Where to Take Clients

Host: Nils from Coquitlam, BC writes to the inbox—I don’t know how he keeps getting my email address. “Is there somewhere else I can take my clients other than coffee shops? I’m sick of coffee.” Well there is some innovative office chair and space called “Work Space” that we’re going to have to look at right now and meet it’s founder Bill Macewen. So Bill maybe you can give us in a nutshell what Work Space is all about? I can see it’s very kind of open concept here. Bill Macewen: What we are trying to do is appeal to people who would normally be working from home, so guys that get stuck in coffee shops and who are looking for somewhere a little bit more social, a little bit more interesting to work from. Host: And I guess this also appeal to a lot of people where they might find renting out their own office space to be actually a lot of money. Bill Macewen: Yeah. Host: What kind of pricing does it start out for something here? Bill Macewen: Our prices start at $95.00 a month so kind of equivalent to a gym membership and they go all the way up to $600.00 a month depending on what you want and how frequently you want to use it. So yeah, we do try and appeal to that portion of the market that’s below the rental rates. Host: I guess it gives you kind of as far as your business and professional image as well, because if you are meeting at coffee shops all the time that’s cool by all means, you can take them to a pretty hip place like this here. I mean it does make you look like you have a professional business. Bill Macewen: Yeah we try and do that. It’s more really about the atmosphere though for people. We try and just make—feel at home, feel comfortable and if that’s the case then they generally have a good impression on their clients as well. Host: And what kind of businesses would come in here? I mean it’s just graphic artist? Bill Macewen: A lot of independent people, so a lot of graphic designers as you said, web developers is quiet common, entrepreneurs, people one or two men operations. Host: Well taking a step back, what was your whole vision for creating this? Bill Macewen: Well, I just saw a lot of people stuck in coffee shops and in libraries and in kind of uncomfortable work environments. And I thought that everyone was working independently and if we can get people together and work out a communal space then everyone would be cockier and it would become a more fun place to work from. Host: And this kind of looking in the whole concept, well obviously we’re in a big open room right now, are there private areas as well for people who don’t want to be distracted I guess? Bill Macewen: Yeah sure. We have meeting rooms and one conference rooms so you can get all privacy there. And we also have separate room for people that spend a lot of time on the phone or what not. So we kind of two different atmospheres. Host: And you also—I guess the center of it, the whole thing here is the coffee shop you actually got a coffee. Bill Macewen: Yeah. Host: Well not a coffee shop but a coffee bar. Bill Macewen: Yeah, exactly! We do really nice espressos and everything. That’s one of the features I wanted to keep from the café environment, just keep that vibe going to keep people talking and so it’s sort of a hug for the space. Host: Are there limited hours here or can people get in here anytime of the day? Bill Macewen: If you remember you can come in 24/7. Host: And as far as things—obviously we need to be connected, are there internet connections we have here? Bill Macewen: Yeah, everything is Wi-Fi, but we also have the internet cords. Host: And so when someone does sign up for a membership is that included in the price? Bill Macewen: Absolutely everything is included, even the coffee. Host: Even the coffee, very cool. And where people can find more information about Work Space? Bill Macewen: abetterplacetowork.com. Host: Very cool, thank you very much Bill. Bill Macewen: Thank you.