BOOM: Industrious Brings Hospitality to Work
This year, about 5M people will use co-working spaces as their offices and meeting places. The concept of shared space has expanded to include podcasting and warehousing/shipping.
The concept of co-working is about 30 years old and it is now a cornerstone of the “sharing economy.”
As the media was filled with stories of WeWork’s financial drama, Industrious was steadily and deliberately scaling. They have offices in more than 65 cities across the U.S., UK, Europe, and Asia.
As one of the 5M workers, I recently rented space at one of the brand’s 160 locations. The professionalism of the staff, daily breakfast and snacks, and overall convenience and office/technology options in the space stand out. (I’ve worked in or visited at least seven different co-working offices since starting my own business.)
We recently caught up with Peri Demestihas, Head of Real Estate Growth for North America for Industrious.
“The focus right now is on mixed-use ‘neighborhood offices’ in affluent areas, such as Kierland Commons in Scottsdale, or Germantown in Nashville.”
Have you ever had to close any locations? Why or why not?
“Like any multi-location network, we have closed locations over time, but a very small percentage compared to our overall network.”
What makes you different from other co-working brands?
“We believe our member experience is the best in the business. We put a lot of thought and effort into delivering workplaces that are welcoming, empower our members to do their best work, and add a bit of delight to the workday. This, along with our sustainable business partnerships with landlords are the two things that really set us apart.”
How do you choose locations?
“We look at co-tenancy (who is already there) and demographics of the nearby areas, including income, street traffic, and education levels.”
What’s the role of technology in your operations?
“Technology plays a key role in our member experience and we are constantly evolving our tools to better serve our members. Our app offers the ability for members to reserve and manage conference rooms and workspaces, view weekly menus and events, wirelessly access Industrious locations, and more.”
Co-working is here to stay, and both entrepreneurs and big brands are availing themselves of this alternative to the traditional corporate headquarters. As with other MULO (multi-location) brands, professionals will choose the one that seems to be the best “fit” with their budget, office needs, and overall personality and vibe. And, of course, how far someone is willing to drive or walk to get to work! After all, we’re living in a “near me” world!
