Meet the Entrepreneur Behind Mylatedeals.com – Emile Rossouw
We sat down with My Late Deals entreprenuer and founder, Emile Rossouw, to learn what inspired him to set up his new company.
It began with not being able to travel much as a youngster. My parents back in South Africa have never been especially well off and travel is something of a luxury there. In fact, my first time on an aeroplane was when I was 22; so, I didn’t get a taste of it until I was already grown. But the places I’ve travelled since have each left their mark; changing my view of the world and myself with it. I have learned that travelling is a gift at any level—be it cheap or luxurious—and is something everyone should enjoy as much as possible. I have seen the benefits travel has had on my own life and well-being, so My Late Deals com is my mission to bring this to others.
Our long-term goal is to make travel more accessible. I want people to feel encouraged and able to experience things they never have before; to have their hearts and minds opened to the possibility of life. We’re still crafting how we will make this happen but, in the meantime, we want to make a start by offering to bring people amazing experiences on their travels for great prices.
While I’ve been fortunate to have had some amazing holidays and experiences, some have come at a high price. But in every instance, I’ve been rewarded with more than I’ve spent. I’ve been inspired, rejuvenated, relaxed, thrilled and felt blessed and abundant…and I’ve brought everything I have learned and discovered back with me and used it to push forward in the rest of my life. I’ve never once wanted to trade those experiences back for the money I spent.
Essentially, my message is that it’s important to treat yourself well and to listen to what your body, mind and spirit need to revitalise and to flourish. No-one else in life is going to do this for you—although, we at My Late Deals com will try our very best to help!
We want to work with other travel businesses and our customers to help ensure holidaymakers find what they’re looking for the best deals available as a one-stop travel shop…and maybe inspire them a little too along the way. Expedia and similar companies provide the actual holidays and travel booking systems.
At My Late Deals com, we’re going to help you overcome obstacles to booking the perfect trip. We’ll aggregate and compare data from trustworthy suppliers, so you get a better overview to make more informed decisions about your trips and ensure you get what you need. Whether that’s a cheap trip to the mountains for a hike or a luxurious break, we’ll help make it happen. We want to make your travel shopping experience as easy and affordable as possible.
We want to be global players who innovate the travel industry by enabling cheaper travel alongside encouraging the global exchange of ideas, experiences and cultures. Anything is possible with technology and our job is to help people reach new destinations, their loved ones or to realise their ambitions as affordable and as easily as possible. Perhaps, one day, My Late Deals com will build the first teleportation device! [laughs]. Whatever it takes to help people get to where they need to be.
I’m excited about what we can do with all that travel data, as well as how we can integrate new technology to improve the modern travel shopping experience. For example, voice-activated searching will make it easier for customers to find deals, while more activity-based searching will help us create a more personalised travel shopping experience for our users. New technology opens up so many possibilities, and I am excited to see how we can use it to help our customers and partners connect better than ever before.
I am still blown away by what travel has done for me. I remember my first trip to London and the moment I realised that no one cared about the colour of my skin. As a black, mixed-race South African, this was hugely profound for me. Meanwhile, on a trip to Disneyland, Florida, as a 30-year-old man, I remember how a dance with Baloo the bear in the street carnival suddenly and unexpectedly transformed me back into a 6-year-old child. I got lost in the magic of that wonderful place and felt instantly transported to a much simpler and more innocent time.
Words cannot do this experience justice but anyone who has felt this will know just how magical it can be. It showed me how the people we meet and the places we visit have the ability to shape us; to influence our thoughts and emotions, often for the better.
Do I still travel? Of course. Travel has been invaluable for opening my perceptions of what I can do, what I can receive and what is possible. Do I travel enough? Never enough, is the answer. Having to stay close to a phone or laptop means I can’t go far for long. But I am always on the lookout for opportunities. I look forward to getting lost in remote places for an extended period of time one day. And I relish every opportunity to meet people and experience life with new cultures.
I miss the sun, so I tend to enjoy beach holidays and going diving or surfing. I love the Caribbean. I tried snowboarding, once; water is definitely softer to land on. Though I would love to visit the Arctic Circle or somewhere similar at least once in my life. I also have a soft spot for Croatia. I have been there a few times now and always have an amazing time.
The best education you can ever receive will be from travel; whether you are learning about yourself or the world we live in. Do it in any form you can. And never underestimate the value travel has on helping us to feel and become more positive.
Emile Rossouw believes that people do their most compelling and exhilarating growth when exploring new territory. Discovering new places doesn’t only teach us more about the world around us. An exploration of new and wondrous things in the physical world also encourages us to take stock and to explore deeper into ourselves; to evaluate our own perspectives and priorities. My Late Deals com is about encouraging people to listen to that call we all hear deep within ourselves, so we not only discover the beauty in the world but experience growth at a more profound and satisfying level. It’s never too late to start to start your own journey and exploration; My Late Deals com wants to help you start yours today.
Emile has worked as a digital marketer for 8 years. Informing FTSE companies how to grow market share, increase revenue and drive transformation into the digital age. He says the key to success comes from understanding each consumer’s needs and delivering compelling content and solutions to help them fulfil their own search to grow.