The Design Hub: When a landlord is more than a landlord.

Previously, I posted an article about ways owners of booth rental establishments can be more competitive by creating an atmosphere that educates, encourages, and supports independent professionals by offering them additional services.

In Nevada, someone did just that.

Check out The Design Hub, a “co-working” space for beauty professionals that also offers support services like graphic/web design. Unlike many rental establishments, The Design Hub offers “drop-in” (per-day) rentals, and monthly memberships.

There’s a big distinction to be made between a traditional rental salon and a co-working space. In a rental salon, professionals are expected to sign leases, like in any other commercial rental arrangement. In co-working spaces, you’re unlikely to be working alongside the same people day in and day out for very long.

The unique, transient nature of the professionals within The Design Hub is important to recognize.
Sure, it presents some potential problems. You may get stuck working alongside someone whose behavior doesn’t reflect well on your own business, or one who doesn’t know what deodorant is. I’ve said in my book that there are three types of renters: successful professionals who are fantastic self-managers, new graduates who may or may not be aware how much hard work self-employment entails,  and people who are only renters because they’re completely unemployable. In a co-working space, you never know who’s going to be setting up shop for the day in the station beside you.

Then again, the person who “drops in” to pull a shift or two might be a touring platform artist, educator, or other valuable connection.

You never know who you’ll meet from day-to-day, and that’s why co-working offices in the tech space are in such high demand right now. They’re places where creators and innovators meet and collaborate. They’re not only work spaces, they’re networking environments.

The important thing to note about The Design Hub is that the owner, Patricia Sennert, seems to know exactly what independent entrepreneurship is about. She’s created an environment that’s not only conducive to microsalon ownership, but supportive of the professionals working within it.

More of this, please.