Not too long ago, many St. Louis area employers believed that allowing employees to work remotely was a perk for being a good worker, with no particular benefit to the company. Today, working remotely is commonplace as companies recognize that the benefits of flexible work arrangements aren’t as one-sided as once thought. Remote workers enable companies to lower overhead costs by reducing real estate footprint. Employers also realize that offering a flexible work environment helps them attract and retain the best talent and increase productivity.
Now companies are starting to understand it’s in their best interest to implement a flex work policy that encourages employees to work remotely, at least part of the time.
The problem is finding an appropriate place to meet when work takes you away from your office or other primary work space, according to St. Louis-based entrepreneur Carla Feuer whom I met with recently. Her startup called The Corner Office is designed to provide a simple, cost-effective flexible work solution for employers that combines the professional attributes of an office with the convenience and affordability of public spaces.
“My research reveals a ‘Goldilocks’ situation where conventional coworking and shared office options are too much, while coffee shops and other public spaces aren’t quite enough,” Feuer said. “The Corner Office is being developed to provide just what untethered employees need.”
With multiple locations planned throughout Greater St. Louis, busy professionals can meet, work on the fly, land between appointments or recharge their devices (and their minds) close to home or convenient to clients and customers. Specifically, The Corner Office offers private, professional meeting space on demand; appropriate, casual, public space with key amenities such as fast, safe internet access and bottomless coffee; and curated community and networking opportunities.
“Talking about matters relating to your business or your clients in restaurants or other public places is bad for business, but employees still do, which often is at odds with corporate efforts to protect proprietary information,” Feuer said. “Businesses invest heavily in technology, training and other methods to protect client data and trade secrets. But, indiscreet conversations can be just as big a threat. I don’t think businesses are intentionally overlooking this liability – they just don’t think there was much they could do about it. However, now they can.”
Feuer believes her concept is the next critical phase in an evolving flexible workspace industry rising to the challenges created by monumental changes in the way we work and the very nature of work itself. “My research shows there’s a need for a flexible work space that fits in between the shared office/coworking segment and public spaces like restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and libraries.
Carla just may be on to something! The startup community is starting to take notice as The Corner Office is receiving mentoring through the Gateway Venture Mentoring Service (GVMS) and was among the 2017 cohort of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis Accelerating Community Entrepreneurs (JFACE).
If you or your company want to get in on the “ground floor” of this exciting new St. Louis area opportunity, you can contact Carla Feuer at Carla@TheCornerOfficeSTL.com or 314/494-2320.
