Talking Travel With Alison: The Entrepreneur + Digital Nomad Behind Numinous.co
Hello and welcome to the Talking Travel Interview Series! In case you haven’t already read some of my other interviews, Talking Travel is all about sharing the stories of awesome travelers, and how they make travel a part of their lifestyle!
Today I’ll be interviewing Alison, the designer and #girlboss who quit her job and bought a 1-way ticket to Europe. Once abroad, she founded Numinous.co, a travel and lifestyle brand which designs fun and functional goods to take around the globe. (We’re giving away a rad tank this month! Click here for details!) Alison has been living the digital nomad dream, traveling and working around the globe while running her business!
Hello Alison! Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hi Catalina! I’m Alison, I’m 29 and from Philadelphia, and am a former high-end residential interior designer. I’ve always been a creative type but love tech and business as well. I’m an adrenaline junkie, who loves heights, circus aerial arts, CrossFit, and travel!
What made you decide to quit your job and buy a 1-way ticket to Europe?
I was so desperate for a change, yet at the same time trying to keep up with the “millennial Jones’”. In 2015 I almost bought a house because I thought that would make me happy and validate my success. Then one day while listening to Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (the author of Eat, Pray, Love) and hearing her share how that journey changed her life, I decided in that very moment what I really wanted and needed was to experience the world and I’d take that leap of faith to make it happen!
What was the hardest part of moving?
The prep! Travel insurance, visa, vaccines, what to pack – it was all so stressful. The word numinous means having both excitement and overwhelm, which is exactly what I was feeling before I left!
Where have you been traveling since you became a digital nomad?
I kicked off the year with an amazing road trip through Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia. I began my new digital nomad life by traveling with Remote Year, and we spent a month each in Valencia, Lisbon, Rabat, Sofia, Belgrade, and Vietnam. During that time I took side trips to Mallorca, Stockholm, Nashville, Brussels, Santorini. I met an American guy in Sofia traveled to Positano and Paris with him, talk about the most romantic places in the world!
After 6 months I was craving more freedom and flexibility, so I left my comfort zone and the Remote Year program to start my solo adventures in Southeast Asia! I saw the temples of Angkor Wat at sunrise, slept in a hill tribe village outside of Chiang Mai, Island hopped over Christmas in Thailand, and spent 2 months in Bali.
What are some of your favorite destinations?
This is such a hard question to answer! Croatia is a perfect combination of history and beautiful coastline, Brussels & Salzburg are great underrated European cities with lots of delicious food. Sofia is such an easy place with great hiking and reminded me of Philadelphia. Bali was exotic and rejuvenating, it’s true when people say it’s magical. Thailand has the most incredible beaches and sunsets and of course amazing cheap food!
Where are you currently living, and what made you decide to settle down there (for now)?
I’m not really living anywhere yet! I still have some more travel before I settle back into Philadelphia for 6 months. Right now I’m on Koh Phangan, then will check out Kuala Lumpur before heading back west. Then I’m so excited to finally visit South America and will be traveling throughout Chile and Colombia!
I wanted to land back in Philly for some time to really start to grow my business, there’s only so much you can do remotely. Having a temporary base back in the states it will allow me to really take it to the next level and really appreciate the next place I go.
Can you tell me about what first inspired you to start Numinous.co?
As a designer, I always want my life to be filled with fun, colorful things, and of course, that means standing out in a sea of boring black luggage when I’m traveling! For many women travel is a hobby that they are proud of, numinous.co gives them a way to wear their wanderlove on their sleeve literally! I’m also really inspired by patterns, fabrics, and crafts from around the world so you can see that reflected in the collection as well.
As a former over-packer (man handling two rolling suitcases up a metro and through rainy cobblestone streets in Paris is NOT worth having a million options) I’ve had my fair share of headaches which led me to master the art of packing. I find that I’m so much happier when I’m not a slave to my luggage and proud of my ability to hoist whatever I’m carrying on into the overhead compartment. I’m on a mission to help women avoid paying baggage fees, schlepping suitcases, shine in their minimalism, and to pack lighter, brighter, and smarter!
What are some of your personal favorite Numinous.co products and why?
I love anything with a quirky saying, it’s really reflective of my personality! I’ve definitely used Passport is Bae, Namastay on Vacay, and Flight Queen as hashtags on Instagram before! My favorite packing accessory would have to be any of the packing cubes, it makes my suitcase brighter and packing slightly less agonizing. Oh, and I have a secret obsession with unicorns!
What has been the best part about starting your own business?
The best part is using my creativity and eye for design and learning how to apply it in new ways. I taught myself how to use Adobe Illustrator and designed the whole site myself. It feels so rewarding to learn something, design it, put it on a finished product, and offer to the world!
What has been the most challenging part of being an entrepreneur?
It’s always hard to juggle work and play, trying to find that even balance of investing time into the business vs. seeing and doing new things wherever I’m at. What’s the point in traveling to amazing places if you spend all your time behind your laptop and don’t get out and experience it?! Also, staying consistent and following my to-do list is truly difficult for a creative like me!
Do you have any advice for other travelers who also are considering moving abroad or becoming digital nomads?
Just start! Start your business now, then create a one-year plan for yourself. Working towards that goal of quitting your full-time job to travel will keep you motivated and inspired. If you can balance a full-time job and your side hustle then you can most definitely manage working while on the go. Also, it’s so important to start saving money, sell what you can, make sacrifices to minimize expenses and luxuries, and start living more minimally before you even leave home, it’s great practice for what’s to come.
You’ll be thrown curveballs every day, you’ll want to quit, and you’ll definitely make mistakes. Just keep failing forward, and never stop learning! Show up for your business a, manifest the dream life you want, and NEVER give up!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive compensation for any purchases made at no extra cost to you! As always, my opinions are my own. Thank you for your support!
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