Our Brand Story

My name is Reina Blocker and I am the owner of Butters by Janelle. For years I've a dream of running a small business. I was never given details of what the business is, but I just knew I was meant to be an entrepreneur. I was taught young to work for somebody else, make a life for myself, and that was it. Entrepreneurship was not mentioned as a source was not mentioned as part of the equation. The original dream of mine was to become a CEO, but that takes years, almost my whole life of working under someone else, living out their dreams in spite of my own. Corporate america became boring and dull to me when I figured out that I was trading hours for dollars to flourish a business that I wasn't passionate about while neglecting my own business ideas and thoughts. So, I started experimenting with a few businesses and they would flop. I would either have the money from working to get started and no time or time to walk out my ideas and no money. It was a never ending cycle and I was frustrated and overwhelmed. Around 2022, I gradually started working on an idea that I told myself I wouldn't give up on no matter the outcome. It was body butter. The desire to have my own business was burning and I couldn't snuff it out no matter how focused I became at work or dedicated I thought I was at my job. I would dream of having a business. I gave body butters a go and told myself that if it didn't work out, this was product that could still be used at home so nothing would go to waste. By this time Janelle, my daughter, was 3. I wanted to show her another way that hadn't been taught to me until I looked up to see that there was more to life than working for someone. I had something to prove to her and I wanted her watching. I poured what little time I had into my ideas and began making plans to share them and see what others' thought. I made it all the way to sign up for shows and then I got nervous. After some coaxing and wasted money, I followed through at the end of 2022 and I was hooked! I love sharing my products and ingredients with others and seeing how they reacted. So I did more shows and officially May 2024, I was laid off from my corporate job and I became a real business! I had never made it this far and I wanted to keep going. I want to keep going. Join us as we walk this business out whether through social media or newsletters or in-person at events. I have something to prove and I refuse to give up!