I think we're already seeing some of this. An operator in Fresno (not a true coworking scene, imo, but more of an exec suite with some hotdesks and resident desks) reports that he is getting a lot of mortgage brokers and realtor types who can no longer afford serviced premises, but still want to maintain a professional presence.
I expect to see a few of those myself, which is leading to a pre- emptive rule set I'm putting together, essentially prohibiting prospecting within the center. I don't mind having financial services, insurance agents, etc., at Uptime, but I don't want them hitting on the other members for either direct business or referrals. This isn't the Chamber of Commerce, after all. Networking is one thing; soliciting business is quite another. Maybe it won't be a problem, but I want it upfront that it's a termination offense. I told one new member prospect yesterday that this is "a place to feed, not feed off of." He got it. --Ax On Oct 19, 8:23 am, Darrell Silver <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hey Steve, > > It's a great question, and I think a lot of us have put some thought > into it. Todd Sunsted, along with Tony Bacigalupo and Drew Jones > have been researching how work and the work environment evolve as > economies, industries and our notion of "the company man" change. > > I think layoffs in some industries will help increase popularity in > coworking. But only in places where coworking can provide a > community of resources and ideas for people who want to acclimate to > a new industry or work experience. A coworking office is not cheap, > and a newly independent worker is an extremely cost-conscious one. > Successful coworking spaces provide services beyond a desk, which > turn the cost of rent into an investment in career opportunities for > the individual or small team. As a result, coworking should grow > faster in the next year, but it will not be overnight. > > D > > --------------------------------------- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > (917) 841-4079 > New York, NY > > On Oct 18, 2008, at 12:37 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > > > Hi: > > > My name is Steve King and I'm a long time lurker on this site:). I'm > > a researcher focused on small business and I'm curious how the current > > economic turbulence is impacting coworking. I'm also interested in > > how the you think the recession is going to impact coworking and the > > coworking movement over the next year. > > > In past recessions, small business formation increased due to declines > > in traditional employment opportunities. And during and after the > > 2001 recession the number of single person businesses grew much faster > > than before. The growth rate also slowed as the economy improved. > > > So what do you think?? Will recession increase the demand for > > coworking space? Will more people choose or be forced to go out on > > their own?? Will you get more corporate traction as companies reduce > > their office spaces?? Other impacts?? > > > Thanks for the help. > > > Steve > >www.emergentresearch.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
