Yard Family

Yard family is intrinsically linked to family, friends and outdoor adventures. To encourage the family unit to enjoy a life spent outside soaking in natures beauty, sisters and mums Emily + Alice created the extra large Yard Blanket - a modern, stylish and highly versatile take on the picnic rug. Inspired by nature, these beautifully designed and machine washable yard blankets are big enough for the entire family.

Read how these busy sisters make it all happen with family at the very core of their small business....

About Yard Family

Tell us a little bit about yourself, who is behind Yard Family?

Yard Family is Emily and Alice, sisters and mums. We each have multiple children and live on the Gold Coast, Australia with our husbands and families.

What inspired you to start Yard Family?

We wanted to have a creative outlet for our combined skills and ideas, but also wanted a business that we could fit in with our families and kids. As sisters we were raised in a family where we had very little television and artificial amusement, but were encouraged to use our imaginations, get outside and have adventures, and be active as much as possible. These are all qualities we try to instill with our own children.

We believe that society as a whole needs to get back to the basics of good, old-fashioned, outdoor fun. The family unit benefits hugely from quality time spent together, and there are long-lasting benefits both intellectually and physically for children to be active outside, exploring, playing make-believe, running, jumping, and all good things that can be done in the great outdoors.

Tell us about the Yard Family products?

As a jumping-off point, we designed the Yard Blankets, whose designs capture our love for the

outdoors, as well as incorporate some style and sophistication for the fashion-savvy family.

The size was important for us. We wanted a product that could accommodate a whole family

or large group of friends, or simply one or two people with luxurious amounts of space left

over. We obviously had our own large families in mind when we did this!

Yard Blankets will make a soft spot out of any patch of grass, beach, bench, chair, or even back

patio.The fact that the Yard Blankets are machine-washable is very appealing to busy mums

who want to be able to enjoy a day out, then come home and throw theirs in the washing

machine if the kids have been particularly messy that day. We deliberately did not make the

blankets with plastic backings for this very reason.

Yard Blankets are also very versatile for uses other than on the ground. We have customers

telling us how they use theirs as a nursery playmat, a throw over a chair or bed, or a blanket to

snuggle under on chilly nights.

Yard Blankets are not just ground blankets – they’re very multi-purpose and functional in other

areas too, wherever you need a soft spot or some styling!

Our other launch product is the Rustic Skipping Rope. Again, this was a favorite pasttime we had as kids ourselves, and hours of raucous competition were spent usually with an old rope tied to the fence and mum egging us on. The Rustic Rope is double-length, so all the kids (or adults!) can join in on the fun.

We always hear that ‘kids today need to get outside more’, what is so important about life outdoors?

We could probably give you pages of statistics that show the benefits of an active lifestyle, fresh air and sunshine! With a rise in the incidence of childhood (and adult!) obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic illnesses, it’s clear that there is an increasing need for people to get outside, get active, and enjoy life more. Technology is so readily available and accessable for both young and old now and can by such a time-waster, that there almost has to be a concerted effort make time for the things that never used to be optional generations ago.

What is your creative process when creating/designing your products?

We love our products to be simple, stylish, with neutral colors to be appealing to a greater audience. We really just incorporate what we love ourselves and what we would (and do!) use in our own families. There is so much inspiration in nature, and that is our go-to when dreaming up our next projects!

If you could see any celebrity family enjoying life outdoors on a Yard Family blanket, who would it be?

Perhaps Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban and their kiddies, or to be completely cliché we’d say

Brad and Angelina, because them and their tribe of children would totally showcase how

accomodating our Yard Blankets can be!

A typical day for you involves?

Family is always our priority, so breakfast with the family, school runs, housework, or a morning

at the park with the little ones. Then afternoons or after bedtime is Yard Family time, when the

kids are asleep!

What is the best part about working on Yard Family?

Hearing the amazing feedback from our customers – makes all the hard work totally

worthwhile!

…..and the hardest?

Finding time to get it all done! But as mumpreneurs, our business is most definitely second

place to our famililes. We would scale back before we let the demands of the business

encroach on the needs of our husbands and kids.

What are your dreams for Yard Family? Where would you like to see Yard Family in 12 months/ 5 years?

We would love to see our products on the shelves of some beautiful boutique stores, featured in style magazines, and being enjoyed by thousands of customers world-wide.

What advice do you have for others who are dreaming about starting their own small business?

Go for it. The hardest part is getting started, the second hardest part is keeping on going when things don’t go right. Don’t let the setbacks discourage you. Believe in your brand and people will believe in it too.

Most importantly, how can people get their hands on your products?

Through our website www.yardfamily.com or there is a Buy Now option on our Facebook page Yard Family.

Social Media is so important these days, how can people connect with you?

We’re currently on Instagram @yard_family and Facebook “Yard Family”, and our website has our email details. We are usually very prompt with replies to direct messages through any of these platforms!

About you

Every small business owner is driven by their ‘WHY’, will you share your ‘why’ with us?

We want the family unit and relationships to strengthen and thrive, and we hope that we can

have some positive influence with our brand and ideals.

What is your work/life background?

Emily – I am a registered nurse by occupation. I’ve travelled and lived abroad for many years

and am currently a stay-at-home mum/mumpreneur

Alice – I have worked in retail and interior design and am also currently a stay-at-home

mum/mumpreneur who also helps my husband with his business in the trades.

As busy working mums, how do you find a balance between home life, work life and time

yourself?

Having a daily schedule. Making sure that the time is allocated to accomplish everything that

needs doing each day, and being fliexible when needed.

Who do you look up to? Who inspires you?

The Beach People. They are childhood friends and also mums with families. They have built a hugely successful brand as well as juggle kids and hubbies. We figure if they can do it, we can do it!

When your not working on Yard Family, where would we find you?

Out for a run, at the gym, down the beach, at the playground, and on weekends, exploring the

north and south coasts.

The Gold Coast is blessed with beautiful natural environments, where is your favourite

place to get outdors on the Gold Coast?

Coolangatta/Kirra/Rainbow Bay is our go-to. We also love the Currumbin Rock Pools in the

summer, or Burleigh Heads.

Favourite place to eat on the Gold Coast?

The food scene on the Goldie has taken off, and we are still discovering all the amazing places

there are! Lately we have loved The Loose Moose, Beaches on Kirra, Pig and Pint, Beach Off

Tedder, and Taboon.

What are your favourite Gold Coast made businesses?

Weave and Willow, Beau Hudson, Junior Cooper, Picnic Perfection, Boy Burton Photography.

Favourite quote you live by?

Deuteronomy 28:8 “The Lord shall be with you, and will prosper you in all that you put your hand.” (paraphrased)