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Networking

(3 posts)

  1. Marc
    Marc Harrison

    The idea of providing a workspace for micro-businesses is only the start of the idea. The goal is to make this place a hub (which is why there is more than one coworking location with the word "hub" in their name) for small business people.

    How can we do this? Here are a few ideas to get started:

    • Friday afternoon drinks, where all members are encouraged to invite one or two contacts to come and meet other members and expand their networks
    • all members would get a number of guest passes which could be given to friends so they can come and try the place out for size
      we could run events such as guest speaker nights (eg. speakers on business related topics, or from community organisation, etc)
    • we could host Jelly sessions once a month
    • events held in conjunction with other coworking locations around Melbourne


    ... and I'm sure there are plenty more ideas we could come up with.

    The goal is to create something that is much more than just four walls and a roof to work under. It should be a community where the value everyone gets out of it (ideas, contacts, clients, etc) far outweighs the cost of being a member. The decision to become a member should be easy, and we should have a wait list of people wanting to join so their businesses can benefit in the same way.

    If you have any more ideas for how to build the network around this workspace and community, add them here.

    Marc.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  2. TB
    Member

    Spoke to Ashli about this for a woman's perspective. The environment you've described is probably more apt for a male audience. Is that the intention? Do you think women would want or value the sports/AV goodies?

    As for the networking/collaboration, I'd want to feel like I had some chemistry with the existing group. That's obviously tough without anyone in place so the "founding fathers" need to all be of similar mindset. Do you think this reduces the target market much?

    As for target market, perhaps you can start a thread for market research?? ie. how far would you travel for this facility? how many day a week would you use it? how many people would you want in the office?

    Posted 1 year ago #

  3. Marc
    Marc Harrison

    Hmm, interesting. I'm not sure why it comes off as being for a male audience, as that's absolutely NOT the intention. "Sports/AV"?... you mean the pool table and the TV? I don't think they are targeted to males... I find females enjoy a game of pool as much as males, and as for TV...?

    (I might have mentioned the possibility of a fussball table which may be of more interest to guys, but I much prefer the pool table as you can talk about work while you play. I might take fussball off the idea list, although at this stage we're still just brainstorming).

    Anyway, the idea is to create interesting break out areas for people to talk away from their desk, or entertain a guest... and to create different options so that people have choices because everyone is different. In addition to the room with the pool table, and the area with couches and TV, there could also be a quiet corner with bean bags for reading (maybe a no phone or even no talking area?) and a second area with couches but no TV. The kitchen area could also have a bench with a few stools for chatting. Its nothing to do with male/female, just what can we do this is fun and creative but still makes sense in an environment designed first and foremost as a workspace.

    Anyway, these are all just starting ideas. I'm sure more will come up during discussions. Have you got any ideas that you feel would be less targeted to males?

    On the target market, I covered that in an answer to one of your other posts here.

    Posted 1 year ago #

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