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How to Create a (Great?) Startup Office Space While Being Absurdly Cheap

dontrepreneur.com

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Re: How to Create a (Great?) Startup Office Space While Being Absurdly Cheap

#11

Post by dcharlton »

tptacek wrote: post #5
dcharlton wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fair enough – the intent was to say as the founder you should splurge on yourself a little – not to say you're providing others with inferior stuff. I was able to find great chairs at an affordable price. When I can afford Aeron chairs for everyone, I would do that! I removed that part because it takes away from the point of the article.

I think that first sentence is profoundly wrongheaded. It's not just unpleasant, it's also penny-wise and pound-foolish. It is very hard to keep employees happy over the long term. Turnover is extremely expensive, and expensive in insidious ways. Employees already think that the founder is getting all sorts of perks that they aren't getting. Making that clearly apparent to everyone by giving yourself better digs is a…

See my comment above about the employee perks. I forgot to mention the fridge is already stocked with drinks and snacks. I am indeed learning and appreciate your feedback.

Re: How to Create a (Great?) Startup Office Space While Being Absurdly Cheap

#12

Post by tptacek »

mattking wrote: post #3

One of the more horrific color choices I've seen in a while.

I like that it's colorful, even if the colors are kind of hamhanded; it's good for your office to have an identity. I wish we could paint our offices (we could, but we need to be able to trade up to bigger offices on very little notice).

Re: How to Create a (Great?) Startup Office Space While Being Absurdly Cheap

#14

Post by jsb »

tsestrich wrote: post #10

Interesting article, particularly in regards to the tax credit for office spaces (I happen to be in Pittsburgh, might be useful knowledge for the future). I guess I don't agree with everyone else here, but I think it all came together well and I actually enjoy the color choices

Agreed - Also in Pittsburgh here. Looks like he was able to get office space on the North Side that qualifies for that tax credit. Not a bad area at all - just a short walk along the riverfront park to PNC Park/Heinz Field!

Re: How to Create a (Great?) Startup Office Space While Being Absurdly Cheap

#15

Post by ardit33 »

dcharlton wrote: post #7
dcharlton wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fair enough – the intent was to say as the founder you should splurge on yourself a little – not to say you're providing others with inferior stuff. I was able to find great chairs at an affordable price. When I can afford Aeron chairs for everyone, I would do that! I removed that part because it takes away from the point of the article.

Employees in this office will have plenty of perks – including $100 travel reimbursement per month, plus free lunch every day. I would not want to hire someone bogged down into such minute details of chairs when the entire space is obviously meant to make it as comfortable for them as possible.

are you kidding me? After the PC/Laptop/screen the type of chair is very very important. Any developer that is worth something, knows that they will have to sit down for long period of time, it better be a good chair.

If not, then it shows a lot about the employer. You risk looking like a company that buys cheap desktops, and and small screens to save money, but don't realise they are loosing tons in the way of lost productivity.

At home I have an $200 Ikea chair, and it is really nice. Not bank breaking for sure, but I expect my employer buy something similar in comfort level. Doesn't have to be a top of the line, but something that I can sit for few hours at a time without breaking my back.

I learned it the hard way, but I will never work in a place that cheaps out on chairs.

If you can't afford a $200 chair per employee, then you shouldn't be hiring. You need founders, and they can bring their own chair.

Re: How to Create a (Great?) Startup Office Space While Being Absurdly Cheap

#16

Post by [deleted] »

dcharlton wrote: post #7
dcharlton wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fair enough – the intent was to say as the founder you should splurge on yourself a little – not to say you're providing others with inferior stuff. I was able to find great chairs at an affordable price. When I can afford Aeron chairs for everyone, I would do that! I removed that part because it takes away from the point of the article.

Employees in this office will have plenty of perks – including $100 travel reimbursement per month, plus free lunch every day. I would not want to hire someone bogged down into such minute details of chairs when the entire space is obviously meant to make it as comfortable for them as possible.

[deleted]

Re: How to Create a (Great?) Startup Office Space While Being Absurdly Cheap

#17

Post by dcharlton »

ardit33 wrote: post #15
dcharlton wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Employees in this office will have plenty of perks – including $100 travel reimbursement per month, plus free lunch every day. I would not want to hire someone bogged down into such minute details of chairs when the entire space is obviously meant to make it as comfortable for them as possible.

are you kidding me? After the PC/Laptop/screen the type of chair is very very important. Any developer that is worth something, knows that they will have to sit down for long period of time, it better be a good chair. If not, then it shows a lot about the employer. You risk looking like a company that buys cheap desktops, and and small screens to save money, but don't realise they are loosing tons in the way of lost…

I think not hiring because you can't afford $200 chairs is silly-I can either hire you now or wait until I can afford 600 chairs. There are part time employees out there too! I was specifically referring to the fact that as an employer I am doing the best I can to get good chairs within a budget. These chairs are extremely comfortable and happened to be affordable.

I went to IKEA looking for chairs—and hated all of them. To me, these chairs are very comfortable.

Re: How to Create a (Great?) Startup Office Space While Being Absurdly Cheap

#18

Post by dotBen »

We did something similar with Citizen Space I in San Francisco (CS has since relocated to the ground floor of the same building in a different space, with decor less to my liking).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/294769682/

As you will see from the photo we were able to create a very slick space for little money - mainly using Ikea furniture.

I believe we worked out that our budget for 6 people was less than 3 Aeron chairs.

Re: How to Create a (Great?) Startup Office Space While Being Absurdly Cheap

#20

Post by mattm »

tptacek wrote: post #12
mattking wrote: post #3

One of the more horrific color choices I've seen in a while.

I like that it's colorful, even if the colors are kind of hamhanded; it's good for your office to have an identity. I wish we could paint our offices (we could, but we need to be able to trade up to bigger offices on very little notice).

Me too. The last office I was in was all grey and white. I would prefer lots of colours even if they are all mismatched. It's better than looking like a prison.
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