SNEWS Qs: Steve Kitto, Liquid Hardware
The subject of this week's SNEWS Qs is Steve Kitto, owner of bottle company Liquid Hardware.
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Steve Kitto, Owner
Victor, Idaho
Tell us about your brands and products.
Liquid Hardware is a company with soul. Our Cyclical Flow Philosophy promotes sustainable awareness and we value a balanced lifestyle. Our product, the Outrigger 25 oz. bottle, comes in eight different colors, is crafted of food-grade stainless and comes complete with our patent-pending Quick Stick Lid.
What were you, as the founder of the company, doing before this?
I was a studio furniture maker with a showroom at the base of Teton Pass in Victor, Idaho. This railroad remnant building is now the headquarters for Liquid Hardware.
Where did your inspiration come from?
I have a challenging kidney condition that forces me to constantly drink water. One day, while hydrating profusely, I dropped a water bottle lid under my gas pedal.
What’s the one best feature of your product?
Our magnetic Quick Stick Lids.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Manufacturing. I tried to produce the bottles in the states, but the retail price for one bottle would have surpassed $100, so I had to move production offshore for now — emphasis on for now.
What are some companies you’d like to compete against?
The heavy hitters: Kleen Kanteen, CamelBak, Nalgene and a plethora of little guys, too.
–Compiled by Ana Trujillo
