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I really don't know what you're talking about. I'm a WeWork customer - we rent an office at a WeWork for our small company. We're not at WeWork because of hype
by edanm 8y ago
I really don't know what you're talking about. I'm a WeWork customer - we rent an office at a WeWork for our small company.
We're not at WeWork because of hype, or the image of the CEO, or anything like that. We're at a WeWork because it's a cheap/easy way to get an office, that we can scale when the company grows with minimal issues since it's month to month. We shopped around a few competitors, WeWork happened to be the best combination of price vs. space vs. availability, so we went with that.
I haven't exactly done a poll, but I doubt that most WeWork customers know or care about WeWork's culture too much - they just need an office, and WeWork is providing a cost-effective solution. Maybe it's artificial because of VC money - if so, I certainly don't care - it'll be good while it lasts!
For contrast: at my previous company, we also wanted to move to an office (instead of working out of my apartment). We spent a huge amount of time looking at offices, and ended up staying put, because it was hard to find a decent office with a decent price, and signing up for a 2-year lease is a huge commitment which is not fun to make when you don't know the future size of the company - do you get lots more space than you need and pay extra? Do you get less space and are in a tough spot if you grow too fast?
- jusben1369 8y agoI think that's fair. I also think you represent the initial use case and one that's still very relevant today. WeWork has made it clear though that real growth for them now needs to come from mid and large companies willing to use their services at scale and have had some success doing that. I would pivot a little away from OP's "human sentimental" angle and more towards "this obvious ethical lapse, and a board that can't or won't control it" will make those larger organizations pause before becoming too dependent upon WeWork.
- RonanTheGrey 8y ago> We're at a WeWork because it's a cheap/easy way to get an office, that we can scale when the company grows with minimal issues since it's month to month Where is WeWork month to month? Yes the open plan area is month to month, but the instant you try to get a private room they want you to sign a 6 month commitment. I have not gone to ones in the US, though. This is outside the US. Are they truly, genuinely cancel-any-time month to month? Or "yeah it's month to month but if you cancel before 6 months is up you have to pay 50% of the remaining months"?
- mikemac 8y agoI've managed WeWork leases in both SF and NYC and they were both month to month with a dedicated office. I think there is a 30 day out but it was pretty easy. There is some variation between offices though, so entirely possible you had a different experience.
- RonanTheGrey 8y agoAlright, I am going to check again. Thanks!