How important is having reserved/dedicated desks for members?

[Angel]

In the survey that Tara did awhile back, respondents didn't rate
having reserved space as highly as I would have thought. What ratio
of reserved to flex/drop in spaces are working for folks? I'm
wondering if having just flex desks would be a viable model???

[Mike Schinkel]

At Ignition Alley we're seeing 2/3rd get an occasional membership, 1/3rd get an unlimited membership, and 1/9th get a dedicated desk (we require an unlimited membership to get a dedicated desk.)  That's with 3 months of data.

HTH.

-Mike Schinkel

Ignition Alley Atlanta Coworking

http://ignitionalley.com

[Jerome Chang]

We're much higher.  Unlimited membership for a dedicate desk is our top seller, as it's hassle free vs. counting hours/wk, and they know where their desk is everyday.

Jerome

______________
BLANKSPACES
"work wide open"

www.blankspaces.com
5405 Wilshire Blvd (2 blocks west of La Brea)
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.330.9505 (office)

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[Mike Pihlman]

With 4 members now (!!) all are unlimited use (keys for 24x7 access),
but, they have to chose an available spot to work. That said....two
members (50%) have their favorite spots which we leave open for
them....or open up if they come in. :-)

To reserve a spot, leave your personalized Mug there....

Mike

On 12/29/2009 3:33 PM, Jerome Chang wrote:
> We're much higher. Unlimited membership for a dedicate desk is our
> top seller, as it's hassle free vs. counting hours/wk, and they know
> where their desk is everyday.
>
>
> Jerome
> ______________
> BLANKSPACES
> "work wide open"
>

> www.blankspaces.com <http://www.blankspaces.com/>

> 5405 Wilshire Blvd (2 blocks west of La Brea)
> Los Angeles, CA 90036
> 323.330.9505 (office)
>
> On Dec 29, 2009, at 3:30 PM, Mike Schinkel wrote:
>
>> On Dec 29, 2009, at 6:27 PM, Angel wrote:
>>> In the survey that Tara did awhile back, respondents didn't rate
>>> having reserved space as highly as I would have thought. What ratio
>>> of reserved to flex/drop in spaces are working for folks? I'm
>>> wondering if having just flex desks would be a viable model???
>>
>> At Ignition Alley we're seeing 2/3rd get an occasional
>> membership, 1/3rd get an unlimited membership, and 1/9th get a
>> dedicated desk (we require an unlimited membership to get a
>> dedicated desk.) That's with 3 months of data.
>>
>>
>> HTH.
>>
>>
>> -Mike Schinkel
>> Ignition Alley Atlanta Coworking
>> http://ignitionalley.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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Mike Pihlman
TracyVirtualOffice
"A Coworking Community"
95 W. 11th Street, Suite 203
Tracy, CA 95376
Mobile: 209-608-4340
Web: TracyVirtualOffice.com
Twitter: @TracyVirtOffice
Skype: tracyvirtualoffice1

[Kelly Brown]

We're in the 1/3 dedicated 2/3 flex group.
Although the dynamics are changing as we expand into additional
locations.

It's not so much 'dedicated' space that people want -- as a hovel to
sneak away to when they need to make phone calls & have privacy.
Sometimes they just want the comfort of a private office (the idea of
it) -- but end up working in the open area just to keep the
connections alive.

They like the idea of dedicated & private as the concept -- and want
to sign up for that.
But as they work in the environment they start to realize that their
utilization is shared & flexible.

-Kelly

Office Space Coworking
http://www.officespacecoworking.com

[Judy Rosella Edwards]

It doesn't surprise me. The ideal coworker doesn't function well in cubicles, or they'd be working in a 9 to 5 job in cubicle hell.

 

I have signed a contract with WORKflow Peoria that opens in April 2010. My membership level entitles me to a specific chair but, before I signed the contract, I asked John Searby, cofounder, if it meant that I will be required to sit in that chair.

 

For me, it is important to be able to move around. If I want to work in an openspace today, or the conference room when its free, or even in the kitchen area on another day, I want to be free to do that. In fact, it was a deciding factor for me.

 

The very idea of sitting in the same place all the time is less motivating to me.

 

Judy Rosella Edwards

http://www.judyrosellaedwards.com

[Angel]

Congrats on your 4 members! I love the idea of the personalized mug
as a space saver for the next day. I read that getting members to do
their dishes is an ongoing challenge....does having names on mugs help
with that? ;)
I am thinking of starting a space with only flex membership to start.
Depending on needs, if someone really wanted a special desk, just
arranging that with them on an as needed basis. This will help with
my startup costs as well....large, communal tables with chairs will be
less expensive than outfitting smaller desks. Thanks for your advice.

> Skype:  tracyvirtualoffice1- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Angel]

Thanks Kelly, I've been hearing a lot lately about the need for phone
booths or some kind of private area to duck into. Will remember that
as I work on layout.

On Dec 30, 7:38 am, Kelly Brown <kelly.br...@officespacecoworking.com>
wrote:

> We're in the 1/3 dedicated 2/3 flex group.
> Although the dynamics are changing as we expand into additional
> locations.
>
> It's not so much 'dedicated' space that people want -- as a hovel to
> sneak away to when they need to make phone calls & have privacy.
> Sometimes they just want the comfort of a private office (the idea of
> it) -- but end up working in the open area just to keep the
> connections alive.
>
> They like the idea of dedicated & private as the concept -- and want
> to sign up for that.
> But as they work in the environment they start to realize that their
> utilization is shared & flexible.
>
> -Kelly
>

> Office Space Coworkinghttp://www.officespacecoworking.com

>
> On Dec 29, 6:27 pm, Angel <fccowork...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > In the survey that Tara did awhile back, respondents didn't rate
> > having reserved space as highly as I would have thought.  What ratio
> > of reserved to flex/drop in spaces are working for folks?  I'm

> > wondering if having just flex desks would be a viable model???- Hide quoted text -

[Mike Pihlman]

"I read that getting members to do
their dishes is an ongoing challenge....does having names on mugs help
with that?"

Although the mugs are white....some are now brown...... ;-)

Mike

[jesse]

Of the 15 "dedicated desk" residents at Citizen Space, I'd say that
4-5 of them rely on the space for their stuff beyond their extra
monitor, ie, lots of files, supplies, organizers, etc and the rest use
their dedicated space for: a) a place for an extra monitor and b)a
mental space that is their own. Most folks form relationships with
their neighbors because of regular proximity.

I'd imagine having an extra monitor included in a flex space would be
a huge draw for folks that rely on them (designers, programmers, etc).
And certainly something you can't bring with you to a coffee shop
(although I've certainly been tempted to in the past :)

(And hello everyone! Been following this group for awhile.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
jesse taggert-general manager
citizen space
http://citizenspace.us
twitter.com/citizenspace

[Angel]

Loving the idea of having the large monitors avail. My husband is an
engineer and just couldn't "produce" until he had 3 monitors!
Wondering if having a pool of monitors to check out for the day would
be useful? I'm trying to do the "ultimate flex space"....desks and
chairs all on wheels so we can configure the room in 1,000 different
ways. Well, maybe not a thousand, but you get the idea.

[Josef Davies-Coates]

Just to say that most Hub (http://the-hub.net) only offer flex spaces
and not dedicated desks and it seems to work well.

Some have started to offer dedicated desks, but that is generally only
when they are cash strapped and people willing to pay for a an
unlimited membership says they'll only join if they can get a fixed
desk. I think it ends up going against the culture of the place
though.

Some people do need to have lots of big monitors though... (although
in the original and arguably most succesful Hub (Islington, London)
there are basically no fixed desks and no monitors (lots of laptop
stands and keyboards/ mice)

Josef.

--
Josef Davies-Coates
07974 88 88 95
http://uniteddiversity.com
Together We Have Everything

[Paul Robinson]

On 4 Jan 2010, at 13:02, Josef Davies-Coates wrote:

> Some have started to offer dedicated desks, but that is generally only
> when they are cash strapped and people willing to pay for a an
> unlimited membership says they'll only join if they can get a fixed
> desk. I think it ends up going against the culture of the place
> though.

At Fly The Coop, we've started with a core contingent of fixed desks, but we'll move around once in a while to keep things fresh and for skills to mix. We've then bolted on hot-desks/flex-desks which are hired out ad-hoc.

Our reasoning is we were just starting out and needed to ensure we had our base costs covered for at least a while, but down the line it might be the flex-desk takes over if some of "the permies" decide to move as/when they grow out of the space.

I think each space needs to be able to adjust for the local market conditions. In Manchester, UK - particularly here in the Northern Quarter - enough people are more inclined to take on a full-time desk at the moment, that it makes sense to not block that usage that secures all our running costs.

--
Paul Robinson

http://vagueware.com :: pa...@vagueware.com :: +44 (0) 7740 465746

Vagueware Limited is registered in England/Wales, number 05700421
Registered Office: 3 Tivoli Place, Ilkley, W. Yorkshire, LS29 8SU
Correspondence: 13 Crossland Road, Manchester, M21 9DU

[Scott Riker]

Does anyone know of a space in Tampa Florida?! I am very interested in
becoming a member and getting out of the house!! Also, I am a
freelance media buyer and marketer if anyone needs help.

Thanks
Scott

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[John Todero]

Hey Scott,

Check out IdeaField, here's the site: http://ideafield.ning.com/

Regards,

Johnny Todero

CoLab Orlando
37 N. Orange Ave. Suite 600
Orlando, FL 32801
www.colabusa.com

Phone: 407.925.5850 Fax: 407.517.4395 Twitter: @johnnytodero Skype:
johnnytodero

[Scott Riker]

Thanks John! I have heard of them but they seem to lack a full
operation at the moment. Last I hears, they allow visits on Fridays.
Do you know any more information or can clarify this?

Also, very interested in a possible start up of my own here in Tampa.
Do you know of anyone with similar aspirations?

Scott

[Deborah Ramos]

Hey Scott - are you still looking for coworking spaces in Tampa?