Adelaide Entrepreneur Turns Backyard Gamble into National Brand

An Adelaide entrepreneur who invested his life savings into a start-up selling outdoor blinds to the residential market has grown it into a multimillion-dollar national brand by transforming how Australians use their backyard.

 Colin Kuchel, who founded Australian Outdoor Living in 2005, said he never imagined his business idea would reach the scale it now is, with a presence in five states, a team of more than 197 staff, and more than 95 tradespeople contracted.

 "Never in a million years would I have thought we would have completed more than 175,000 projects and helped shape a new home lifestyle category built around integrated outdoor living," he said.

 "When launching the business, the typical backyard featured a Hills Hoist, a shed and a barbecue on the lawn.

"Most home entertaining happened indoors, except for the occasional summer barbecue with an esky full of drinks.

"I'd seen how restaurants used blinds and clever design to create outdoor areas people wanted to be in year-round, and I knew the same thinking could apply to the Australian backyard."

 Starting with a small shop on Henley Beach Road, Kuchel had two staff members, a blinds supplier in Melbourne, and a single newspaper ad. He received his first customer call within an hour of opening.

 Since its launch, Australian Outdoor Living has expanded interstate and complemented its initial outdoor blinds range with additional products, including roller shutters, pergolas, verandas, decking, artificial lawns, and outdoor kitchens.

 The growth was not without setbacks. Early quality and logistics problems with a supplier led Kuchel to establish Universal Blind Assembly, which still manufactures exclusively for the company and invests in outdoor blind technology innovation.

 By the time Kuchel retired from day-to-day operations in 2016, the business had grown from a three-person start-up to one of the country's most recognisable outdoor living brands.

 Chief Executive Chris Taylor stated that the company's next phase is focused on sustainability and smart technology.

 "Colin built a business on quality, customer service and innovation, and those values continue to drive us," Mr Taylor said.

 "The next 20 years will be about maintaining these values and creating outdoor spaces that are not just beautiful but sustainable and smart, keeping the Australian backyard at the heart of the home."

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Australian Outdoor Living - 20 Years in Numbers

• Founded: 2005, Adelaide, SA
• Founder: Colin Kuchel
• First location: Small shop on Henley Beach Road, Adelaide
• Employees: 197
• Contracted tradespeople: 95
• Showrooms: 6 branches
• Projects completed: 175,000+
• Product range: Outdoor blinds, roller shutters, pergolas, verandas, decking, artificial lawns, outdoor kitchens
• Manufacturing: Universal Blinds Assembly - exclusive supplier, founded to ensure quality control
• Estimated annual revenue: $60.3 million