Market Research
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Sam
Apr 27, 2012, 1:10:51 PM4/27/12
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I am new to this group but have some experience in CoWorking. I now live in a medium size city with no coworking facility. I am interested in starting one from scratch, but am concerned there is a market for it.
Has anyone done any type of market research in their area prior to opening to determine the interest?
Tricia Chirumbole
Apr 29, 2012, 2:47:49 PM4/29/12
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Hey Sam!
--
Tricia Chirumbole
US: +1-571-232-0942
Skype: tricia.chirumbole
I started out with a survey and some outreach to get people to complete this, then realized the best market research was to go out and build a community, who over time would help define what was wanted and needed. This is the process that I am in now. I started a meetup group and through a variety of meetings and events, as well as 1:1 conversations, I am learning what is needed and wanted as well as who is out there.
This way I can get the first-hand low down on a number of elements, "test market" ideas/events, and help myself refine my sense of the type of community that I would like to be a part of building.
This is a longer process, but has benefits beyond data gathering, such as allowing you to find paying customers and build loyalty, as well as develop programming, culture, etc, before investing any significant money!
On Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 1:10 PM, Sam <sdmi...@gmail.com> wrote:
I am new to this group but have some experience in CoWorking. I now live in a medium size city with no coworking facility. I am interested in starting one from scratch, but am concerned there is a market for it.
Has anyone done any type of market research in their area prior to opening to determine the interest?
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Tricia Chirumbole
US: +1-571-232-0942
Skype: tricia.chirumbole
Frank DePalma
May 1, 2012, 3:04:31 AM5/1/12
to Coworking
Hi Sam,
Heather and I have been working for about 18 months to raise awareness
and generate interest in coworking in our little town. You can check
out our survey here: http://survey.ptcolab.com
We've also deeply embedded ourselves in the local business community.
Before starting the coworking project we both were (very) active
participants in the local Mainstreet Program, Chamber of Commerce,
Economic Development Council (EDC); and also spread the word via our
B2B day jobs. An article in the local newspaper prompted two
organizations to contact us about potential permanent space.
As we work through our business plan, we've been holding regular
jellies every week for about a year for free at the EDC office as well
as the library learning center. We even drafted our mission statement
with the help of our core group of regular coworkers. It has been a
slow process, but we have created a strong foundation of loyal
coworkers, and gathered valuable feedback that will help make our
business a success.
The advantage of a small town is that a tight-knit community
understands the value of collaboration - we do it with community
gardens, at the schools, and by volunteering with various public
service organizations. Living in a struggling rural economy tends to
foster creativity. A lot of entrepreneurs with home-based businesses
that have sprung up out of necessity. These are our peeps and we are
building our vision around their needs.
We'll keep you posted.
Cheers,
~ Frank DePalma
http://facebook.ptcolab.com
Heather and I have been working for about 18 months to raise awareness
and generate interest in coworking in our little town. You can check
out our survey here: http://survey.ptcolab.com
We've also deeply embedded ourselves in the local business community.
Before starting the coworking project we both were (very) active
participants in the local Mainstreet Program, Chamber of Commerce,
Economic Development Council (EDC); and also spread the word via our
B2B day jobs. An article in the local newspaper prompted two
organizations to contact us about potential permanent space.
As we work through our business plan, we've been holding regular
jellies every week for about a year for free at the EDC office as well
as the library learning center. We even drafted our mission statement
with the help of our core group of regular coworkers. It has been a
slow process, but we have created a strong foundation of loyal
coworkers, and gathered valuable feedback that will help make our
business a success.
The advantage of a small town is that a tight-knit community
understands the value of collaboration - we do it with community
gardens, at the schools, and by volunteering with various public
service organizations. Living in a struggling rural economy tends to
foster creativity. A lot of entrepreneurs with home-based businesses
that have sprung up out of necessity. These are our peeps and we are
building our vision around their needs.
We'll keep you posted.
Cheers,
~ Frank DePalma
http://facebook.ptcolab.com
Volkan DULKADİROĞLU
May 1, 2012, 4:50:40 AM5/1/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
Hi Frank,
Thanks for your contribution and good luck for your business plan. I couldn't reach the link that you' ve posted. How can i get the results of your survey.
Regards,
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Lars Hasselblad Torres
May 1, 2012, 8:51:44 AM5/1/12
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Re: Market research
This was a key component to getting the ball rolling for Local 64, a new coworking/creativity incubator in Montpelier, Vermont. I ran two surveys which I used to frame up context in my business plan. Here's a little background:
A central claim that I and other drivers at Local 64 are making is that Vermont is at an inflection point, our nascent creative economy is tipping and this is the right time to be making some smart investments in creative industries in a state traditionally dominated by agricultural concerns.
So with that in mind, I wanted to find out a) a little more about who is creating, what they're creating, where they create, where they sell, etc; and b) what is the appetite for connection, the need for space, etc. These were the topics of the two surveys that were fielded, one in February and the second in March. The first survey targeted the entire state, the second targeted central Vermont creatives - in my market catchment.
Now, reach and completion wasn't as robust as I'd have liked: averaged 40 respondents for each where I'd have preferred closer to 100. Anyway, I used Google survey to collect and run very basic interpretation of the data.
Survey 1 is here: http://bit.ly/IS50NS / Results here: http://bit.ly/KohZ7T
Survey 2 is here: http://bit.ly/Ij3WAy / Results here: http://bit.ly/FOfhrF
It would be interesting, for "drivers" in this movement, to provide a customizable survey that coworking startups could use - this would provide some useful topline data as well as value to the startup.
Hope this is helpful. Very best,
lars
---
@lhtorres
This was a key component to getting the ball rolling for Local 64, a new coworking/creativity incubator in Montpelier, Vermont. I ran two surveys which I used to frame up context in my business plan. Here's a little background:
A central claim that I and other drivers at Local 64 are making is that Vermont is at an inflection point, our nascent creative economy is tipping and this is the right time to be making some smart investments in creative industries in a state traditionally dominated by agricultural concerns.
So with that in mind, I wanted to find out a) a little more about who is creating, what they're creating, where they create, where they sell, etc; and b) what is the appetite for connection, the need for space, etc. These were the topics of the two surveys that were fielded, one in February and the second in March. The first survey targeted the entire state, the second targeted central Vermont creatives - in my market catchment.
Now, reach and completion wasn't as robust as I'd have liked: averaged 40 respondents for each where I'd have preferred closer to 100. Anyway, I used Google survey to collect and run very basic interpretation of the data.
Survey 1 is here: http://bit.ly/IS50NS / Results here: http://bit.ly/KohZ7T
Survey 2 is here: http://bit.ly/Ij3WAy / Results here: http://bit.ly/FOfhrF
It would be interesting, for "drivers" in this movement, to provide a customizable survey that coworking startups could use - this would provide some useful topline data as well as value to the startup.
Hope this is helpful. Very best,
lars
---
@lhtorres
Andre Robb
May 1, 2012, 1:09:25 PM5/1/12
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Hey Lars,
I'll follow you on twitter.
Andre Robb
Founder
Added Source
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Jamaican-based resource hub where young social innovators and entrepreneurs co-exist, get support, learn, raise capital and build enterprises.
Andre`, God's Own!
I like this thought - Roman 1:9. "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers."
2 Timothy 2:4. "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."
P please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to
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Will Bennis, Locus Workspace
May 2, 2012, 8:58:54 AM5/2/12
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Hi Lars,
I could not open the survey results (the surveys themselves opened fine. It said that I needed permission to access them.
Best,
Will
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