WhatWeWishFor.com is an online gift registry. It was co foundered by Jason Smale, Kate Rowell and Jay Claringbold. When celebrating a special occasion users get their own customised website, then friends and family can contribute to individual or multiple gifts. The users receive cash to purchase the gifts at the best prices from wherever they wish.
Ryan Jon spoke with WhatWeWishFor co-founder Jason Smale.
Why did WhatWeWishFor begin?
I got annoyed by having to physically visit David Jones or Myer to buy wedding presents for people. The experience for both the buyer and the gift receiver was terrible. The registry owner could only list items from a single store and the gift givers had to physically visit a store and hope that the all items hadn’t already been purchased.
What did you do before you started your business?
Before starting WhatWeWishFor I was working for Deloitte Digital as a web developer. Deloitte were fantastic as I ended up taking approximately four months off each year to focus on my own personal projects. After getting WhatWeWishFor up and running, I spent a fair amount of time in the San Francisco to help setup US arm of Deloitte Digital. In November I returned to Melbourne to get married (WhatWeWishFor came in very handy) and now you can find me in the Zendesk Melbourne office.
How do you balance your time between your business and your life?
I don’t have a strict framework, it’s more of a fluid balancing act. Sometimes work wins the balance, but then I make sure life catches up. Working full-time for Zendesk does mean that WhatWeWishFor work is kept to weekends, but working every weekend is a pain, so the co-founders and I setup ‘working bees’ where we all get together and rapidly work on new features. It also helps that Jay and I both surf, so we can combine ‘business’ and ‘life’.
Who are your role models in life, and in business?
Individuals who push the boundaries of what people think is possible have always inspired me. Buckminster Fuller – for always thinking different & long term. Rodger Federer and Kelly Slater – for showing how to continually improve at the top. Deloitte Digital founder, Pete Williams (@Rexter) for showing how powerful it can be to be different and have your own opinions. My dad – for always teaching me new things.
Where do you hope you, and your business will be in five years?
Five years is a very long time in the Internet business. In the near future I’d like to see WhatWeWishFor continue to grow internationally.
What would you say to other Australians considering starting their own business?
Stop reading this article right now and start. Do it.
Can you give me a schedule, or provide details on what you do on a ‘normal’ working day.
I wouldn’t say that there are many ‘normal’ days in my schedule, however most are made up of the following: exercise, Skype meetings, product planning, development, hiring, food, industry events.
For more information about WhatWeWishFor head to their website.
You can follow Jason on Twitter here.
