Sami Tipi
Sami Tipi is a family-run UK event hire company (founded 2012, Derby) renting authentic Nordic tipis, sailcloth tents, marquees, and stretch tents for weddings, corporate events, and private parties across the Midlands region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSwardeston, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Sami Tipi does
Sami Tipi is a family-run outdoor event structure hire company founded in 2012 and based in Swarkestone, Derby, United Kingdom, serving customers across the Midlands within a 90-minute travel radius. The company rents authentic Tentipi Nordic tipis, sailcloth tents, traditional marquees, and stretch tents for weddings, corporate events, and private parties, complemented by an extensive catalogue of furniture, lighting, flooring, generators, and decorative accessories. Customers transact directly via phone, WhatsApp, website forms, or in-person open-day showcases; bookings require a 25% deposit with the balance due 14 days prior to delivery, and most packages are quote-based, though new 2026 Garden Party tiers offer fixed inclusive pricing.
The underlying product is the physical tent inventory sourced exclusively from Tentipi (a Lapland-based Nordic manufacturer), with Sami Tipi holding ANTA Gold membership and MUTA approval. The business has completed 890+ events serving over 87,000 people and accumulated 160+ Google 5-star reviews. Ancillary revenue streams include on-the-day wedding management, an Amazon 5-star rated planning book ('The Ultimate Guide to Planning an Outdoor Wedding'), and a commission-based honeymoon/corporate travel service (Lulua Travel) operated by co-founder Craig under the Not Just Travel brand.
Commercial differentiation rests on a five-time Regional Wedding Industry Award winner status and three National Best Marquee Provider titles, combined with a curated supplier referral network ('Sami's Friends'), Ecologi carbon-offsetting partnership, and an unusually high-touch direct sales motion involving free planning consultations, VIP event invitations, site visits, and dedicated planning meetings. The company is privately held by founders Craig and Jodie with no external investment or parent entity.
Sami Tipi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sami Tipi
- Legal name
- Sami Tipi
- Website
- https://samitipi.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sami Tipi is a family-run UK event hire company (founded 2012, Derby) renting authentic Nordic tipis, sailcloth tents, marquees, and stretch tents for weddings, corporate events, and private parties across the Midlands region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sami Tipi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Event Structure Hire
- SIC
- Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tent & Canopy Rentals (HSACAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Yurts, Tipis & Nomadic Tents (THAMADAD)
Keywords
Where Sami Tipi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Swardeston
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sami Tipi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tipi and Tent Rental: Rental of Nordic tipis, sailcloth tents, marquees, and stretch tents for outdoor events including weddings, corporate events, and parties. Pricing varies by structure type and configuration. Balance payment due 14 days prior to delivery with 25% booking deposit.
- Furniture and Equipment Hire: Additional rental of furniture (tables, chairs, benches), lighting (festoon, fairy lights), and special touches (disco balls, fire pits, bars, ceremony arches). Prices range from £4.20 for folding chairs to £525 for relaxed furniture set with open fire.
- Event Setup and Planning Services: Full setup and breakdown service included in hire, plus optional on-the-day management services. Planning consultation and meetings included.
- Travel Services (Lulua Travel): Personal travel consultant service for honeymoons and holidays, launched by Craig as part of Not Just Travel brand. Commission-based travel booking with ABTA and ATOL protection.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Little Hat Tipi Garden Party Package |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Chill-Out Tipi Garden Party Package |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Giant Hat Tipi Garden Party Package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Festoon Walkway Lighting |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Nordic Pine Table |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bamse Indoor Fire |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Disco Ball with Spotlights |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Sami Tipi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sami Tipi is a family-run outdoor event structure hire business that rents authentic Nordic tipis, sailcloth tents, traditional marquees, and stretch tents for weddings, corporate events, and private parties across the UK Midlands. The hire is bundled with full delivery, professional setup and breakdown, planning consultations, optional on-the-day management, and a wide range of furniture, lighting, and event equipment add-ons.
Product overview
Sami Tipi is a family-run outdoor event structure hire company offering four core tent products: Nordic Tipi Hire (available in nine size configurations from one to six Giant Hats plus chill-out options), Sailcloth Tent Hire (two to four pole configurations), Marquee Hire (three size options), and Stretch Tents. These structures serve as blank-canvas venues for weddings, corporate events, and parties. The company provides an extensive portfolio of add-on services including furniture hire, event equipment (generators, toilets, lighting), wedding day management, decorative special touches (festoon lighting, neon signs, bars), clear frontage options, and intimate garden party packages. Supplementary services extend to honeymoon travel planning through Lulua Travel, an Amazon-rated wedding planning book, and open showcase events. The product ecosystem is completed with glamping partnerships and a curated network of recommended suppliers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 5-star rated on Google with 160+ reviews and 40+ on Facebook
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sami Tipi
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sami Tipi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Sami Tipi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.
- Tentipi Nordic TipiscoreSole supplier of authentic Nordic tipis manufactured in Lapland. Tentipi develops unique water-repellent materials and provides rigorous safety testing with structural calculations. Sami Tipi insists on authentic Tentipi products and is a member of ANTA (Authentic Nordic Tipi Association).
- EcologicoreCarbon offsetting partnership where Ecologi plants 10 trees for every event completed and funds ecological projects. Part of Sami Tipi's commitment to becoming a carbon neutral business.
- MUTA (Marquee and Tent Association)coreUK's only trade association dedicated to marquees, tents and structures. MUTA membership ensures safety standards, professional practices, and industry recognition.
- Lulua Travel (Not Just Travel)minorPersonal travel consultant service launched by Craig, offering honeymoons, holidays, cruises, and corporate travel. Part of Not Just Travel brand with ABTA and ATOL protection. Provides referral network for wedding customers.
- Sami's Friends NetworkmoderateNetwork of recommended suppliers including photographers (Magda K, Chris Terry, Megan Wilson, Darren Cresswell, Jessica Coates, Grace Nicole, Rosie Kelly), caterers, celebrants, florists, entertainers, and other wedding suppliers. Actively promoted to customers for comprehensive event planning.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sami Tipi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Posh Tipi: Posh Tipi is a UK tipi hire company specializing in authentic Nordic tipis for weddings, parties, and corporate events. It competes head-to-head with Sami Tipi in the outdoor wedding and corporate hire segment with a similar product and pricing structure.
- Stretch Tent Hire UK: World Inspired Tents is a stretch tent hire specialist providing flexible outdoor structures for weddings and events. Comparable to Sami Tipi through overlapping stretch tent product line and wedding/corporate customer base.
- Teepee Tent Hire (Teepee Events): A UK tipi and stretch tent hire specialist serving weddings, corporate events, and private parties. Competes with Sami Tipi on authentic Nordic tipis and event furniture hire, particularly in overlapping UK regions.
- Country Tipis: Country Tipis offers giant hat tipis for weddings and events across the UK, providing a comparable blank-canvas outdoor venue solution. Directly comparable to Sami Tipi in product type, customer segment, and service model.
- Big Chief Tipis: Big Chief Tipis provides authentic Nordic tipi hire for weddings and events across the UK. Directly comparable to Sami Tipi in product offering, target customer (wedding couples), and event-driven service model.
- PapaKåta: PapaKåta is one of the UK's leading Nordic tipi and sailcloth event hire specialists, offering authentic tipis for weddings and corporate events across multiple UK regions. It is the closest direct competitor to Sami Tipi given its premium positioning, authentic Scandinavian structures, and similar wedding and corporate customer focus.
- Happy Events UK: Happy Events is a UK tipi and stretch tent hire business serving weddings and parties with authentic Nordic tipis and related event infrastructure. Compares directly to Sami Tipi on product mix, customer base, and full-service hire model.
Regional players
- Riverside Tipis: Riverside Tipis is a UK tipi hire company focused primarily on weddings and events in northern England. Similar product (Nordic tipis) and customer segment as Sami Tipi, but operates in a different geography with limited Midlands overlap.
Others
- Tentipi (Nordic Tipi Manufacturer): Tentipi is the Swedish manufacturer of authentic Nordic tipis that supplies Sami Tipi and other UK hire companies. While not a competitor, Tentipi is the upstream technology and product partner whose supply and product innovation directly shape Sami Tipi's competitive offering.
Emerging players
- Cap Marquees & Tents: Cap Marquees is a UK tent and marquee hire operator serving weddings, parties, and corporate events. Comparable to Sami Tipi in event hire category and customer segments, though typically positioned at a lower premium price point.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sami Tipi social profiles
Digital presenceSami Tipi compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Sami Tipi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sami Tipi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sami Tipi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sami Tipi M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sami Tipi
What does Sami Tipi do?
Sami Tipi is a family-run outdoor event structure hire business that rents authentic Nordic tipis, sailcloth tents, traditional marquees, and stretch tents for weddings, corporate events, and private parties across the UK Midlands. The hire is bundled with full delivery, professional setup and breakdown, planning consultations, optional on-the-day management, and a wide range of furniture, lighting, and event equipment add-ons.
Is Sami Tipi a public or private company?
Sami Tipi is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sami Tipi founded?
Sami Tipi was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sami Tipi based?
Sami Tipi is headquartered in Swardeston, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Sami Tipi make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tipi and Tent Rental is the primary driver. The others are furniture and Equipment Hire, event Setup and Planning Services and travel Services (Lulua Travel).
Who are Sami Tipi's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Posh Tipi, Stretch Tent Hire UK, Teepee Tent Hire (Teepee Events), Country Tipis, Big Chief Tipis, PapaKåta and Happy Events UK. Riverside Tipis is listed as a regional player. Tentipi (Nordic Tipi Manufacturer) is listed as an others. Cap Marquees & Tents is listed as an emerging player.
Does Sami Tipi have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sami Tipi.
What industry is Sami Tipi in?
Sami Tipi's product category is Outdoor Event Structure Hire. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACAFAA, Tent & Canopy Rentals, with a secondary code of THAMADAD, Yurts, Tipis & Nomadic Tents. Its SIC code is 7359.