By Adelaide Clarkson

Hunting, fishing, and camping are just a few of the pastimes that sparked Miles Clarkson, my dad, to begin a new chapter of his life and career in the fire pit industry.

It all started one crisp fall evening when Clarkson and a few friends were sitting around an old fire pit at our house, listening to music and catching up. All of a sudden, it was difficult to enjoy the night. The dense smoke blowing from the ash was causing everyone to shift their seats around to prevent smoke from getting in their eyes and causing their clothes to smell. This evening sparked the idea for Clarkson’s new ambition. 

When Clarkson was younger, he spent most of his free time outdoors. He cherished weekends camping with his dad and brothers through the YMCA’s Y guides. There he learned outdoor skills and made lasting memories for his brothers and dad to look back on. He started a family of his own and began taking me and my sister Whitney (‘24) camping. We followed alongside him, participating in the Indian Princess program (now called Adventure Guides) through the YMCA, where we learned basic camping skills and the importance of quality time with our dad. Sharing stories around the campfire became a ritual. Some of Clarkson’s fondest memories include sitting around the campfire, listening to the fire crackle, and the warm laughter of friends and family. Moments like these are what bring everyone together and where his idea for a new kind of fire pit began. 

Clarkson has a background in outdoor living, specifically the landscape & hardscape space. He has worked in these industries for most of his adulthood. In 2019, he and his good friend John Sexton, who works in the metals business, began researching the fire pit industry. They built multiple prototypes and made minor adjustments until they felt like they had developed the best product on the market. They founded their company, Burly, selling wood-burning fire pits that are crafted to reduce smoke. They came up with the name Burly after making a long list of other potential names. However, Burly happened to stick due to its meaning: tough, strong, and rugged. 

Clarkson said, “When 2020 hit, our business had huge success.” Due to COVID-19, because more people were staying at home, spending time outdoors, and no one was traveling. People were stuck in their backyards with plenty of family time. Family and community are fundamental elements of the Burly business. Clarkson said, “This product was not only made for its low smoke technology but also to have a good time sharing memories, enjoying time with friends and family, and also while putting your phones aside.” He also made it clear that another bonus is due to the lack of smoke, so you won’t have to shuffle chairs every time the wind shifts.

Burly has a variety of portable fire pits and fire pit inserts. Accessories have been an important component of their business success as well, including snuffer lids and grill attachments.

A traditional fire produces much more smoke, sometimes making it less enjoyable for those gathered around. Their fire pits are specifically designed to reduce smoke through the double wall and airflow through holes at the top and bottom of the unit, which create high heat and low smoke. Whenever around the fire pit, Clarkson often hollers “No bad seat!” making it clear no one needs to worry about the smoke. Additionally, it’s one of their trademark slogans often used to market their product. 

When creating their business plan, Clarkson and Sexton didn’t want their product to be made outside of the United States. They wanted the fire pits to be handcrafted in the US to ensure quality and personal touches that many mass-produced products lack. “We weren’t the first to roll out a low-smoke fire pit,” said Clarkson, but one thing that sets them apart is that they are supporting American manufacturing with a top shelf product. Through Sexton’s connections in the metal industry, they found a metal fabricator in Louisa, Virginia to produce their products. 

As the business grew and developed over the years, they added more key partners to their once two-person team. These new partners have backgrounds in finance, marketing, and landscaping, which broaden their scope of knowledge. 

When asked for advice to future young entrepreneurs, Clarkson stated, “it is important to research the market, develop a business plan, and have passion behind your brand.” Besides Burly, Clarkson still works in the landscape supply industry doing business development.