Open Air Business October/November 2018

GLAMPSITES
We have evolved our product
over the years to what you see
today. This has been for many
reasons and planning has certainly
been a factor. For example, our
flooring looks very permanent
and solid but is actually very
transportable. The yurts also lend
themselves very well to being
mobile - as their original nomadic
routes demanded.
Every nut and bolt has been
meticulously thought about and
managed in order to maintain only
the highest standards of safety and
quality for our guests and partners.
How did you finance the project?
Did you use any grants?
We wish! Back when we started we
didn’t really have any support from
banks or grants and diversification
wasn’t the buzzword that it is
today. We set our first site up in
the Langdale Valley with two yurts,
a personal loan and a wing and a
prayer… By the end of the first year
we knew we were on to something
very special indeed.
“OUR ETHOS
IS TO CREATE
AMAZING
SPACES IN
AMAZING
PLACES, GIV-
ING PEOPLE
THE ABILITY
TO DISCON-
NECT FROM
ALL THE
STRESSES
OF LIFE AND
RECONNECT
WITH EACH
OTHER”
How did you work out your
brand and how do you publicise
yourself?
We didn’t have any previous
marketing experience so we
learnt everything as we grew, but
unfortunately not always the easy
way. We went on lots of courses
and were selected to take part in
a government funded programme
about seven years ago called the
Growth Accelerator. We were paired
with a business specialist who we
worked with extensively to build
our brand from the ground up.
The journey we went on and the
brand we have created has formed
the backbone of our business and
filters every decision we make.
How would you describe your
ethos?
Our ethos is to create amazing
spaces in amazing places, giving
people the ability to disconnect
from all the stresses of life and
reconnect with each other. We
offer “holidays with a breath of
fresh air”.
How did you choose your interior
decoration?
Our spaces needed to be unique
and flexible. We needed to have a
space that was authentic, colourful
and comfortable. Quality is at the
heart of Long Valley Yurts and our
interiors reflect that too. We have
hand-picked authentic antique
furniture, installed cosy log burning
stoves, chosen beautiful Moroccan
rugs and lanterns, hung twinkling
fairy lights… it is definitely a
luxurious experience.
What challenges have you faced?
Probably as many as any small
business faces, one of which was
trying to create a ‘trend’ that no
one had heard of. Trying to drum up
support, convincing newspapers to
write about a new trend that was
going to sweep the UK market off
its feet!
Our supply chain was almost non
existent in the early years. We have
had to work tirelessly over the last
10 years with all our suppliers to
create something environmentally
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 47