Welcome To UStation: Creating Spaces To Make You More Productive
SAINT JOHN– Two Saint John businessmen want to help you become more productive with their new venture, UStation.
UStation is a membership-based company that wants to create a network of inspiring, tech-enabled spaces and technologies so people can be productive and “can get to work.” The business will be opening its first location in the coming weeks at 87 Prince William Street.
Unlike traditional co-working spaces that focus more on collaboration, UStation focuses on the individual and the technology that will offer them the opportunity to do safe, seamless, productive work.
Founders Jeff Roach and Glen Hicks says the idea for the company came from their own experiences of working from home, yet hunting for the perfect outside workspace to escape to when needed.
“Our market focus is independents, traveling salespeople, executives, entrepreneurs, those are the kind of folks we’re looking for,” says Hicks. “We don’t really host teams. You couldn’t rent a big space to put a team of five. There are other options for that. This is really about individuals and it’s about productivity. We’re in the productivity business and we see productivity through inspired spaces, technology, knowledge and community.”
Much of UStation’s technology offerings stem from its custom-built apps and member portal. Through the app, members will be able to physically enter the location and access fast, secure, reliable WIFI. They will be able to seamlessly stream meetings in the location’s conference room. Also as a future offering through the app, members will be able to book other unique meeting spaces around the city.
“Everything we’re doing here is based on the assumption that our members have another place to work at home,” says Roach. “They’re set up, they have computers, they got their stuff, but they want to be in the city, they want to get out of their house or they need to stop somewhere to check your email and do your stuff. Everything we’re doing here is based on ‘would we want this?’ “
Of course, members also have access to a cool and functional workspace, featuring desks, tables, sofas, chairs, for whatever way you prefer to work. There will also be lockers for members to store their belongings as well as a small kitchenette to store drinks and brew a fresh coffee. Though their space looks cool, Roach emphasizes the workspace is only a small part of what UStation is.
We don’t see ourselves as a space business, we see ourselves as a productivity business,” says Roach. “Space happens to be an important component of it, but so is technology, so is knowledge and so is the community.”
The goal for UStation is to be a franchise, where members can seamlessly access all locations. UStation will franchise the technology, while it’s the franchisee who is responsible for securing and maintaining a good workspace to use it in.
“We have no intention of being property managers. That’s not the business we’re trying to be in,” says Roach. “The stuff we’re focusing on is the access, the technology, getting in the door, opening lockers … is the stuff we’ll replicate through a franchise model. The franchisee is the one who has to pay attention to the space. ‘Is this place beautiful? Is this the kind of place people want to be in?’ “
The company is already in serious talks with possible franchisees in Fredericton and Halifax about opening locations.
Hicks says this would be a great option for those sitting on vacant spaces but not sure what to do with them.
“What we think is a potential for expansion would be someone who already owns a beautiful space and doesn’t know what to do with it,” he says. “This becomes another option for them to consider.”
There are a lot of similar businesses out there in bigger centres like Toronto, but those wouldn’t necessarily work here due to size. Roach says UStation provides a model that’s perfect for smaller cities.
“What we’re doing happens in large cities and there are companies that are doing a great job at it in large cities, but they’re not coming to our small cities. This is a model for small cities and it’s also based on the knowledge that every city has beautiful, forgotten spaces,” says Roach. “Saint John isn’t the only one that has this. Every small city in the Maritimes has churches people can’t find a purpose for or grand old buildings.”
UStation will be onboarding members next week and expect to have the space ready to use by month’s end.