Last week I visited all 5 of the co-working spaces in Auckland:
- Movers & Shakers, Auckland Central, Dion Bettjeman
- Loft503, Auckland Central, Matt Knight
- Generator, Auckland Central, Ryan Wilson
- The Kitchen, Grey Lynn, Auckland, Murray Sheard
- Bizdojo, Auckland Central, Nick Shewring
I am honoured that every single one of the founders/owners made time for me and my questions. I loved hearing their stories.
6 Lessons I Learnt About Setting Up A Co-Working Space in New Zealand:
1. Set The Stage
- Set the style
- Set the theme
- Set the scene
- Set the culture
- Set the values
- and you will attract those that want to belong
2. Have Wow Factor
- Have wow factor when people walk in the door
- Eg 1 Movers And Shakers has a giant inflatable brain-shaped meeting room, all lit up with LED’s + the desks made with old pallets and ply wood + globes of light hang down at irregular heights
- Eg 2 Loft503 has sleek modern high-end glossy black furniture
- Eg 3 Generator has a bar in the lounge with a full time barman/barista
- Eg 4 The Kitchen has a lunchroom kitchen where they all get around the dinning room table for lunch every day
- Eg 5 The Bizdojo has set up a creative space (across the road, called a “co.space”) which has high-end business machines, a photography studio, 3D printing, and industrial sewing machines. Their attitude is “we have built it so come and use it and create something awesome”
3. Party Lots
- I’m not talking about boozing, I’m talking about making a place for people to come and talk with each other
- If you’re huge, host weekly get-togethers for the co-workers to ensure they mingle
- At least every month host a get-together for the co-workers, their networks, and other connected people you know (and want to know) in your city
- This is just about the only marketing you need. People experience the space and tell others about it, and these messages filter through the eco-system to potential co-workers
4. Hot-Deskers Are Not A Gold Mine
- If you think providing desks for hot deskers is a gold mine, think again
- Their commitment is low, the terms are short, your income from them is small, and worst of all, the disruption to permanent co-workers is high
- To make money on them you have to oversell the space (just like gyms do), and hope they don’t all turn up on the same day (don’t worry, the chances are low)
- The lesson for me is: Have 1 or 2 hot desks that people can use to trial the space for a few days or a week and then sell them on a permanent spot
5. You Are A Connector
- As the founder, it’s your job to help your co-workers succeed. Do lots of one-on-one sessions. If they don’t succeed, it’s your fault
- Help them discover what they need, and then help them get it
- Help them out grow you
- Connect them with who and what they need to connect with
- Delegate and share jobs amongst the co-workers. This eases the burden on you and helps them give back to the community
6. Co-Working Is Living The Future, Today
- Over a hundred years ago factories were invented. Thanks to the internet now you don’t have to work in a factory, you can work for yourself, in your bedroom, wearing your pj’s and work for clients that you choose
- The problem is, even with all this awesome hardware (Smart Phones, Laptops, Tablets, PC’s – which are so cheap you can have all 4) and communication software (Email, cheap mobile calls, SMS, Facebook, Skype), you can be “connected” but lonely and isolated at the same time
- That’s were co-working is awesome because it brings the face-to-face back into your life that so many of us crave. Here are 14 more reasons why co-working is awesome.
- (If you are going to continue wearing pj’s to your co-working space, at least get ones with a very secure button at the front)
Photos of Auckland’s Co-Working Spaces:
