Empowering Explorer Families: Gemma Gaisano Ng and Daniel Ng of No Reception Club

PETIT PROFILE

Oct 20

Image courtesy of No Reception Club / Getaway Bag pictured

Gemma Gaisano Ng and Daniel Ng

Globetrotting parents, Gemma Gaisano Ng and Daniel Ng, were determined to continue exploring the world after having kids. But they realized that travel would need to look a little different, including having the right gear to consciously unplug and fully experience every moment of their family adventures. When they couldn’t find gear that met their needs, the idea for No Reception Club was born.

How did you two meet? [Gemma] We attended different colleges and were summer interning in separate places when we were both sent to the same business leadership conference. There, we did things like scavenger hunts and resume writing and, by the end of the weekend, we just clicked and were dating about a month after that. Soon after, we went back to our respective schools but maintained a relationship while we went on exchanges in different parts of the world. We lived in a lot of cities and traveled a lot for the next decade before we married.

What were your favorite trips and travel memories together before kids? [Daniel] We did a road trip through Spain a few years after we started dating, starting in Madrid and travelling to the wine country in La Rioja and San Sebastian. We loved the food, the wine and the architecture. We love traveling where we’re off the grid (hence the name of our company, ‘No Reception Club’), so we ended up using a lot of physical maps, dealing with the unexpected and having to just figure things out. For our honeymoon, we went on a tent-camping safari in Tanzania, whitewater rafting in Zambia, and enjoying the beach in Zanzibar.

What was the origin of No Reception Club? [Gemma] We love this question! Against popular advice to get all of our traveling done before having children, we started traveling with our son when he was three months old. On a pivotal trip to Hawaii, when our son was around eight months, the flight was horrendous — everything that could go wrong went wrong. It was impossible to find anything in the ‘cave’ of a diaper bag on a crowded airplane. When we returned home, we decided there had to be a better and easier way to travel with children. With my background in developing fashion products and Daniel’s background in e-commerce and business, we decided to try and solve this problem ourselves. Why don’t we create products that make it easier for parents, like us, who love to travel with their children?

[Daniel] We have different skillsets and had thought about starting a business long ago but wanted to create something with a clear point of view. This pivotal trip to Hawaii was our big “aha” moment where we decided to bring a solution to life.

In starting this company, what have been some of the biggest surprises and learnings along the way? [Gemma] Although we have expertise in different areas, there are many things we have never done before. For example, we had to figure out how to get products from the factory in Asia to the warehouse in the U.S. The pandemic made this nuts. We did not anticipate it would be so costly to get products on a ship — IF you could get them on a ship. For those who could not wait for shipping delays, we had to figure out how to ship by air. Now the process is smooth again, but that was definitely a curve ball.

[Daniel] It was also a good lesson in communicating and being transparent with customers, including being up-front and apologetic when things don’t go as planned. This communication with customers has been key to defining our brand identity.

When you have a chance to personally engage with a customer, it probably solidifies that connection for them, right? [Gemma] It’s like you’re talking to a friend because we’re all parents in it together. In addition to our products, we have an Instagram account and a blog where we share different ways to make traveling and packing easier. We also have a Clubhouse community where parents share peer-to-peer advice with each other.

You traveled Europe this summer with carry-on luggage only — what was that trip like? [Daniel] It was an ambitious trip where we stayed in nine Airbnbs over six weeks in Italy, France and Spain, resulting in a lot of packing and unpacking, and transit. We only took carry-ons so we could be more mobile. At first it was a challenge to resettle our kids in different environments but they got used to it and enjoyed seeing what the next place would be like.

[Gemma] Something I think about a lot in traveling with kids is you realize that what they are capable of is so much more than you’d think. Kids are so adaptable and so resilient.

[Daniel] All of these first-time experiences are really memorable for the kids. It allows them to discover and learn to enjoy it as they look forward to the new experiences. Over time, they have experiences where new doesn’t equal bad, it can actually lead to very amazing things.

[Gemma] This long trip allowed us to try out our own product, The Hideaway Duffel, and we were pleased with how easy it was to travel with it. We also made sure that the Airbnbs had cribs and laundry facilities, which made our travels so much easier.

Where are you headed next and what tops your bucket list? [Gemma] Our next trips are to Sun Valley, Idaho, and San Diego.

[Daniel] The bucket list is long. I think we’d like to do another safari, but this time with the kids, when the trip can be age-appropriate. South Africa tops the list. We also love the idea of multi-generational travel, so maybe a cruise.

What is next for No Reception Club? [Gemma] Besides The Hideaway Carry-On Duffel, which we fully sold out of in 72 hours after launching on Kickstarter last month, the next thing for us is to help more parents get access to our bags. We currently only ship to the US but we’re opening a Canadian warehouse in November and hope to open up international shipping by the end of the year. We are also working on getting a new color, in addition to the current black, for the The Getaway Bag and The Sidekick.

What other tips and advice do you have for parents new to traveling with kids or new to traveling long distances with kids? [Daniel] First, trip research looks very different now with kids as you need to dig a level deeper to find kid-friendly activities / restaurants / accommodations. Our go-to is to crowd-source answers with like-minded parents in travel communities (like our Clubhouse!) who either live or have visited the places we’re traveling to. Second, learn to moderate your schedule for your trips with kids by scheduling breaks and ‘down time’. Third, reset expectations about what a successful vacation will look like. Asking yourself to define what it feels like to relax with the family, rather than trying to do as much as possible, will help prevent you from feeling like you missed out during a family vacation. Last, invest in the right gear for your family’s travel needs.

[Gemma] Also, be super flexible by identifying highest priority ‘must dos’ on a trip and plan your time thoughtfully around them. Any additional items can be done if time and energy allows.

What do you never travel without? [Gemma] Not to be biased, but we never leave home without our Getaway Bag, Sidekick and our newly-added Hideaway Duffel. The Bugaboo Butterfly Stroller is an amazing travel stroller with a lot of room under the seat. The WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat for toddlers is awesome and works well in planes and cars. We love how the SlumberPod creates a tent-like environment over a crib — a real game changer. Travel kits from Mini Voyager are pretty awesome as they provide age-appropriate activities for your kids.