Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Singh.
Julie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
TripOutside was founded by myself and my husband (Reet Singh), out of a shared enthusiasm for outdoor adventure and travel. We are passionate about exploring this incredible world on our bikes, kayaks, and skis. After many frustrating experiences wasting valuable vacation time renting equipment, we wanted to design a simple online interface that allows others to easily book gear for their adventures online, saving them time and effort and letting them enjoy more of their vacation time. We are a woman and minority-owned, with over 20 combined years of experience in retail, finance, and technology at a fortune 30 company. We left our corporate careers in Atlanta in 2017, in pursuit of our passions. TripOutside was started in Atlanta and we now gather information on the best outdoor destinations for our customers by exploring the country in our motorhome with our cat, Juke.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has overall been smooth but very windy. Just like the roads we travel! Initially, our biggest challenge was getting shops to sign up – especially the first couple! We also spent almost a year just talking to rental shops and outfitters during our travels to understand their needs – which resulted in an early pivot in our business model. We are so thankful that we spent that time upfront because it resulted in a better strategy that better solves the needs of customers and shops.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about TripOutside.com – what should we know?
TripOutside.com was launched in mid-2018 with the goal of getting more people outdoors and adventuring. TripOutside allows customers to discover top outdoor destinations and rent the gear they need to experience them. The typical process for booking outdoor gear requires online searches, calling shops to check gear availability, booking over the phone, waiting for bikes, skis or kayaks to be prepared, tedious waiver processes in-store. Instead, with TripOutside.com, customers find their favorite activities and destinations on TripOutside.com and book their gear online quickly and easily. The equipment will be waiting at the outfitter, getting customers to their adventure faster. TripOutside.com features the best outfitters who rent gear, helping them to optimize their business and maximize online bookings.
TripOutside.com is the largest and fastest-growing gear rental marketplace, and the only site where you can compare rental prices at the best shops in key adventure destinations. Their pricing comparison tools allow you to:
See shop locations
View shop ratings
Compare prices before you book
Prices between shops can vary by as much as 70%, so this helpful tool can help you save a ton of money.
What sets TripOutside apart from others is our obsession with the outdoors and adventure. We feature outdoor gear for the enthusiast who wants to build their own adventure. Many travel sites offer a broad variety of tours and experiences from museum visits to city tours, but we target a smaller niche of outdoor enthusiasts – everything on our site is relevant to adventuring outdoors!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Yes! My husband Reet is my Co-Founder and has been such an amazing supporter, cheerleader, advocate, and teammate. We make a great team – his creativity and relationship skills are a good match for my finance background and organizational skills. We divide and conquer!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tripoutside.com
- Email: info@tripoutside.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/trip.outside
- Facebook: facebook.com/tripoutside
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
