Mostly known for their large stock in travel products, Wejetset also holds it's own in other categories as well. These include an online magazine, a print publication entitled City Notes, a video series, as well as an informative weekly newsletter. The man behind this madness goes by the name of Taj Reid - a humble dude and all around nice guy.
I recently asked Taj a short series of questions in which can be seen after the jump along with his answers.
My name is Taj Reid and I'm the founder of wejetset - a modern travel store and magazine.
What inspired you to start wejetset?
I love the energy of cities. And, as a kid I traveled a lot with my family so it naturally became a part of me. Plus, I've always been curious about how ideas are born into reality - whether it's music, photography or design in general - it adds an extra layer of context that helps you appreciate the end result even more. As I got older my curiosity about the "how" continued to grow which led to more and more traveling. I wanted to take all the things I learned from those experiences and develop something that would encourage other people to travel and pursue the "how." So looking back, the development of wejetset was really organic. It's something I've always wanted to do, but perhaps didn't even know. It's the summation of all my personal loves, experiences and ideas in the realm of travel.
wejetset's online store plays host to a wide range of travel products. What lead you to this particular field of merchandise?
The retail concept stems from experience. While bouncing around cities I was had trouble finding a travel store that spoke to my personal tastes and needs.
Being that you run a travel store, I'm sure that you've done a lot of traveling in your days. What would you consider your favorite place?
It's a tie between Tokyo and Antwerp. One part of me likes to be on all the time. So for that reason, Tokyo is a favorite. Its non-stop energy is unbelievable. But on the other hand, I'm a dad and a husband who likes to be present with his family - so I really enjoyed Antwerp. It's a humble city that knows when to shut down.
What item(s) can't you leave the house without when traveling?
I can't leave the house without:
+ iPhone
+ Canon G9 or Sony T7
+ Behance Action Runner Pad & PILOT G-2 mini Uniball Pen
Where would you like to travel and why?
I'd really like to visit Prague for a few days - hopefully this fall.
What are a few of your favorite brands?
I'm a big fan of all the brands in our store. I personally pick each one. From QWSTION to INCASE to HIDEO to STAPLE to SUPER - I love them all. The common thread with each of them is their dedication to detail, functionality and an uncompromising artist spirit.
Being that wejetset began in 2007, would you say that the start-up has made tremendous progress?
wejetset is growing really nicely. I'm happy with the pace and we're taking solid baby steps.
What upcoming projects is wejetset currently working on?
I'm a little superstitious so I don't like to talk about projects before they're finished - haha.
But we've completed work on our new studio space in center city Philadelphia. I'm really proud of it. The energy is good and the neighborhood is awesome.
City Notes is growing nicely. The next issue (Philadelphia) is complete and will be distributed shortly.
And, we're continuing to grow the site and add new features. One of the new areas I'm most proud of is our videos. We're having a blast interviewing people and providing a stage for them to discuss their perspective on travel and how it's effected their life.
Favorite quote:
"Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone." -- Pablo Picasso
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