
While rain and heat were deterrents at some of the company's stops throughout 2018, many fairs that Butler provided attractions for had a stellar year, with some, like Big Fresno Fair, posting record attendance. Overall, spending was strong, with grosses for Butler in 2018 that exceeded those in 2017.
The amusement company is seeing some new trends among customers. “We continue to see the trend of customers preferring unlimited ride wristbands verses events that only offer individual ride tickets,” she relates. “Fast Pass is also becoming a more popular offering at many of our larger fairs and events. And lastly, our family rides, which accommodate both adults and children remain popular.”
Four years ago, Butler implemented a cashless system at select events on the unit headed by Mick Brajevich. Butler uses the cashless midway at approximately 15 events including the Central Washington State Fair, San Mateo County Fair, and Evergreen State Fair.
Butler uses Fields Consultant Group (FCGservices.com) to allow customers this option by purchasing chipped smart cards at ticket boxes or self-serve kiosks. Stillwell describes these capabilities as allowing customers to “Choose the ticket package you want, pay using cash, credit, or debit, and receive a smart card with all of your tickets. Keep your receipt in a safe place, and use the smart card to ride rides and play games -- cards are scanned at each ride and each game. You can refill your smart card at any ticket box or self-serve kiosk. You can also track where you used your tickets and check your balance.”
She adds that “Unlimited ride wristbands still work as they always have, equipped with rfid chips.” Those, too, can be purchased at a carnival ticket box and used to ride all the rides guests want all day. Wristbands are scanned at each ride.
“The main benefits of the system include precise ride data reports, customer ease, ride and games both accepting the smart card, customer tracking with receipt - good for lost children, and less error with sales,” Stillwell sums up.
To promote their attractions, Butler relies mainly on social media for advertising, Stillwell attests. “We've expanded our marketing department to include full-time staff dedicated to this endeavor,” she adds.
Key staff members on each unit include Unit Managers and Office Managers, whom Stillwell cites as Sean Butler, Kelley Butler, Gena Tuttle in Sean's Unit; Mick Brajevich, Jesse Bogue, Dean McArter, Sally McClain for Mick's Unit; and for Lance's Unit, Lance Moyer, Manuel Martinez, and Felicia Alexander. “However,” she adds, “we have an extensive management support team including Assistant Managers, Safety Administrators, Electricians, and multiple behind the scenes, experienced personnel.”
The company's main concessionaires, Boguey Concessions, Greg's Family Fun, B. Ellis Concessions and Brian C. Brandon Concessions have travelled with Butler Amusements for over 20 years.
Butler Amusements is one of the largest carnival companies in the Western states, and offers carnivals for a wide range of events from major fairs to smaller festivals. The company is proud of its commitment to both safety and to energy conservation, and emphasizes offering guests the newest rides available, and strives to live up to its tag line of the “cleanest show in the west.” The company began in 1960, when George "Bud" Butler began purchasing games and rides with his son Earl "Butch" Butler. From a small beginning, they owned 130 rides by 1996. Butch Butler passed away in 2011; Mick Brajevich became the current CEO and president of the company.
Butler Amusements as a company has been recognized with the Circle of Excellence Designation by the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, which is given to only a selected group of U. S. carnivals, and the company is proud of that.
“Butler Amusements is a family owned and operated company,” Stillwell stresses. “In 2020, we will be celebrating our 50th year in business. We cherish our relationship with our fair and event partners and continue to make improvements to our operations which leads to excellent customer service.”
Mick Brajevich to Head Butler Amusements
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Mick Brajevich is the new President and CEO of Butler Amusements reports show Marketing Director, Andrea Owen. Mick formally served as the Unit Manager for Butler Amusement’s second largest carnival unit. In addition to operating at many California fairs, his route also includes many of the largest fairs in Oregon and Washington. Mick started his career in the carnival industry in 1976. His experience includes game concession management, lot layout specialist, assistant unit manager and unit manager. Mick also currently serves as a director on the Outdoor Amusement Business Association's board. Mick is the husband of Kris Brajevich who is the second youngest daughter of the company’s co-founder Earl “Butch” Butler. Kris and Mick both own rides and food concessions and have four children, Michelle, Dillon, Jake, and Sydney-Lou.
Other orders being delivered soon are a Afterburner ride for Butler Amusements in 2023, a Speed and Inversion to Helm and Sons, also for 2023, and X-Drive rides for Drew Expositions and NAME to be delivered late this year/early next year and 2023 respectively. A XXL will be delivered to Butler Amusements in June of 2024 and as reported earlier, Wade Shows / Iconic Midway Rides will also take delivery of an XXL in January 2024.
The company is also delivering a massive Speed 32 to Germany.
CW: What new rides will Butler be debuting this year?
SB: We bought a Himalaya and a Century Wheel in 2021 that will be making their debut at many fairs and events this year as well as refurbished our Renegade Funhouse and Cyclone. We are constantly moving rides through our shop and will continue to do so through the summer months.
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