Re: [Coworking] Re: Citizen Space: End of one era, beginning of the next
A sunset post is definitely due. We'll put something together once the dust has settled. But I think Tara summed it up in her tweets on Friday: the community in SF is well-served, and the idea behind CS was more of a community service than a business...which in the end is not a totally viable business plan. :) Thanks for your thoughts, Jean-Yves -- and everyone else who has sent messages of support and inspiration! Hillary An analysis of what led to this exit is maybe as important for the community. Why did CS see its momentum decrease in SF ? Is it due to the growing competition within the coworking industry in the area ? Did Citizen Space lose contact with its natural public ? Are the values changing ? Etc. Tara, Hilary, I hope you will share your thoughts with us about that. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
[Coworking] Re: Announcing DigiCafe
Oh, from looking at your website I don't see that you are more commercial than say, I am, which is after all the measure we all use, is it not? :-P On a technical point, in neither Chrome nor Firefox can I find your pricing when I was looking for it. I found a button which says pricing, but there isn't any pricing there. It says to enter my email above, but there is no box for that, on that page. I then have to be clever enough to figure out that you mean earler in the series (as you have set it up in a linear fashion) but in fact the contact box is one page below, not above. I am your potential buyer and I am not that clever. 1) Never promise anything you will not deliver, it makes you look untrustworthy. If the button says pricing I do not expect to have to give you my email address. I expect a price. If you haven't got one (and I am about to take my own prices down as they confuse people it turns out) then don't call that button pricing. 2) The above thingie is confusing -- most people think you mean at the top of this page, above this text block and most will not go hunting for it. 3) You need pictures. Lotsa pictures. I don't want to hear about the relaxing atmosphere and the stunning view, I want to see them. Otherwise it sounds like a come on. 4) I like the way you have live chat set up to respond when you are not there with a leave a message. This seems to be what all the cool kids are doing now, the live chat, but it's very annoying when it responds Hi, how can I help you? and I answer and it turns out there is nobody there. 5) If you are live and not yet open, which appears to be the case, I would come out and say so somewhere before the very last page. At this moment your website promises an existing community, a place full of people right up until the last bit. If it is not at this very moment an existing community, don't say it is, it makes you look untrustworthy. Just say we are creating a community, come be a part of it or We are a group of blah blah and we are looking for baldibla. Or something like that. Just some thoughts, they are no doubt worth what you paid for them. :- P And welcome to the group. Jeannine On Feb 12, 4:44 pm, SN j...@digicafe.com wrote: Hi All, We've been diligently working on DigiCafe for over a year now, and I think it's now time to reveal it to the group for critique and advice. DigiCafe is a bit different..and I suspect might draw some criticism for it's more commercial approach to Coworking, but be assured - deep down, our commercial drive of this is intended to make sure it's last longing. We could never do this without groups like CS (good luck to SF on replacing such a resource) Anyhow, back to the point: DigiCafe, it's a coworking cafe. An 8000 square foot building with a cafe on the first floor, leading to the dedicated coworking space no the second floor - the unique downtown Houston building also features a rooftop patio. The team behind DigiCafe is built of both members with restaurant/cafe experience, as well as a a few who have telecommuted extensively for the past 12+ years, and coworked over the last couple.. We're slated to open this summer. Would love to hear some feedback on the new site -www.digicafe.com SN DigiCafe Team @digiCafeHOU 713.234.0787 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
[Coworking] Re: Any members of the Coworking group who speak Polish?
I know some folks who speak Polish, my other tenant is a Polish employment agency. But I would just contact them in English, one of the guys in that thread teaches English so I doubt the language would be a barrier. The thread dates from 2007, but the group is still live on Facebook. Jeannine On Feb 12, 3:45 pm, erich13 eric...@gmail.com wrote: I found some people here: http://coworking.jottit.com/zainteresowani which translates to this: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcoworking.jottit...entbb=1ie=UTF-8 which leads me to wonder if they know about: http://groups.google.com/group/coworkinghttp://wiki.coworking.info/w/page/16583831/FrontPagehttp://www.coworking.com/http://blog.coworking.com/ And to say, I usedhttp://translate.google.com/translate_buttonsto translate to English. And ask if anyone knows if there are any members of the Coworking group who speak Polish? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
Re: [Coworking] Announcing DigiCafe | How exciting!
Hello, I'll let others indulge in web-critique, which I also do. But, I just wanted to send some best wishes. Personally, I can SEE the years worth of work you've put into this . . . and it does manifest in your site. The other stuff will change several times before your done. So, hey, just roll with it. For example: I still like the question, ...when is a Website actually done? The answer: It isn't; ever. And no different than that front-window in your favorite dept. store on 3rd and Main, if you're not seeing constant change---something's wrong. And why apologize for capitalism. I think as Americans, we have to stop apologizing for it. It's what got us this far. The entrepreneurial spirit does not negate sense-of-community. I think your model will prove they both thrive together exceedingly well. What an exciting time we live in, when one google-group member, in the midst of turmoil at the dawn of Egypt's very first democracy, poses questions on: How to start up a new coworking space in Cairo? And . . . intuitive entrepreneurs, like yourself, see fit to open a hybrid café and workspace spread over two full floors in Houston, Texas---at the very same time. Now I ask you---how cool is that? Like I said. Exciting times. Best! Dave B. d...@dtcteam.com On Sat, Feb 12, 2011 at 10:44 AM, SN j...@digicafe.com wrote: Hi All, We've been diligently working on DigiCafe for over a year now, and I think it's now time to reveal it to the group for critique and advice. DigiCafe is a bit different..and I suspect might draw some criticism for it's more commercial approach to Coworking, but be assured - deep down, our commercial drive of this is intended to make sure it's last longing. We could never do this without groups like CS (good luck to SF on replacing such a resource) Anyhow, back to the point: DigiCafe, it's a coworking cafe. An 8000 square foot building with a cafe on the first floor, leading to the dedicated coworking space no the second floor - the unique downtown Houston building also features a rooftop patio. The team behind DigiCafe is built of both members with restaurant/cafe experience, as well as a a few who have telecommuted extensively for the past 12+ years, and coworked over the last couple.. We're slated to open this summer. Would love to hear some feedback on the new site - www.digicafe.com SN DigiCafe Team @digiCafeHOU 713.234.0787 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Dave Bunnell Dream Team Consortium p603.321.6568 e1 dfbunn...@gmail.com e2 d...@dtcteam.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
Re: [Coworking] Announcing DigiCafe | How exciting!
Thanks Dave for the great feedback! I wasn't as much apologizing for the capitalism as I was acknowledging that I knew there would be criticism. Looking forward to keeping the group updated! As we continue the buildout we will be blogging and keeping everyone informed. On Sun, Feb 13, 2011 at 6:11 PM, Dave Bunnell dfbunn...@gmail.com wrote: Hello, I'll let others indulge in web-critique, which I also do. But, I just wanted to send some best wishes. Personally, I can SEE the years worth of work you've put into this . . . and it does manifest in your site. The other stuff will change several times before your done. So, hey, just roll with it. For example: I still like the question, ...when is a Website actually done? The answer: It isn't; ever. And no different than that front-window in your favorite dept. store on 3rd and Main, if you're not seeing constant change---something's wrong. And why apologize for capitalism. I think as Americans, we have to stop apologizing for it. It's what got us this far. The entrepreneurial spirit does not negate sense-of-community. I think your model will prove they both thrive together exceedingly well. What an exciting time we live in, when one google-group member, in the midst of turmoil at the dawn of Egypt's very first democracy, poses questions on: How to start up a new coworking space in Cairo? And . . . intuitive entrepreneurs, like yourself, see fit to open a hybrid café and workspace spread over two full floors in Houston, Texas---at the very same time. Now I ask you---how cool is that? Like I said. Exciting times. Best! Dave B. d...@dtcteam.com On Sat, Feb 12, 2011 at 10:44 AM, SN j...@digicafe.com wrote: Hi All, We've been diligently working on DigiCafe for over a year now, and I think it's now time to reveal it to the group for critique and advice. DigiCafe is a bit different..and I suspect might draw some criticism for it's more commercial approach to Coworking, but be assured - deep down, our commercial drive of this is intended to make sure it's last longing. We could never do this without groups like CS (good luck to SF on replacing such a resource) Anyhow, back to the point: DigiCafe, it's a coworking cafe. An 8000 square foot building with a cafe on the first floor, leading to the dedicated coworking space no the second floor - the unique downtown Houston building also features a rooftop patio. The team behind DigiCafe is built of both members with restaurant/cafe experience, as well as a a few who have telecommuted extensively for the past 12+ years, and coworked over the last couple.. We're slated to open this summer. Would love to hear some feedback on the new site - www.digicafe.com SN DigiCafe Team @digiCafeHOU 713.234.0787 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Dave Bunnell Dream Team Consortium p603.321.6568 e1 dfbunn...@gmail.com e2 d...@dtcteam.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- SN DigiCafe Team @digiCafeHOU 713.234.0787 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
Re: [Coworking] Announcing DigiCafe | How exciting!
For what it's worth, there's nothing in coworking core values that devalues healthy capitalism. In fact, healthy capitalism is important for sustainability of a space - without it, the community's clubhouse risks its own longevity. With it, of course, there remains a need for balance. If capitalism is creating thin value and actually creating more societal debt, you've got bigger problems than being criticized :) I think that everyone on this list would benefit from reading The New Capitalist Manifesto: http://www.amazon.com/New-Capitalist-Manifesto-Building-Disruptively/dp/1422158586 It's a fantastic exploration of how old capitalism allowed for massive growth while also incurring massive societal debt has led to many industries' collapse (or impending collapse), while a new generation of capitalists (like the ones on this list, for instance) are generating value in more ways than for the next quarter's bottom line. There's some very interesting symbiotic relationships that can be explored between the cafe and a coworking space - I know that Workantile Exchange in Michigan, for instance, benefitted greatly from basically having to pass through a great local cafe to access their space. If Mike's on the list, I'd love for him to chime in. -Alex /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia On Sun, Feb 13, 2011 at 2:56 PM, S.N. Nelson j...@digicafe.com wrote: Thanks Dave for the great feedback! I wasn't as much apologizing for the capitalism as I was acknowledging that I knew there would be criticism. Looking forward to keeping the group updated! As we continue the buildout we will be blogging and keeping everyone informed. On Sun, Feb 13, 2011 at 6:11 PM, Dave Bunnell dfbunn...@gmail.com wrote: Hello, I'll let others indulge in web-critique, which I also do. But, I just wanted to send some best wishes. Personally, I can SEE the years worth of work you've put into this . . . and it does manifest in your site. The other stuff will change several times before your done. So, hey, just roll with it. For example: I still like the question, ...when is a Website actually done? The answer: It isn't; ever. And no different than that front-window in your favorite dept. store on 3rd and Main, if you're not seeing constant change---something's wrong. And why apologize for capitalism. I think as Americans, we have to stop apologizing for it. It's what got us this far. The entrepreneurial spirit does not negate sense-of-community. I think your model will prove they both thrive together exceedingly well. What an exciting time we live in, when one google-group member, in the midst of turmoil at the dawn of Egypt's very first democracy, poses questions on: How to start up a new coworking space in Cairo? And . . . intuitive entrepreneurs, like yourself, see fit to open a hybrid café and workspace spread over two full floors in Houston, Texas---at the very same time. Now I ask you---how cool is that? Like I said. Exciting times. Best! Dave B. d...@dtcteam.com On Sat, Feb 12, 2011 at 10:44 AM, SN j...@digicafe.com wrote: Hi All, We've been diligently working on DigiCafe for over a year now, and I think it's now time to reveal it to the group for critique and advice. DigiCafe is a bit different..and I suspect might draw some criticism for it's more commercial approach to Coworking, but be assured - deep down, our commercial drive of this is intended to make sure it's last longing. We could never do this without groups like CS (good luck to SF on replacing such a resource) Anyhow, back to the point: DigiCafe, it's a coworking cafe. An 8000 square foot building with a cafe on the first floor, leading to the dedicated coworking space no the second floor - the unique downtown Houston building also features a rooftop patio. The team behind DigiCafe is built of both members with restaurant/cafe experience, as well as a a few who have telecommuted extensively for the past 12+ years, and coworked over the last couple.. We're slated to open this summer. Would love to hear some feedback on the new site - www.digicafe.com SN DigiCafe Team @digiCafeHOU 713.234.0787 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Dave Bunnell Dream Team Consortium p603.321.6568 e1 dfbunn...@gmail.com e2 d...@dtcteam.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at
[Coworking] hello everyone
hi, i just founded it about coworking and i want to know more about it. a few friends got together and trying to create a non-profit group to work together... thanks. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
[Coworking] An introduction and looking for advice on attracting members
Hi everyone, I've been lurking on this discussion list for a few months now but wanted to introduce myself. I'm Mike, and I cowork at a coworking space called The Bourse in New Haven. The space is beautiful and enormous, and I've been working closely with the owners to help create an online presence and buzz around it. We just opened late December of last year. Check out our website at http://www.boursenewhaven.com While New Haven is a huge startup city, it's still a comparatively small city population, and we're competing (I use quotes for a lack of a better term, we really want everyone to succeed) amongst a really well-run and established coworking space called The Grove that is literally just down the street, as well the many startup incubator spaces in the area and great coffeeshops/free wi-fi areas. The owners have tried to distinguish The Bourse amongst the competition by offering a little more anonymity and less rigorous vetting to become a member (no interviews to get in, no forced workshop sessions and teambuilding for members). By no means do we want a total lack of community or collaboration, but we'd rather have it happen naturally for those who want it. After 3 months, we still have practically no members. And I will admit that the owners did break a cardinal coworking rule in setting up the space before organizing a core group of members. They were blessed to own a multi-story historic commerical building, and converted an unused floor of their building into The Bourse. Now, they're struggling to find people who are willing to take a chance and work in a very large and quiet/empty space until we hit a critical mass. We're marketing as best as we can, both online and in person, trying to partner with chamber of commerce, Yale, and other organizations that make sense, and we've brought someone on board to organize and hold monthly bootcamp workshops and events to just get people in the door. The discussions that have gone on this list have been extremely helpful to us as we trial by fire. I so want this space to be successful, as do the owners obviously, but they definitely suffer from lack of resources (they run and manage other businesses in their building) and the STRONG desire to be profitable. To all the space owners out there, what were critical factors for you in reaching your breakeven number of members? What else can we do to attract a core group of members. How have you dealt with other coworking spaces that may be closeby? Mike K. Nguyen http://www.mknonline.com mknonl...@gmail.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
