[Coworking] Hello from Wisconsin! (Also maybe please help?)
Hello everyone, I've been lingering around this group for years but never was terribly involved in the discourse, which is just foolishness. My name's Matthew Straub, and I'm the Community Manager at The Avenue HQhttp://www.theavenuehq.comcoworking space in downtown Appleton, WI. We opened this space about 3 weeks ago as part of a partnership between the non-profit I work for (IDEAco), and a local marketing agency that had about 2,000 square feet of empty office space. Because we were quite suddenly given the opportunity to get this space off the ground with minimal financial risk for both parties, I felt compelled to just go for it and open a near-empty coworking community. Yes, I know this is backwards. In addition to having low membership, though, we also are struggling to make the greater community aware of our existence and are still trying to tap into the hidden niches of freelancers and independent workers that make for the best coworkers. It doesn't help that coworking is not a common concept in Wisconsin. I would absolutely love any tips from anyone on the types of events, marketing, and community outreach we could do to get people excited about what coworking is and can offer to members. So far, we've had the most success with targeting individual groups (like the local WordPress meetup group) and having them host events here, as well as having a Free Coworking Week which brought about 75 people in to try the space out over a week, but unfortunately didn't translate into a lot of memberships. I'm also talking to everyone who comes through or is interested about what we can do to make the space more suitable for their needs. Thanks! -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: [Coworking] Abridged summary of coworking@googlegroups.com - 23 Messages in 10 Topics
We are just going live with Cobot and are really pleased so far with our 30 day trial. We'll keep you posted. Blue Ocean coworking in MT, USA. Becky :-) On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 2:14 AM, coworking@googlegroups.com wrote: Today's Topic Summary Group: http://groups.google.com/group/coworking/topics - International Coworking Day: The Closest Friday to August 9th#14038f1ec44b38d4_group_thread_0[2 Updates] - Coworking Space -- door signage inspiration#14038f1ec44b38d4_group_thread_1[2 Updates] - Member voices, tough truths #14038f1ec44b38d4_group_thread_2 [7 Updates] - About that August 9th thingie #14038f1ec44b38d4_group_thread_3[4 Updates] - Peers.org launches new sharing-economy advocacy group#14038f1ec44b38d4_group_thread_4[1 Update] - Digest for coworking@googlegroups.com - 22 Messages in 8 Topics#14038f1ec44b38d4_group_thread_5[1 Update] - Hello from Ohio #14038f1ec44b38d4_group_thread_6 [3 Updates] - Coworking Founders Get Hitched in Coworking Space#14038f1ec44b38d4_group_thread_7[1 Update] - What are you using for your website?#14038f1ec44b38d4_group_thread_8[1 Update] - Coworking Trend vs Weather Trend #14038f1ec44b38d4_group_thread_9[1 Update] International Coworking Day: The Closest Friday to August 9thhttp://groups.google.com/group/coworking/t/6e27bd0c019343b4 Kyo Satani kyo.sat...@gmail.com Aug 01 12:23PM +0900 Hi, friends. Sorry I couldn't catch up with this mailing list. In Japan, most coworking pioneers respect the Brad's activity on 9 Aug 2005 and celebrate on that day. So I would like to stick ...more http://groups.google.com/group/coworking/msg/2d454f0bc0868b6c Back to top. #14038f1ec44b38d4_digest_top Alex Hillman dangerouslyawes...@gmail.com Jul 31 08:57PM -0700 This is surprising, but unfortunately, most new space owners don't know about Brad Newberg, history of coworking, coworking visa nor coworking day. I would like to inform them and make them ...morehttp://groups.google.com/group/coworking/msg/9811d78b6adef60f Back to top. #14038f1ec44b38d4_digest_top Coworking Space -- door signage inspirationhttp://groups.google.com/group/coworking/t/77dc016f034f5a62 Jon Graham j...@bizcasual.co Jul 31 11:40PM -0400 Funny you should ask! I am in the middle of building our outdoor sign out of wood... it is going high up on a building so it's kind of large. I will update photos as I progress if you'd like. ...more http://groups.google.com/group/coworking/msg/aa4df88a1a4824f5 Back to top. #14038f1ec44b38d4_digest_top Alex Hillman dangerouslyawes...@gmail.com Jul 31 08:42PM -0700 That's awesome! Loving this thread. Also love the idea of collecting signage ideas with Pinterist or something like that! Has anybody started yet? -Alex -- /ah indyhall.org ...more http://groups.google.com/group/coworking/msg/8a51e309f830e9cf Back to top. #14038f1ec44b38d4_digest_top Member voices, tough truthshttp://groups.google.com/group/coworking/t/3ce74b3a92508398 Cristina Santamarina plastidecorve...@gmail.com Jul 31 05:19AM -0700 How do we achieve that? I mean, how do we get to know what the lurkers think? On Tuesday, July 30, 2013 6:14:40 PM UTC+2, Alex Hillman wrote: ...more http://groups.google.com/group/coworking/msg/ebca6214557256dc Back to top. #14038f1ec44b38d4_digest_top Brian Publow bri...@tractivewest.com Jul 31 09:20AM -0700 As a borderline Lurker, I would say that you have to bring the conversation to the point where the Lurker is invested or passionate about the things being discussed. Dispassionate co-workers are ...morehttp://groups.google.com/group/coworking/msg/74e3ad670e92ced5 Back to top. #14038f1ec44b38d4_digest_top Alex Hillman dangerouslyawes...@gmail.com Jul 31 12:23PM -0400 Big internet high five, Brian. Beautifully said, you took the words out of my mouth. -- /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia ...more http://groups.google.com/group/coworking/msg/3b41cca8677abfb3 Back to top. #14038f1ec44b38d4_digest_top Cristina Santamarina plastidecorve...@gmail.com Jul 31 09:45AM -0700 Isn't this group actually targeted at OOS? I'd love to read coworkers, but honestly I don't think, at this point, this group has nothing to offer them. On Tuesday, July 30, 2013 6:14:40 PM ...morehttp://groups.google.com/group/coworking/msg/a240066756418cad Back to top. #14038f1ec44b38d4_digest_top Alex Hillman dangerouslyawes...@gmail.com Jul 31 12:54PM -0400 This group isn't targeted. As Brian said, it is what it is because of who's here. That's how communities work :) -- /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia On Wed, Jul 31, 2013
[Coworking] Re: Hello, introductions and all that jazz
Beth, Glad to have your support! Follow the facebook page. Specifically, the Coworking Colorado one and we will have announcements about meetings and what not. In the mean time if you can get as many people as you can in your area to like the page that would be great as well. We are targeting our initial efforts around where we are getting the strongest responses. Thanks for your support and I will definitely be reaching out very soon. Thanks RC As we gauge interest On Tuesday, August 13, 2013 2:15:55 PM UTC-6, Beth Buczynski wrote: Robert! How am I just now hearing about these pages? Consider them liked. I first coworked in Fort Collins, but then moved to the Denver suburbs where one car (and crappy public transport options) made commuting into the city almost impossible. Colorado suburbs, and cities along the 1-25 corridor NEED coworking!! Personal plea to make your first space in Longmont. I'm sitting in a downtown coffee shop there now, surrounded by laptop workers. I think it's just the right size for a community, but of course have selfish reasons for saying so :) Please let me know if I can support your efforts in any way! Beth On Sunday, August 11, 2013 10:34:25 AM UTC-6, Coworking Colorado wrote: Hello, I just joined this group after connecting with the Coworking wiki and wanted to say hi and introduce myself. My name is Robert and I am the admin for the Coworking Colorado and Coworking Communities pages on Facebook and LinkedIn. I am currently putting together a team whose goal is to help suburban communities and smaller cities in Colorado set up sustainable coworking spaces. I have been chewing on this idea for some time now (4 years to be precise) and am no looking to make it happen. We are aiming to have our first space opened in early 2014 somewhere between Denver and Boulder. Looking forward to the advice and support from everyone and to contributing as I am able. Thanks RC Coworking Colorado https://www.facebook.com/coworkingcolorado https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coworking-Communities/494337197325285 -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[Coworking] Re: Why I/you started a coworking space?
I am a touch late to the fray, but will share my thoughts... For me the journey to start a space has been interesting. It started out of a simple desire to build a better coffee house. One that was more accommodating to people who were working. No round tables, plenty of plugs, reliable internet, etc. As I developed this idea, I ran across the concept of coworking and realized what I had envisioned for this coffee house was really a coworking facility. So we retooled our focus and that is where that came from initially. Now I have only recently come the depth of the reasons for wanting to do this. One reason is because I have a set of skills that I have not been able to plug effectively into any job description. As a result of that, I have struggled to find a place where I can adequately use these skills for much of my working experience. However the main reason is because some of the most rewarding experiences I have had have been helping friends or coworkers sort through their ideas during that ever familiar conversation about wanting to start a business we all have had. I have always been supportive in the Yeah, that's a good idea way. But in the last few years, fueled largely by my own obsession with ideas and how to get them to take off, I have taken a different approach. Instead of just being supportive, I'm not supportive and inquisitive saying instead, that's a great idea, how would you do that? With those words, over a cup of coffee on a break, I have been engaged in some of the most interesting conversations. Not only have these conversations invigorated me and my belief in my own ideas, but they seem to have inspired those I have had them with as well. Because out of no where they start coming up to me and asking me about the idea and we start generating this dialog. I have back alley advised on training programs, on martial arts dojos, on software ideas, beta tested for apps, brainstormed with people who work with kids and adults on brain development, looked into starting a kids indoor bounce house in the mountains and even helped brainstorm a non-profit for special needs kids, an internet television show on beer and have regular conversations with my son who wants to start making and selling his own t-shirts and give 10% of the money he makes to anti-bullying campaigns. What all of this has told me is that I have a wide range of tastes and interests and that most any idea can stimulate me to brainstorm on; and that the look and excitement and belief you can instill in people, when moments before their idea seemed like a long shot and after a short conversation and some brainstorming, they start to believe even in the slightest that their idea is awesome and that they could do something with it, that is priceless. And that is what I hope to do in the spaces we open. To build a community and be involved in the dreams and ideas of other people and to help them make those happen, and share in their successes. That sounds like a great way to make a living in this world. Be safe. RC -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
