Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
As probably all of you (or most of you) know, last Friday was April 1st…also known as April Fool’s Day.
We got news from office broker Free Office Finder of how they decided to partake in the occasion by trying to ‘fool’ some people.
Here’s what they did: They published a blog post titled “Hi-Tech Office Pods to Replace Iconic London Phone Boxes”. The title is pretty much a giveaway of what they were offering. But on the bright side, it looks like London’s famous red phone booths have a new purpose for Muggles asides from being the only way to get to the Ministry of Magic. They’re now available to rent, for just a mere £20 an hour….or so Free Office Finder claimed.
“The state-of-the-art pod comes with a fully functional laptop computer, telephone and wi-fi connection, with a coffee machine to ensure that the person inside is at their most productive. Potential users of the pods include freelancers and people in business who prefer quiet space instead of working in a packed office. The pods will be available 24/7, including weekends, so they will benefit people who need to work but their offices are closed.”
With such a description it’s no wonder that some people actually fell for it, or at least so we heard from Daniel Kidd, the creator of this light-hearted funny post.
“We had a number of calls from people who wanted to rent one of the pods and we also had a couple of businesses who wanted to sponsor them.”
Free Office Finder wasn’t the only one that celebrated the occasion; Citibase published an article about a new type of serviced office: open-aired ones.
In any case, these might serve as inspiration for some operators and it’s also a (somewhat) clear indicator that more people are interested in flexible workspaces. At least so we think.
You can read Free Office Finder’s the full blog post here, or scroll down.
Hi-Tech Office Pods to Replace Iconic London Phone Boxes
by Daniel Kidd, published originally in Free Office Finder Blog
Free Office Finder are delighted to announce a multi-million pound deal with the government to replace the iconic red phone box with singular office pods.
The red phone box is about as synonymous with London as the tube and Big Ben, but from September, they will be no more. They are to be replaced with cutting-edge office pods that are available to rent from £20 per hour.
The state-of-the-art pod comes with a fully functional laptop computer, telephone and wi-fi connection, with a coffee machine to ensure that the person inside is at their most productive. Potential users of the pods include freelancers and people in business who prefer quiet space instead of working in a packed office. The pods will be available 24/7, including weekends, so they will benefit people who need to work but their offices are closed.
The cost to rent a pod with wi-fi and a coffee machine will be £20 per hour, but there will be an extra charge if you need to use the phone or laptop.
Ever since mobile phones were invented, the need for phone boxes has decreased, and now that almost everyone has a mobile, they’re almost obsolete. Studies suggest that they cost the government over £1,000,000 a year to maintain as well as repair from frequent vandalism. Signing this deal will bring the capital millions of pounds a year, as well as potentially increasing productivity for many businesses.
The pods will be available to use from September 1st, but we’re currently offering the experience for free at one of our office showcases. Email us [email protected] to register your interest.
