Dev Joshi is the founder and CEO of JMD Furniture, a furniture company based in Washington DC. It is a family-run business that began almost a decade ago when Joshi and his family wanted to serve the community by providing quality custom and pre-made furniture. Their store eventually grew to serve many areas in the Metropolitan DC Area, and JMD Furniture was eventually hailed as one of the best furniture providers in DC.
During his spare time, Dev Joshi enjoys cooking, miniature woodwork and traveling as his hobby. He enjoys exploring his native roots and expresses them through his adventurous side. He has been to many countries in Asia, aside from India where his parents grew up. At present, he is looking into adding more in his bucket list of countries that he wants to visit, particularly in Europe.
What is your favorite thing about traveling?
One thing that I truly enjoy when I travel is the sight-seeing and the culinary experiences. I think that these two things are what makes a country unique from others. It says a little about what the country is all about, and me being immersed in their landmarks and food is something that I truly treasure. The first thing I usually do when I plan my itinerary is looking for the most famous landmarks and the best restaurants to dine at.
Is traveling a hobby or a lifestyle for you? How did you get started?
I believe that traveling is a lifestyle for me. The reason why I started my business is so that I could be more flexible with my schedule to enjoy the things I want in life, and traveling is part of that. I regularly travel for leisure more than business, and I believe it’s a truly rewarding experience. Anyone who has the means to travel should do it at least once or twice in their lives. I began traveling when I started to have my return on investment in my furniture company, around a year after me and my family set up the business.
Do you have any exciting travel dates planned for the future?
I am really excited to travel in Europe. My family has long been wanting to visit London, UK, as well as Italy. I have planned a full itinerary for us for a two week UK trip with a side visit to Italy. I have been wanting to visit Venice and Rome. I am really excited because I believe that Europe is a very historical and elegant place, and is completely different from the eastern countries that I have visited so far.
What are some travel tips you’d give to someone inexperienced?
Do your research. When you are inexperienced, you might have the tendency to just grab the most convenient offer with the fear of not being able to complete your itinerary. My advice to amateur travelers is to do their research online about the best places and book their flights and accommodations using price comparison sites. This way, they can save more money and have more resources to spend on their trip.
Where would you like to go?
As I have mentioned, I would like to go to Europe and I have that on my list already. However, it is my major goal to visit major cities as well, such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Dubai. I would like to see how these cities operate, and maybe one day as my business expands I can invest in creating remote headquarters for my furniture company. Everything is possible when you have the motivation to succeed.
Where would you like to revisit?
I would really like India, the place where my parents grew up. Although most of us are already living in the States, India has a special place in my heart because its culture in deeply imbibed in my family. Not to mention the country is overall fantastic. I love traditional Indian cuisine and the picturesque temples that my family and I visit when we have the chance. India is my second home and it’s always a country I will never get tired of revisiting.
Do you travel alone? Why?
I do not usually travel alone. It’s either I’m with my family or a business partner for prospects. I feel like traveling alone is more for the young, although one day I would like to try it. I believe that experiences are meant to be shared with those you love. I’m open-minded about solo traveling, though.
If you could pick the top 3 places every person should go, what would they be?
This is a difficult one because I believe that every person should try to travel the whole world! But if I were to pick, I believe that every person should at least travel to India, the United States, and China. I have been to all and I could say that I got to experience very diverse cultures which made me beyond grateful. Shenzen is just brimming with the majestic traditional eastern Asian culture, and India is my second home. The United States represents the diversity of the western world.
Do you travel light or do you pack up the house?
I am definitely a house-packing person. I bring my family with me, so I am always tasked to bring all of their daily apparel, toiletries and important documents. As a business owner, I was just too used to taking care of things that it almost seems natural for me to feel secure by bringing what I can possibly carry in my luggage.
