A pair of Richmond entrepreneurs is giving the old saying, “There’s strength in numbers” a Millennial twist after opening up a new co-working space.
Cindy Liu, 27, and Hilbert Ng, 30, both SFU grads, recently started welcoming clients to their 1,700-square-foot Network Hub on River Road and introduced them the idea of being able to rent a workspace that fits in better with their lifestyle and business goals.
And while the temporary nature of the work environment can be ideal for budget-conscious entrepreneurs getting a start-up company off the ground, or home-based workers who are either tired of, or chronically distracted, by their surroundings, the unique draw for a site like this is the nature of co-working.
Liu, who runs her own video production company, said co-working brings a diverse group of people together to produce a rich, sharing place where networking and friendships can blossom.
“I was working from home by myself, but I do like to work and meet other people,” said Liu, a Steveston secondary grad. “They are entrepreneurs, freelancers who come together in one space to work, which allows me to network and make new friends. And a space like that was lacking in Richmond.”
“It’s the sheer fact that every day we ask people who come in here, ‘What do you do? What’s your business about?’ that reinforces who we are and what we do has a purpose,” added Ng, who is a CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant).
“It also gives us inspiration when we see other people pursuing their goals.”
“As small business owners and entrepreneurs, it’s important for us to be networking every single day,” Lui added. “That’s because you may find opportunities here and there. And we feel when you come into a space like this, you’re at a networking lunch each day.”
And that breaks away from the traditional chamber of commerce structure where networking is a prime facet of its operation.
“Co-working, it’s much more organic than that,” Ng said. “Here, that same thing can happen naturally.”
“Traditionally, people go out to networking lunches. This is in-house and you get to develop relationships on a daily basis,” Liu said, “which can produce deeper connections.”
“Plus, another thing about Millennials is that we take instructions better from our peers than our bosses. So, that lends itself to a co-working community,” Ng added. “Yeah, we want freedom, but at the same time a little bit of structure keeps us more productive and a little more focused on our goals.”
With nothing like a co-working hub fitting the bill in Richmond, Ng and Liu set about creating it. And so far, they’ve attracted a mixed group.
“We get lawyers, consultants in marketing or e-commerce. There’s also import and export companies. It’s a real variety,” Ng said.
While the idea of co-working is not new — there are other Network Hub locations in Vancouver and Whistler — the fact Richmond lacked one has lured local clients to the River Road location and away from the commute into Vancouver, which can often be fraught with congestion.
“We’re a little bit off the main road,” Ng said. “We like that. It’s a little oasis, a walkable distance from the Canada Line, but still close to things.”
Cost for booking access to the hub is $95 for 10 working days — a fee that can be transferred to the other hubs in Vancouver and Whistler.
For that, clients get 24/7, keyless access to the second storey office area that has commanding views of the north arm of the Fraser River in east Richmond.
There are communal desks with workstations, a pair of phone booths where you can take private phone calls, meeting rooms where groups can be assembled for an additional, hourly charge and a social space that mimics a coffee shop ambience.
“Traditionally, co-working attracted a lot of people who were working from home or coffee shops,” Ng said. “The last five years I worked out of coffee shops, so that part of me is still very much alive. That’s why we designed a section to look that way.”
A full-time office manager can direct calls to the hub and mail is collected daily.
“This can be your business address,” Ng said. “If you’re not in every day, we will notify you that you’ve got mail.”
While the business is still finding and defining its client base as it shifts and changes, Ng said there is one constant.
“We wanted to build the space around the people,” he said, “and kinda listen in and find out what would help propel people in their careers. But the first step is to get people together.”
