Meet Lauren Ritchie | Co-Founder of Yugen Vans

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Ritchie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
AUTHENTICITY! From the very beginning, our business started from genuine passion and a commitment to family.

The story goes- For years, I fantasized while working my corporate 9-5 about a dream of buying, converting, and living out “van life”. I took PTO and went to Europe with my boyfriend and another couple where the 4 of us lived in a van for 3 weeks while driving down the coast of France, Spain, and Portugal. It was 2 weeks of serendipitous adventure and a feeling of freedom. It was LIVING; the kind of living you know you would be proud of when your time in this life comes to a close.

I came home from that trip with some courage and quickly found a used 2019 Ford Transit. After signing the sales contract and being handed the keys, I hopped in my new adventure mobile and called the best general contractor I know, my dad. I explained to him that we were about to have ALOT of quality time together because I just purchased a “project”. Over the next year, we began slowly converting the van together; creating memories I would always cherish and not yet realizing we were creating so much more. Mid-conversion, I blew out my knee and had surgery which also put a damper on our van conversion work. My dad being the selfless person he is, brought the van to his house and worked on it after work every night and every weekend until it was done! WE COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW BEAUTIFUL IT TURNED OUT. His custom woodwork was better than most vans we saw being sold. My boyfriend Steven started joking about how we should sell it. I couldn’t imagine selling my new baby! We decided that we would let destiny decide and put the van up for sale for what we thought was a silly price. 3 days later, the van title was signed over to its new owner that flew in all the way from UT and I was holding a $100k check. OUR VAN BUSINESS WAS BORN.

My mom is queen of being fearless. Her “let just do it and see what happens”, “everything always works out just fine” perspective has led to my parents having the courage to shut down their prior company’s operation, they sold their contractor vans, and built out a tiny HQ van warehouse in their garage. I’ve continued to work my corporate America job to keep financing our new little business while running operations and sales (but see a bright light at the end of this tunnel), my brother comes to help on his day off every Sunday and is working to learn all of my dad’s skillsets, and my boyfriend and sister write the blogs and take the photos.

My passion for adventure and freedom brought us to vans; my dad’s skilled wood working & gift at paying attention to the details creates the most beautiful vans; and our family’s commitment to helping one another ALWAYS has brought us to where we are today. And that is why Authenticity if the most important factor to our success and small brand.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I selected Other because I am an employee for an incredible startup, Hippo, that went public (guess we can’t call it a startup anymore). I have had a career in the insurance industry for over a decade that has provided me with incredible opportunities and skillsets that filter into my personal startups.

I also have Yugen Vans that is in infant stages.

And lastly, but definitely not least important, I work closely with my boyfriend on his very successful startup called PARKIT that rolled out as a direct to consumer brand in 2021 as well.

NONE OF IT HAS BEEN EASY! However, it is so incredibly worth it. We truly feel that we are creating our dream life. 2 of my greatest lessons- Having courage is never convenient so stop waiting and saying “yes” is almost always a good idea. Both of our brands- PARKIT and Yugan Vans are mirrors of what we are passionate about in life.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The answer to my first question really highlights this! My family unit is to thank- my parents, boyfriend, and siblings alongside their significant others all play a massive part in supporting, encouraging, and putting in elbow grease to make it possible.

Instagram: vanbuildouts

Other: vanbuildouts@gmail.com