happy. productive. loosecubes.

New to Loosecubes? Get Off on the Right Foot.

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:05:21 -0400

Coworking for the first time can be a bit daunting. What to wear? Who should I eat lunch with? What if I don’t fit in? Not unlike the first day of school, the anticipation and ambiguity of what’s to come may be intimidating for some.

Setting expectations is key. And who better to show how it’s done than one of our illustrious members? Entrepreneur, writer and community organizer Amanda McCormick created a Beginner’s Guide to Loosecubes that will have you coworking like a pro in no time. Check it out: http://www.jellybeanboom.com/a-beginners-guide-to-loosecubes/.

Psst: Not sure where to cowork first? We’ll show you the ropes at the Loosecubes HQ!

Taking Time Off (And Enjoying It)

Sun, 13 May 2012 22:36:08 -0400

Taking Time Off (And Enjoying It):

Having good intentions of taking a vacation is easy. We all like the idea of exploring new places, reading on the beach, and trading in our devices for mai tais. The reality, however, is that our plans rarely come to fruition. As recently reported by the Huffington Post, nearly half of all U.S. workers are leaving their vacation days fall by the wayside. So what can we do about it?

In a recent post on Forbes.com, In Good Company’s Adelaide Lancaster provides 9 strategies for taking time off successfully. Not only is a fulfilling vacation feasible, she says, but it might just be crucial to your professional success, too.

Loosecubes Hearts Roomorama We know that Loosecubers tend to travel a lot for work (and play), but...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:33:06 -0400

Loosecubes Hearts Roomorama

We know that Loosecubers tend to travel a lot for work (and play), but 1 oz bottles of shampoo and friends’ pullout couches can get old (and uncomfortable) after a while. That’s why our friends at Roomorama decided to make it easier for you to live like a local while on the road. Roomorama is the discerning traveler’s one-stop shop for short-term rentals. You can use their online marketplace to connect and transact with hosts who believe in convenient, rewarding, and unique travel experiences.

The best part is that they’ve decided to offer a 20% discount on bookings for the Loosecubes community! Use discount code CUBEDLOVE when you book your next trip to take advantage of this awesome deal.

Ergonomics to Go - Tips for Working In Comfort Wherever You Are

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:59:00 -0400

A guest post by Vivienne Fleischer, President & Co-Founder of Performance Based Ergonomics

These days, it seems that the modern workplace has turned into wherever our laptops, phones and to-dos lists happen to land. While all of us nomads, road warriors and entrepreneurs find that a lot of freedom and creativity comes with this style of working, if you’re not careful, your neck, back and shoulders can get cranky! Whether you work at home, a coworking space, a local cafe, hotel, or an airplane consider these practical ergo tips — your body will thank you!

Adjust Your Chair: Get to Know Your Chair’s Features

1. Adjust your chair height so that your knees are level with or slightly lower than your hips, and your feet are on the floor. If your chair isn’t adjustable, try using a small pillow to raise your height.

2. If you choose to sit against the back of your chair, make sure you have adequate lumbar support, avoid reclining while typing or mousing, and maintain a neutral pelvis to minimize back strain.

Make Your Laptop Work for You

1. Plug-ins are key! Whenever possible, use an external keyboard, mouse and monitor. Consider using a laptop riser along with your external keyboard and mouse. We love GoldTouch Go! Keyboards & Laptop Stands and the Cricket Laptop Stand.

2. Whichever keyboard or mouse you wind up using, make sure that your arms can rest comfortably by your side, with your elbows bent at approximately 90 degrees and your forearms more or less parallel to the floor.

3. If your desk height is too high (or chair too low), try using a lap desk for your laptop so that your arms can hang comfortably by your side when typing. Tip your laptop screen back for easier viewing.

Outsmart Your Smart Phones Mobile Devices: Spare Your Neck, Thumbs and Wrists!

1. Use a headset when talking.

2. When texting, switch up your typing fingers. Your thumbs don’t have to do all of the work!

3. Keep your head and neck in a balanced position. Try holding your device closer to eye level to avoid dropping your head.

Using an iPad, Kindle or Tablet

1. Prop up your screen with a laptop stand to avoid holding your device for prolong periods of time or placing it flat on your desk and straining your neck.

2. If you do a lot of e-mails or typing on your device, invest in a portable keyboard.

Carrying Your Stuff

1. Lighten up your bag and carry only what you really need.

2. Try using a roller bag. Your back will jump for joy!

3. If you use a backpack, make sure you carry it on both shoulders. Don’t defeat its purpose by slinging it over one shoulder!

Last But Not Least, Pace Yourself

1. Take frequent breaks. Stand up and stretch.

2. If you feel any strains or pains, stop what you are doing, take a break, stretch and try working in a different position.

3. If strains or pains persist, make sure to talk with your health provider to get relief.

——

Performance Based Ergonomics’ President & Co-Founder Vivienne Fleischer is passionate about wellness and an expert in ergonomics, health and wellness and piano performance (degrees from Juilliard School and Oberlin Conservatory).

Learn how to be a happier, healthier coworker at Vivienne’s upcoming workshop at the Loosecubes HQ on April 24th!

Loosecubes + Zipcar: A Match Made in Sharing Heaven

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:32:03 -0400

As members of the sharing economy, we’re lucky to have the opportunity to work with some pretty incredible people and organizations that share our values: better-utilization of existing resources, community, and being kind to the environment.

We’ve been big fans of Zipcar for years, and now we’re spreading the love to our members through some exclusive discounts: Zipcar is waiving the $75 business account set-up fee for Loosecubers, so registration costs just $25/year! Our members will also receive discounted weekday rates (not to mention a positive impact on the environment).

Learn more and get started at http://www.zipcar.com/loosecubes.

Announcing Instant Book & Mobile!

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:55:56 -0400

We’re going mobile and making it easier than ever to book a great workspace. Here’s how:

Instant Book - Now, all Loosecubes can be booked instantly. Search, book, and pay for a desk (for up to 3 days) in just a couple of clicks. We’ll notify the host of your reservation, and you’ll be on your way to a happy and productive workday. Book a Loosecube now!

Loosecubes Mobile - On the go and need a place to work? Our snazzy new mobile site will help you find and book a Loosecube around the block. Manage your reservations and get directions, too. Just visit www.loosecubes.com on your mobile device.

We’d love to hear what you think about these latest developments! Email anna@loosecubes.com with any feedback/questions/concerns.

bizperc or Bust: How a Kansas City Incubator is Forging a Path to Entrepreneurship

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:24:46 -0500

Who’s leading the nation’s charge in entrepreneurship? Silicon Valley? New York City? Nope, says Sarah Snyder of bizperc: Kansas City.

A seemingly surprising candidate for the role, the self-proclaimed City of Entrepreneurs is making no secret of its intentions to become a top source of innovation and economic growth in the U.S.

We had the opportunity to chat with Sarah to learn more about how she and her community at bizperc are leading the entrepreneurship charge — in KC and beyond.

LC: bizperc is a self-described business ‘incubator’. How does that differ from a coworking space?

S: bizperc is a coworking space powered by Think Big Partners, a startup accelerator. Tenants at bizperc have direct access to Think Big Partners, which offers lucrative business consulting services such as marketing, social media, legal, HR, and investor pitch coaching. We encourage and coach companies here to move forward fast – it’s an accelerator. If a tenant stays at bizperc for too long, we’re probably not doing our job. They should outgrow us.

LC: How is bizperc involved in supporting the growing entrepreneur community in Kansas City?

S: We do more than just cowork at bizperc. We hosted Startup Weekend KC in the spring of 2011, and that really put us on the map. Every First Friday we host Entrepreneur Corner for startups to exhibit their products/services, meet each other and have fun. This year, we’re hosting developer groups, a Launch and Learn series, a startup community council and bootcamp sessions. As a result, the Kansas City startup community views us as a valuable resource. In fact, The Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurship recently highlighted Think Big Partners in one of their popular Sketchbook videos.

LC: What challenges do you and your members face in building new businesses amidst the current economic climate?

S: In 2009, Think Big Partners was knee-deep in the startup process; developing a business and marketing plan, building a website, and building out bizperc. And when the recession hit, we knew it would be extremely difficult to grow the business. Like us, thousands of other entrepreneurs were facing similar issues: banks weren’t lending, businesses were going under, and the economy was deteriorating. So, we set out to foster the growth of more small businesses, by providing an affordable, sustainable and extremely beneficial resource: bizperc!

LC: What are you looking forward to most in 2012?

S: We have so much to look forward to this year! We just launched our second coworking space, KCCowork, in Prairie Village, KS. KCCowork will join the Think Big Nation network — a “not only for profit” model that aims to create more successful startups everywhere. We’re also expanding our annual Think Big Conference to include Kansas City, Baltimore and Memphis. Most exciting to me is our first accelerator class: selected candidates will receive one-on-one mentoring and pitch coaching to prepare them for a visit to Silicon Valley to meet with investors. We’re now accepting applications for our first full accelerator class to start in the spring, too. Last but not least, Think Big Partners will begin investing in technology-focused, early-stage startups this year. We can’t wait!

A Land Without Loosecubes As a Loosecubes engineer, I am permitted encouraged to pack up my MacBook...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:35:00 -0500

A Land Without Loosecubes

As a Loosecubes engineer, I am ~~permitted~~ encouraged to pack up my MacBook Air and relocate anywhere a Loosecube can be found. I’ve been studying Russian for almost 2 years, and when I thought about where in the world I might want to spend a few days working remotely, Moscow was my first choice. Loosecubes has locations in 71 countries, so I had lots of exotic places to choose from. Much to my dismay, Russia was not one of them.

How could the largest country in the world not have any Loosecubes? It’s difficult to say, but remember that the fall of the Soviet Union was less than 20 years ago. Despite being taught in schools, English is not spoken by much of anyone older than 20. Tight corporate fists have stalled the growth of telecommuting and coworking, making it a challenge to find shared workspaces.

But I was not deterred. I plunged into a world devoid of loosecubes.com and combed the internet by hand - like anyone would have done before our Founder, Campbell McKellar, dreamed up Loosecubes 18 months ago. I located a new coworking space on the north side of Moscow, mustered up all my Russian skills, and fired off an email inquiring. (“Могу ли я зарезервировать стол в пятницу?” or “Can I reserve a table for Friday?”)

To my surprise, a fast response, including a blush-inducing compliment on my Russian skills, was returned by Alex (the host) the next day. A few weeks later I was zipping through the Moscow subway tracking down Flacon Coworking. Locating it was hard enough but communicating with the host and paying for my desk was a real challenge. I quickly realized one of the many powers of Loosecubes: A quick, painless process for finding, booking, and paying for a space all online make the language barriers virtually disappear. (Do you know how much easier it is to read/write in a new language than it is to speak/hear? Especially with dictionaries and Google Translate if you get stuck!)

Over the next 5 days, not only did I get a lot of work done from a comfortable, productive workspace, but I learned a lot about what we as a company need to do to be more effective in international markets. Plus, I helped Flacon add their space to loosecubes.com, becoming the first location in Russia!

Спасибо! (Spasibo!) Thank you to Alex for hosting me at Flacon in Moscow and for expanding the Loosecubes network to its 72nd country! Together, we are changing the way people work around the globe.

Colin Bartlett is a back-end developer at Loosecubes. He lives in Brooklyn with his two chihuahuas, Loki and Lola. Does the idea of exotic workations around the world intrigue you? Loosecubes is hiring!

5 Tech Tools for Staying Productive Wherever You Work Guest Post by Ivan Drucker and Caroline Green...

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:29:00 -0500

5 Tech Tools for Staying Productive Wherever You Work

Guest Post by Ivan Drucker and Caroline Green of IvanExpert

Technology has made it easy to work from anywhere, whether you’re traveling to a faraway city, renting an office part-time, or sitting at the kitchen table at home. A little preparation can make the difference between wasting time and getting things done. Here are 5 ways technology can help you stay productive, no matter where you’re working:

1) Have access to your email when you’re offline.

Just because you use Gmail for mail doesn’t mean you can’t read and write emails when you don’t have access to the internet. Apple Mail, Outlook for Windows and Mac, and all other email programs can be set to make local copies of your inbox, your folders, and your sent mail; any emails you write while offline will send once you’re back on wifi.

To get started, set your Google mail account as IMAP instead of POP, and then follow Google’s instructions on IMAP client settings for your computer’s email program.

2) Have access to all your documents from every device.

Use document or cloud storage utilities such as Google Docs, Dropbox, or SugarSync to make sure all your necessary work files can be accessed from any location—your laptop, a friend’s computer, even your smartphone.

We prefer Dropbox for a few reasons: It’s easy to grasp the concept and set it up, you’re not restricted to certain kinds of files, and you have your files stored locally on your computer so you can use them when you’re without internet. Plus your first 2GB is free!

3) Create and edit documents on your mobile device.

Smartphones and iPads now allow you to work on documents directly on the device. Documents To Go is the best-known series of apps in this category, and it’s available for multiple platforms including Android, iOS, and BlackBerry; it’s already set up for use with Dropbox for easier access to all your files.

4) Block out distracting noise.

You may not know ahead of time what type of environment you’ll be working in. To curb the risk of distractions, have your smartphone or iPhone prepped with your favorite white noise app so you can focus amidst background conversation.

A few of the best-rated iPhone apps in this category are White Noise ($1.99), Relax Melodies Premium ($2.99), and Sleep Machine ($1.99). All have “lite” or free versions as well. There are dozens more, so keep looking until you find the one that works best for you.

Noise-canceling headphones help too—they’re not just for airplanes.

5) Hide distracting visuals.

Although there’s not much you can do to hide movement beyond your computer screen, you can prevent your computer from distracting you by using software tools that prevent certain activities.

Pared-down word-processing applications that block out the desktop, all open windows, and all menus are a great way to avoid distraction. Try FocusWriter for Mac and Windows (free).

Other applications blur out or minimize all inactive windows. For Mac, try Think (free). For Windows users, Swept Away (free) automatically minimizes inactive windows after a period of time you set.

You can also use applications that restrict your access to certain sites on the internet, such as AntiSocial for Mac ($15, free to try) and Do Not Disturb for Windows ($40). Set it up with your personalized “blacklist” of websites, so you can still do your online research without getting tempted by Facebook.

Celebrating Worldwide #JELLYWEEK 2012

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:26:54 -0500

January 16-22nd marks the first ever Worldwide #JELLYWEEK, during which coworkers everywhere will come together in their own communities to collaborate, network, and celebrate the inspiration born through the magic of working together.

We’re excited to represent the event in North America, and will be hosting a Meetup at our HQ on Monday for anyone who’s interested in working/hacking/crafting with us.

Several Loosecubes throughout the NYC area are joining in on the fun, too, including:

Open coworking and awesome events at WECREATENYC
Courtesy coworking day at Green Spaces on Tuesday, January 17th
3rd Ward is giving away 50 free coworking day passes

Follow our updates all week with hashtag #loosejelly, and join us in this celebration of global collaboration!

Happy Holidays from Loosecubes From all of us at Loosecubes, thank you so much for making this past...

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:53:18 -0500

Happy Holidays from Loosecubes

From all of us at Loosecubes, thank you so much for making this past year an incredible one. While we’re usually big advocates of productivity, we hope you enjoy a relaxing, work-free holiday season.

Cheers!

Campbell & the Loosecubes Team

My Life Without Loosecubes Part 5: The Refrigerated Conclusion For my final destination on my tour...

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:45:31 -0500

My Life Without Loosecubes

Part 5: The Refrigerated Conclusion

For my final destination on my tour of popular, public wifi hotspots, I chose to check out the often imitated, never duplicated Think Coffee. I had heard a lot about their flagship 248 Mercer location, so I thought it was worth giving it a shot.

When I walked in, I immediately fell in love with the aesthetics of the place. It’s a huge location, much larger than the exterior leads you to believe. I quickly ordered myself a hot cider, sat down at the bar in the back room, and fired up my computer. The wifi password was clearly labeled on the cash register allowing me to be up and running in no time. The space was packed with tons of twenty-somethings all hard at work (or at least pretending to be), and the playlist might as well have been pulled straight from my Spotify. This was it. I finally found my office away from the office that wasn’t a Loosecube. And that’s when the internet cut out…

‘It’s in the fridge,’ my fellow barmate said. ‘What? What’s in the fridge?’ ‘The router. They put it in there to cool it off when it gets overheated.’ Interesting. Whether this was true or not, I couldn’t find a signal. I patiently occupied myself with some offline work, and about 10 minutes later, the internet returned. Phew. Crisis averted. Or not.

For the rest of the day, the internet disappeared every hour for at least 5-10 minutes at a time. With each occurrence both my blood pressure and frustration level rose until I couldn’t take it anymore. I left broken and disappointed thinking I’d never find a productive, public place to work, and that’s when it hit me. Of course I was never going to find what I was looking for. It was impossible. All this time I had been trying to fit a round peg into a square hole. Coffee shops, hotel lobbies, cafes, libraries - they’re good for brainstorming sessions and casual meetings but something’s missing. Something big.

We’ve all heard stories about great ideas being born on the back of bar napkins. Even Think Coffee’s Foursquare page has a tip from Dennis Crowley referencing that the ‘mayor’ feature came from his and Naveen’s time there. But these public places all lack the pure collaborative and productive elements of a Loosecube. When you enter one of our locations, you’re instantly introduced to new people. You can bounce ideas off of the host and your coworkers throughout the day. You don’t have to worry about the internet cutting out, or where you’re going to take your conference call in the afternoon. It’s a much smoother experience; one that results in new business ideas, partnerships, and friendships.

But why should you take my word for it? Why not try it yourself and see how it goes? I have a feeling you won’t be disappointed.

My Life Without Loosecubes Part 4: No Pictures Allowed At the end of last week, I decided it was...

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:25:06 -0500

My Life Without Loosecubes

Part 4: No Pictures Allowed

At the end of last week, I decided it was time to try working out of a coffee shop close to my apartment in Cobble Hill. I didn’t want to waste any time searching for one, so I just went straight to the Starbucks around the corner. It seemed like everyone in my neighborhood had the same idea, and the place was slammed. Not an empty seat in the house. I racked my brain for the next closest place I could think of and remembered that the Barnes and Noble a few blocks north had a Starbucks cafe inside. I darted over and was able to find a small table, but I noticed there were signs explicitly stating the seating was for cafe customers only. Luckily, I was pretty hungry, so it was a great excuse to treat myself to a grilled cheese and bowl of tomato basil soup (which wasn’t half bad).

After I finished my lunch, I powered up my laptop and tried to connect to the internet. Key word: tried. This was the first time all week that I was experiencing wifi woes, and it wasn’t pretty. I could see the network, but my computer wasn’t connecting. I turned my airport off and on again, restarted my computer, and did everything else I’ve ever been instructed by an IT professional to do. I eventually figured out that I had to play around with my network settings, which seemed odd to me since I had no problems connecting to other public networks all week.

My experience only went downhill from there. About an hour after my initial internet problems, I noticed that my airport was struggling to detect the connection again. I was able to apply the solution I discovered earlier, but not before I lost a few e-mails I was working on. That was also around the same time I realized my power was low, and there wasn’t an outlet in sight. Great.

On my way out, I turned to snap a few photos when I noticed a man walking briskly towards me. ‘You can’t take pictures in the store, sir.’ ‘Oh. Sorry. I didn’t know.’ The icing on my cake of unproductiveness, further proving that this was no place for me or anyone trying to get serious work done.

My Life Without Loosecubes Part 3: I’m a Cheater What can I say? I couldn’t resist the...

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:51:42 -0500

My Life Without Loosecubes

Part 3: I’m a Cheater

What can I say? I couldn’t resist the urge to work out of one of our Loosecubes locations after all. In my defense, I had booked Porter Contemporary for the day well before I found out I was going to be on the road all week. I thought it would be best to keep my original reservation, so that I could have a fresh perspective on the differences between working in public spaces and working in Loosecubes.

My experience at this quaint art gallery in Chelsea was seamless. I had been messaging with the host for a few days before arriving, and she told me that although she would be arriving late, her staff member would be there to help me get settled in. When I entered the gallery, I was greeted with a smile and shown to my desk by none other than the aforementioned staff member, Stephany. She and I chatted briefly about how she had come to work at the gallery, and she explained that they were preparing for an opening that night. Shortly thereafter, Jessica (the host) walked in, and while we were talking she invited me to the very event Stephany had referenced moments earlier. Amazing. In 30 minutes of arriving at my Loosecube, I met two awesome women and was invited to an art opening. Unfortunately, for me, I had a meeting scheduled in Union Square in the late afternoon, so I’d have to cut out before the wine started flowing. I worked until 3:30pm, said my goodbyes to everyone, and headed for the subway. But where was I going to work after my meeting ended?

When I arrived at Dogpatch Labs for my meeting with Trevor from Lean Startup Machine, I was blown away. It wasn’t so much the space as it was the people. Right off the bat, Trevor started introducing me to all of the other startups around the space. I knew immediately that this was the social interaction I had been missing all week.

Despite the fact that I hadn’t booked ahead of time, Trevor let me snag the extra desk at LSM’s pod (they share on Loosecubes for free). I was able to wrap up a couple of outstanding work items and wound up having so much fun, that I almost didn’t want to leave. It was a strong reminder that I still haven’t been able to find a public space that could match the community elements of a Loosecube. I’m starting to think that might not ever happen. Only time will tell I guess. Back into the wild frontier of coffee shops I go!

My Life Without Loosecubes Part 2: Can You Talk Louder? For my second office-less day in the Big...

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:51:37 -0500

My Life Without Loosecubes

Part 2: Can You Talk Louder?

For my second office-less day in the Big Apple, I decided to head to the famous 5th Avenue branch of the New York Public Library. I’m still fairly new to NYC (10 months), so I thought this would be a great chance for me to check out a city landmark and, at the same time, get some serious work done.

Upon arrival, I navigated my way through crowds of tourists and middle school students and bounded upstairs to the renowned Rose Main Reading Room. I had seen it before in plenty of movies and photographs, but none of that really prepared me for how jaw-dropping the room truly is.

I carefully (and quietly) slid into the first chair I could find, plugged in my laptop, and got to work. It quickly became apparent that there would be no talking in this room. Especially when I saw people getting dirty looks from their fellow table-mates for merely closing their laptops too hard. It was right around this time when I got my first customer service phone call. I practically sprinted out of the room, but I had to answer it before I was fully in the clear. ‘I can’t hear you. Can you talk louder?’ said the voice on the other line. That’s when I found the phone booth.

I definitely felt comfortable talking at full volume here, except there was one, tiny problem. The exact location of this telecomm relic is an AT&T dead zone. Go figure. So instead of having to repeat myself in a louder voice, I was just dropping calls altogether. A reminder that the library is no place for telephones.

Luckily, my afternoon wound up being distraction free, and I even conceded to wearing headphones. I was definitely able to get some work done to close out my day, but I had made up my mind pretty early on that the library wasn’t for me. If you’re doing quiet, solo work (writers, students), there’s no better place in the city. Just make sure to bring a warm jacket. It’s freezing in there.

My Life Without Loosecubes Part 1: Ace in the Hole On Monday afternoon, I was presented with a...

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:23:00 -0500

My Life Without Loosecubes

Part 1: Ace in the Hole

On Monday afternoon, I was presented with a challenge: ‘This week, you’re not allowed to come into the office, you can’t use Loosecubes, and you can’t work from home.’ For a moment, I felt lost. How was I going to effectively get my work done this week? What about phone calls and meetings I had previously scheduled? There wasn’t time to waste asking these questions. I needed to find a place to call my office!

For the first stop on my urban adventure, I chose the Ace Hotel. I arrived yesterday in the lobby at around 10am, and it was already slammed. Multiple breakfast meetings were in full swing, and over the light chatter, I could hear the familiar hum of fingers click-clacking off of MacBook keyboards. I knew I was in the right place and quickly found an empty seat at a communal table. Now that I had a ‘desk,’ all I needed was a stable internet connection. As if he was reading my mind, a server appeared out of nowhere and handed me a card with an access code for the hotel’s free wifi. Perfect.

After diving into my e-mails and resisting the urge to order a snack for a few hours, I was convinced I was going to have an awkward interaction that would end with a staff member asking me to leave. But the moment never came. Instead, I wound up staying in the same seat for 8 hours without ever being made to feel unwelcome.

As great as this was for my productivity, I felt somewhat isolated. The conversations between strangers were kept to a minimum and most people seemed glued to their computers. Despite my brief run-ins with a venture capitalist and a grad student in need of iMovie assistance, I missed the collaboration and openness that I’ve witnessed at our Loosecubes locations.

All things considered, my overall experience at Ace Hotel was a positive one, and I could see myself going back on occasion. I recommend it to small teams looking for a place to meet outside of the office or freelancers in between client meetings in need of a place to productively kill time.

The Best of Both Worlds - Making Business and Coworking, Work

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:30:49 -0500

Sara Bacon, Founder of Greenpoint Coworking (GPCW), had been working at home for 7 years before she decided it was time to do something about her isolation. As the founder of her own design firm, she identified with the coworking community’s values and philosophies, and decided to marry the two by creating both a coworking space and new home for her business.

I had the pleasure of coworking at GPCW (one of our fave Brooklyn spots) on a recent morning, and sat down with Sara to learn more about how she strikes the balance between her profession and her newfound passion — coworking.

LC: How has your design company enhanced your coworking space and vice versa?

S: My design business, COMMAND C, and Greenpoint Coworking have developed a bit of a symbiotic relationship. From a marketing perspective, there’s sort of a cross-pollination that’s happened pretty organically. When I talk about one business, it automatically feeds into conversation about the other. GPCW gives COMMAND C a home-base that’s professional and legitimate, whereas working from home wasn’t the best place to hold client meetings and such. And, on a logistical level, the two businesses have completely different cash flow patterns. Having both businesses has helped to balance out my cash flow situation, too.

LC: What challenges do you face trying to run both a business and a coworking space simultaneously?

S: The biggest challenge that I’ve faced is being pulled in too many different directions at once and not knowing how to balance my focus and priorities. In the beginning it was really a ‘just do what’s in front of me’ sort of mentality. Now that GPCW has been open for a few months and I have most of my systems in place, I have a better idea of what needs to be done on the day-to-day.

LC: You’ve curated a really fantastic community of complementary coworkers. How did you attract such a synergistic group?

S: I believe that the things that make GPCW unique, are the things that attract the kind of people we have here. Relatively speaking, we’re a fairly small space, so there’s a pretty intimate vibe. The people who are here tend to like other people and want to be a part of a community. Secondly, the space is gorgeous–the people it attracts seem to really appreciate the aesthetics of their work environment and their quality of life.

LC: Do you have any other advice for small business owners who are looking to start a coworking space?

S: Just make sure that the two businesses fit in well with each other. For me, it was imperative that both businesses grow and support one another. I think that’s worked out because of the nature of the two kinds of businesses. The other thing I’d say is don’t overlook the coffee expense! We drink lots of it. I had no idea.

Want to give GPCW a try? Now through December 24th they’re offering one month free with any new membership. Learn more by visiting their Loosecubes space profile.

Feature Updates: Better Reviews, Regulars, and Comments We’ve cooked up some exciting new...

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:12:39 -0500

Feature Updates:

Better Reviews, Regulars, and Comments

We’ve cooked up some exciting new community features just in time for Thanksgiving. Here’s the latest and greatest from the Loosecubes HQ!

Regulars and Who’s Worked Here - Natural light is nice, but if you’re like us, you know it’s the people that make a workspace awesome. Now it’s easier to see who works where. Hosts can specify who the ‘Regulars’ are and members can specify where they’ve worked.

Better Reviews and Ratings - Help our hosts build a reputation based on trust. Review spaces you’ve worked at and rate them on productivity, community, and cool factor.

Facebook Comments - Share your thoughts about a space in a snap. Add a comment on the space profile page and post it to Facebook.

These additions could not have been made possible without you, our amazing members! Log in, take a look around, and feel free to drop us a line at hi@loosecubes.com with any feedback you might have.

Coworkin' at Bizperc!

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:23:04 -0400

Last week I traveled to Kansas City, my hometown, to visit my family. While I was in the “City of Fountains” I had the opportunity to cowork for a day at Bizperc. Kansas City has a few great coworking spaces on Loosecubes to choose from. Although my decision was tough, Bizperc outweighed others with its thorough solution to coworking. Not only do they have a huge space to offer their coworkers, they also have everything under the sun for business owners! Bizperc has a great kitchen stocked with amazing goodies including free popcorn, soda, and a Starbuck’s sized array of coffee choices. Oh, and a rooftop wifi garden that has amazing views of the city.

But it isn’t all fun and games at Bizperc. They make it really easy to run a business inside their walls. Their space is certainly a one-stop-shop for anyone who is looking to legitimize their business or launch their startup! This includes a huge business resource center, an event space, and a great community to network with.

We see a lot of coworking spaces here at Loosecubes. However, I rarely see any that offer as many services and resources as Bizperc. Thanks to Sarah and Allison for being amazing hosts during my stay!

Bridge Closure Opens Doors to Coworking?

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:31:22 -0400

[Photo courtesy of brokensidewalk.com]

Recently we caught wind of an infrastructure setback that’s affecting tens of thousands of commuters in the midwest. The Sherman Minton Bridge, a main thoroughfare for commuters between southern Indiana and northern Kentucky, was recently closed due to cracks found in it’s structure. The impact? For the next 6+ months, professionals who work across the river will be faced with unfamiliar detours and commutes that are double, triple, or even quadruple their normal length.

Organizations on both side of the river have been affected — Local businesses are encouraging their employees to shift their work schedules to avoid rush hour traffic, and others are allowing their employees to work from home. And while remote work arrangements will keep cars off of the road, for many, working from home presents challenges of its own. Productivity, isolation, and lack of routine are all perils of the home-based employee (and are concerns for employers, too).

Our solution? Allow these employees to work in Loosecubes in their own community. By doing so, everyone wins. Companies on both sides of the river can play host to each other’s employees and provide them with a convenient and productive place to work, not to mention gain fresh perspectives on their projects, network with relevant professionals, and even make new friends. It’s not just goodwill, it’s good business.

If you’re still not sold on the benefits of coworking, find out more here. If opening up your office to other professionals sounds interesting, find out more about hosting here. We have a feeling once members of these communities have experienced coworking, they will continue sharing workspace, ideas, and innovation — even after the bridge reopens.