People’s Champion finalist 2018: Yurts for Life

Start-up name: Yurts for Life
Founders: Sacha Macey
Started in: September 2014
Based in: Totnes, Devon
Business description: Manufactures traditional Kyrgyz-style nomadic Yurts

Shortlisted category:

Export Business of the Year

The Yurts for Life story:

Yurts for Life is more than just a company name for this start-up, it “becomes a rally cry, a call to action, a movement that forms the foundations of our philosophy, or as we like to call it, ‘Yurtology’ – the driving force behind everything we do”.

This Devon company is a full-service Yurt manufacturer, maintenance, hire & events company.

70% of its business comes from the direct sales of these Kyrgyz-style Yurts, which consist of a “lovingly” crafted, hand-made timber frame and tailored canvas to order. It also provides initial ground-works, site consultation, business advice, design assistance.

In order to “protect the limits of the planet’s environment and resources”, Yurts for Life only uses locally-sourced ash timber from English woodland.

Medium and large Yurts can also be rented to give a unique twist to outdoor events such as weddings, parties, and festivals.

Yurts for Life has achieved exceptional growth of 2,400% in four years and has clinched commercial clients including the National Trust, RSPB, Canvas Hotel Norway, SuperShe Island Finland, Riverford Organic, Farley Outdoor Nursery School, Yoga Garden, Kingston Estate, and Riverside Lifestyle.

Having already penetrated the Scandinavian market, new business prospects are already developing in the US, Portugal, Australia, Vietnam and Latvia. In fact, 30% of its total growth have come from exports in the financial last year alone.

Behind it all is Sacha Macey, a passionate entrepreneur with high-ideals and even higher aspirations.

Her efforts have landed her a slot on the highly-competitive Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Programme and she’s even been asked to be a Rural Business Ambassador.

Why Yurts for Life made our shortlist:

In essence, Yurts for Life is about getting close to nature and promoting sustainable, affordable, low-impact lifestyles: Yurtology.

It’s clear from the start-up’s early growth that consumers are responding to this philosophy, and with a ever-expanding international presence, this message is being spread around the world.

Where to find out more about Yurts for Life:

Website: www.yurtsforlife.com
Twitter: @Yurts4Life