We're seeing strong interest on the part of exec suite companies and operators of business centers in coworking. So far this consists mostly of studying the movement and experimentation.
As Alex points out, these firms currently target a different market. They see their client base as corporations and/or small businesses. They don't tend to think of freelancers, independent workers, or people as their market. They are also pretty uncomfortable with the community aspects of coworking and how they would provide it. The "drop-in" nature of coworking is also challenging to most, both in terms of facilities and business model. Most are also serious spaces that aren't fun, social or energizing places to work. It is really interesting to us how often "fun," "social" or something close to them comes up in our interviews with coworking facility users. This cultural difference already appears to be one way the workplace market is segmenting. Several exec. suite companies are starting/planning on starting their coworking efforts by focusing on traveling and telecommuting employees that work for their corporate customers. This is closer to their core business. I agree with Alex that most of these firms will not be directly competitive with coworking facilities. But I do think they will compete on the margins with their existing spaces. I also think we will see some exec suite firms attempt to enter the traditional coworking market by opening dedicated coworking facilities, or coworking spaces in their existing facilities. Quick disclosure: We aren't getting funding from any exec. suite or business center company, nor are any clients of Emergent Research. Given our current research agenda, we feel this would be a potential conflict of interest. However, we are talking to these firms to get their views and perspectives on coworking and the more general trends around the changing workplace. Steve On Jul 16, 6:06 am, Alex Hillman <[email protected]> wrote: > Articles like this are why I have no concern about competition from > exec suites. > > There is no instruction to "put the people in your workplace at the > center of your functional universe". Even if there was, it's not in > the business they run's best interest to do so. It's simply a > different business with some of the same resources in play. > > -Alex > > > > > > On Friday, July 16, 2010, rachel young <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Here's an article from the executive suite industry encouraging them to be > > more like coworking spaces. > > "The difference is in their approach to the workspace, the client, and how > > they present their solution to the entrepreneur. Take a look at their > > approach and think about how you can modify your space, approach, and > > procedures to enter the co-working movement." > > > Business Center versus Co-Working Space > > - http://www.officingtoday.com/index.php?news=467 > > r. > > > ____________________ > > rachel young > > [email protected] > > (416) 801-0196 > > > Find us in person: > > Camaraderie > > 102 Adelaide St E 2nd Floor > > Toronto, ON M5C 1K9 > > > Find us online: > > Website/blog <http://camaraderie.ca> and Newsletter <http://bit.ly/camaraderienewsletter> > > Twitter <http://twitter.com/camaraderie>, Sprouter <http://sprouter.com/ruyoung>, > > and LinkedIn <http://bit.ly/CamaraderieGroup> > > > -- > > 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 > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. > > -- > /ah > indyhall.org > coworking in philadelphia- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - -- 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.
