![\"photo-66\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.markstephensarchitects.markstephens.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/photo-66.jpg?resize=660%2C660\")
<\/p>\nI thought I’d share a few observations on opening a new office. I’d had a few offices in London over the years but this is the first time it’s been close to a high street with a large window display:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Firstly, things are going well, it’s still not quite finished (the planning has come through and I’m awaiting the new shopfront panelling and signage); but fingers crossed it looks like being a success. Either way there are definite advantages of not working from home:<\/p>\n
\u2022 You have a separate place you can meet people at; it’s always reasonably tidy and you don’t have a mad panic or an irritated better half tidying up before a client arrives<\/p>\n
\u2022 It’s a big advert for your business; I am constantly amazed at how many people stop and look at the window display. You’d think after a few weeks this will lessen but it’s still continuing!<\/p>\n
\u2022 You get a better internet connection. We’ve struggled for years with internet sped and download limits from the office at home (in the middle of no where); now we should have (fingers crossed as new line is being installed this week) a pretty quick internet set-up<\/p>\n
\u2022 You have space for staff, Melissa is with me full time now and currently I also have Ciara who’s on work experience<\/p>\n
Other observations include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 You see the same faces walking past every day<\/p>\n
\u2022 You get the occasional ‘odd-ball’ coming in off the street:<\/p>\n
“What’s going on here then?” – “It’s an architect’s office”, “OK carry on then”<\/em><\/p>\n “Can you register my pony please?” Wha?<\/em><\/p>\n \u2022 You get a lot of requests to involve (i.e. hand over money) for some aspect of the community; Humbert Challenge Triathlon sponsorship (which I’m doing), Swinford Soccer Club signage (still thinking about), Agricultural Show Donkey competition (probably not).<\/p>\n \u2022 The draw-backs are that it costs more, not just the set-up but Council fees (how do they expect to attract new businesses with the fees requested?) and Insurances for the building, contents, employers & public liability.<\/p>\n Anyway, fingers crossed, I’ll keep you posted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I thought I’d share a few observations on opening a new office. I’d had a few offices in London over the years but this …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[6,15,17,73,94,95],"tags":[221,453,831,845,919,1011,1228,1264],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n