16 Sep 2009, Posted by Matthew Reinbold in New Work Ways, 3 Comments

Coworking + Mailbox Services?

In theory, coworking spaces, like Salt Lake City’s Betaloft, provide a tremendous service. They allow freelance writers, programmers, and creatives to collaborate in an ad-hoc, professional environment. However, the reality is less than perfect for a majority of its intended audience.

Cities in the western United States, like Salt Lake, are extremely car-centric. Where people live may be considerable distance from where a coworking center may be. There likely isn’t adequate public transportation between. Also, like many peers, I’m increasingly “client squatting”; that is, the jobs are too big or too technically complex to be handled remotely. Finally, when not at a clients I’m in my home office. After several years my man cave home office is optimized to my own predilections. It makes very little sense buying a membership to schlepp my stuff somewhere else when I’ve got all my creature comforts productivity tools readily available at the bottom of the stairs.

There is, however, one enormous advantage that an external space could serve. Even a virtual, distributed organization, like Vox Pop, needs a place for physical mail to be sent. My current solution is problematic. First, its multiple addresses: a PO Address for standard mail and my home address for package delivery (much to my chagrin). Second, the initial thrill of getting mail was quickly eclipsed by the tedious routine of driving to the post office to see if anything was there and discovering there wasn’t. The third issue is the perception of a PO box; despite progress toward redefining what a successful business may be many still hold PO boxes as a sign of un-professionalism or instability.

Regus is a nationwide business that offers a number of virtual office solutions across the country. What I’d love to see at my local coworking space is an emulation of the services provided by Regus. In particular, their mailbox solution is extremely attractive. For a monthly fee anybody can have:

• an address at a very professional looking location (Times Square, Capital Hill, Wall Street, Silicon Valley, etc.)
• somebody to sign for packages
• notification when new mail is there
• mail collection that is forwarded to address of your choosing (or held for pickup)

There are other places, like the UPS Store (formerly Mail Boxes Etc.), that offers something similar. However, the fit with coworking spaces would seem to make this a natural, low cost way of adding an additional revenue stream. I’m not interested (or have time) to cowork for the number of afternoons to justify a monthly membership. But paying a monthly fee to take advantage of Betaloft’s lovely downtown address is attractive. More importantly, the money saved from avoiding wasted post office trips would easily pay for itself.

What am I missing?