detroit space + tactical operations question

[Shel Kimen]

Hi All --

I'm new to this list and community and feel really warm about both. I'm starting a space in Detroit (anyone else here in Detroit?). It's actually a combination/mixed use building that will also contain a co-working space (with small arty hotel, art space, event space, mentoring program). We are going through a rebranding now but the current website is DetroitHotelProject.com and facebook.com/Detroithotelproject

New name and identity in september!! 

I just had a tactical question about operational costs -- most I understand (utilities, tax, insurance, part time staff, etc) and I have that folded into the overall numbers of the project. But I wonder here what people might spend on a space for 15-20 people on things like

Office Supplies (do people have experience getting local support from office supply stores?)

Software subscriptions

Coffee, tea, simple snacks

Cleaning supplies

I saw Alex's really helpful breakdown on Quora but it didn't separate out these important misc items from an overall operational budget of $3600 for 1800 square foot indy hall.

Also, I'd like to add -- as a newcomer to this list and a longtime community builder/participant, I have not seen this kind of collective energy since the early internet culture of the mid 90's. I have so much respect for what you are all building together and I hope to become a valuable member as I also learn and grow in this project.

Thank you and many sparkles!

./s

[Tom Brandt]

Hi Shel,

I'm with Workantile, down the road from you in Ann Arbor. That's interesting project - good luck with it! It's exciting to see people doing things like that in Detroit.

We have a 3200 sq.ft. space, and currently have 56 members. We spend roughly $70/month on supplies, which include paper products (toilet paper, paper towel), cleaning supplies, and miscellaneous stuff like paper plates, plastic utensils, and so forth. We use hardly any office supplies, except for paper for the printer/copier. But even that usage is fairly minimal, and members who use a lot of paper usually bring in a ream occasionally to replace what they used.

I think we are an outlier in that members pay for the snacks. Generally, it's $1 for bag of chips, or a cookie. Coffee is $0.75/cup.

Let us know when you open. I would love to visit.

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[Shel Kimen]

Thanks Tom! Really helpful. In a few weeks when I get out from under a sea of deadlines I will definitely ping you to come by and visit!

Cheers!

./s

[Anca Mosoiu]

Yay!  Nice to see you here Shel, and hear that you're opening up a space in Detroit!   I look forward to visiting next time in there. 

Cheers,

Anca.

-=-=-=-

Anca Mosoiu | Tech Liminal

an...@techliminal.com

M: (510) 220-6660

http://techliminal.com | T: @techliminal | F: facebook.com/techliminal

[Rena Tom]

Hi Shel,

Excited to follow your progress. I have 'hotel' in the back of my mind all the time too, so I will be watching closely!

Rena

[Mojo]

Hi Shel,

I grew up in Detroit area and was just back there this summer looking for a coworking space to explore.  Congrats on getting started.  I now run Mojo Coworking in Asheville, NC and have been open for 1.5 years.  Similar to Workantile, we are at about $30 - $50 in supplies each month in a smaller space (1625 soft).  I also run a marketing agency out of Mojo and so I keep minimal office supplies on hand for that operation.  I'll get infrequent requests from other members for batteries, manila folders, envelopes, etc. but everyone pretty much takes care of their own office supplies.  (Note:  Although as we expand later this month to a larger 4500 sqft space, I'm considering approaching Staples/Office Max to offer them some type of presence in exchange for either a membership fee or member discounts. We're downtown Asheville and the closest office supply is out of town.)

We offer free coffee,cream, sugar, etc. ... but no snacks.  Again, in the new space - we are looking into the idea of a community lunch one day per week for something like $5 per person.  On and off in the past we have offered Cliff MOJO Bars for $1 each on the honor system.

Best of luck.  

[Tom Brandt]

We have a weekly community lunch at Workantile, and it has been a great asset to us. Sometimes we have a salad potluck where people bring in salad fixings and everyone assembles their own salad, sometimes we bring in pizza, one time our former community manager taught us how to make sushi, sometimes someone make tacos or something, etc. It's a great way to integrate new members into the community because there is nothing like sharing a meal to get to know someone.

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[Shel Kimen]

I love the community lunch thing. Nothing better than sharing a meal and spreading what each knows about different foods. Tom, how did your lunch thing evolve? Who initiated it?

I was thinking of honor system for snacks -- also for the hotel guests. And maybe having incentives for free snacks -- motivate the guests to participate more in the ongoing culture.

I'm so excited for when we finally get going -- so much goodness to build together!

Thanks everyone for the support and info! and Hi Anca! I love when worlds spiral and recollide!

[Tom Brandt]

Shel,

The community lunch thing has been a part of Workantile since the beginning. I think Mike Kessler, Workantile's founder, thought it would be a good way for people to get to know each other - and he was right!

Now, the lunches are organized by our Cruise Directors, a job which rotates among the membership. The Cruise Directors decide what the community lunch will be each week and put the word out on the internal mailing list.

We use the honor system for snacks and coffee. We have a can on the snack table people toss money into. It works well. People also bring stuff in - pretzels, homemade cupcakes, whatever. The donated stuff is free for the taking.

[Gretchen Baisa]

Jumping in...

We do a weekly lunch as well and it's been indispensable in helping connect my members.   Sometimes it's pot luck, sometimes I facilitate take out (members pay for their own), sometimes we get so granular as to ask everyone to bring in a veggie so that we can make a killer salad.   Lots of times people are on their own to bring stuff in. 

This is paired with a lunchtime discussion led by a member.  Mostly leaning towards the professional development side although we've also had talks on organic gardening, breakdancing, cooking how-to's, etc.  

These lunches have been invaluable in not only helping people make some connections that they wouldn't make on their own, but also allows whoever is giving the talk to establish themselves as the go-to on their topic.   Bringing food in or making it more fun and social draws more coworkers in.  Plus you gotta eat, anyhow.  :)

re:  office supplies - I've found that members have a surplus, especially those downsizing from a larger office, and  are happy to declutter their own space.  I tend to buy the minimum - I haven't found that the expectation is that we're stocking these.

re: snacks, we have a designated area for free-range snacks.  I'll bring in fruit sometimes, but most of the time members bring in food.  obviously we provide the caffeinated hot beverages and assorted white stuff to put in them.    

hth..   

Gretchen

NextSpace Coworking + Innovation // San Jose

@nextspacesj

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@twbrandt

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