Thank you to Daytona Williams for joining us on TheBoldWay!
Daytona is the founder of the independent magazine Neptune—a unique editorial project born during lockdown and now distributed in over 10 countries, with 90% of sales in the United States. Without a traditional education or initial network, he learned the trade by watching Ugly Betty and The September Issue—and did everything himself: layout, production, distribution, and strategy.
He joins us to share how he turned a DIY project into a cult publication, supported by Hermès, sold in the world’s most beautiful concept stores, and now a true reference in the creative industries. He talks about his early struggles at Galeries Lafayette, launching Neptune with just €7,800 and 1,200 copies, his organic growth strategy… and what really makes a brand desirable today.
An episode about vision, boldness, taste… and the magic of doing a lot with very little.
Episode Timeline
02:30 – Daytona’s early journey: childhood, cultural influences, first jobs
08:45 – Foundational experience at Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées
15:20 – The birth of Neptune during lockdown
25:45 – Editorial evolution and magazine production: format, paper, layout
35:30 – Neptune’s business model: costs, distribution, self-funding
45:15 – Growth in the U.S., distribution strategy, and customer relationships
55:00 – Advertising, brand partnerships & events as a third revenue stream
1:05:00 – Editorial vision: timelessness, visual identity, rejection of trends
1:10:00 – The Neptune community: building a cohesive and aspirational world
1:15:00 – Closing thoughts: future ambitions, gratitude, what Neptune stands for today
