Forge News and Updates |
This week we celebrate 5 years of being in business at Forge. At the end of our celebration lunch I had a member ask if it felt like we had been in business one year or twenty. I actually had to stop and think about that for awhile. It definitely does not seem like the first year of business (thank goodness!), but it is hard to comprehend how five years have already passed. I remember signing the first five year lease on the opening day of The Pizitz Food Hall (in the space that is soon to be Honest Coffee). At that moment, five years seemed to be an eternity away! And somehow, here we are, five years later! When I actually pause to reflect all that we have accomplished over the last five years, I cannot believe how far we have come. The prominent thread through each accomplishment over the last five years is that there is no way I could have done any of this on my own. In honor of FIVE years, I have compiled a top FIVE list of my gratitudes for the ways others have been the reasons behind the success of Forge.
1. The Forge Team
First and foremost I am extremely grateful for all of the people who have served on the Forge team. Over the last five years we have had three Marketing and Community Managers, four Community Support Assistants, and eleven interns. These are the people who have made Forge such a wonderful place for our members to work, serving and building our community each and every day.
Kelsey Sizemore, Katelyn Foote, Lauren Cushman, Alex Ball, Ella Lee, Jenna Nielsen, Molly Grace Quinn, Maclaine Kuehn, Emily Jackson, D’Talian Poole, Claire Cassata, Pate Simmons, Jen Stone, Meghan Speckman, Sarah English Coggins, Brenna Truitt and McKenzie Mowoe, yall are truly the best!!!
2. Forge Members
Second, I am so grateful for our members, current and past! I am so grateful for the people who have chosen Forge as a place to work. I had a vision for what our community would look like and the way that our members would support each other. But the community that has actually formed is greater than I could have dreamed. Our best days at Forge are when we walk through the hall and hear Forge members helping each other tackle problems or hold each other accountable to their goals. We may provide space for our members to work, but our members are the true heartbeat of what we do!
3. The Birmingham Community
Third I am grateful for the support from the larger Birmingham community. So many people over the years have championed Forge either by recommending Forge to a friend or colleague, sharing a post, participating in a giveaway, leading a lunch and learn, hosting events at Forge, bringing your team to gather at Forge or using Forge as a place to hold meetings. I am grateful and proud to do business in a community that is dedicated to supporting local, small businesses.
4. The Coworking Community Support
Fourth, I love being a part of the larger coworking community. I have a great mentor who has walked with me through many ups and downs (Jamie Russo, you are the best!). And I have a network of other coworking space owners and operators and I lean on every day! I would not be where I am today without other coworking space owners who have given their time and wisdom to help me along the way!!
We’ve been hanging out on Zoom long before it was cool!
5. My Family!
Last and most important, I am so grateful for my family! When I started Forge, we had young children. Starting a business was a huge change for our family – this was a whole family commitment, mom, dad, kids, grandparents… Without the support from everyone, Forge would not have been possible. My husband, Murray, has been my number one champion and supporter every single day. Fun fact, Murray is now an expert whiteboard hanger! Grandparents pitch in every week helping us get kids where they need to be. And my kids have been such troopers through this journey! It has been an unexpected blessing to watch my kids mature as they have had to take on more responsibility with my days more busy. Even though they do not always like this extra responsibility, they know they are doing their part in helping Forge to succeed. Over the years they have cheered on every success with us and prayed with us through the really hard times. I could not do what I do without the love and support from my family!!
Those six on the front row are the ones who make it possible!
Thank you to everyone who has helped make Forge the thriving space and community that it is today!
Forge News and Updates |
Coworking is Diverse
Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in one view of a Coworking space — a group of young techies with big headphones on, huddled over their laptops. But Coworking, and those who use Coworking spaces, has evolved. Coworking spaces now house a multitude of different workers — from entrepreneurs and tech startups to real estate agents and digital marketing teams, just about everyone can find value in a Coworking space.
Especially with the rise in remote work across all industries, we have seen a much more varied group of members than ever before! Large companies that previously held traditional office space are forgoing that in favor of flexible workspace, like Forge. Our members range from teachers to students, business owners to entry level workers, and all in between. We offer open Coworking space, dedicated desks, private offices, and conference rooms for rent. Coffee and tea are always free and flowing, and we offer many networking and happy hour events for our members!
Try it Now
If you’ve been wondering if Coworking is right for you, this is the perfect time to find out! Forge is offering a BOGO right now — sign up in June, get July free. Take the time this summer to get away from your kitchen table and into a space that fosters productivity, creativity, and networking. You may be surprised how even the most “traditional” worker can find value and productivity in a Coworking space! Let Forge show you just how great it can be. Sign up for a tour now.
Forge News and Updates |
If you are an entrepreneur, small business owner, or you are looking to have a business address in a different city or state, a virtual mailbox membership would be a great fit for you! So, you might be wondering: how exactly does a virtual mail membership work?
When you set up a virtual mail membership with Forge, you will be assigned a business address with a suite number. Then, when mail arrives for you, a member of our team will take a photo of your mail item and upload it to your mail portal! From there, you can choose to have the item scanned, shredded, recycled, forwarded, or you can schedule a pickup. This is, of course, a great way to keep track of your mail, but there are actually quite a few benefits you may not have thought of…
1. More Professional Than Your Home Address
If you run a business, you need a professional business address, it’s as simple as that. Using your personal home or residential address for your business gives your clients a first impression that is unprofessional to them and potentially unsafe for you. Utilizing a professional business address is simply the best possible option for your business.
2. Forward Your Mail to Any Address
While you can, of course, forward your mail to your personal address, you may need to forward it on somewhere else! We can forward your mail anywhere you need it to go. Just one more step you do not have to worry about.
3. No Trips to the Post Office
Rather than driving to the post office to check if you have anything in your PO Box, you can simply log into your mail app to check on what is in your box. The mail items will stay in your mailbox portal until you choose what to do with them. Similarly, you’ll have no need to go to the post office for stamps or to forward anything as we can handle that all for you!
4. Bye Bye Junk Mail
Say goodbye to sorting through junk mail and wasting your time shredding, recycling, and scanning your documents. When you sign up for Forge’s Virtual Mail service, you’ll get notified each time you get a piece of mail. Simply tap on the item and then choose scan, shred, forward, recycle, or pick up!
5. One Less Thing to Deal With
In addition to all of these other (more tangible) reasons, it’s mostly just one less thing that you personally have to deal with. For many business owners, it’s helpful to automate or even just take 1 thing off of their plate. Consider a virtual mail membership
6. All Your Mail at Your Fingertips
If you’ve had an item of mail scanned, you can access it at any time via your email. You can also see all of your mail at any time, no matter where you are in the country (or the world!). We know business owners are busy and having electronic access to all your mail whenever you need it is very important! Forge x Anytime Mailbox makes it easy.
7. A Real Street Address, NOT a P.O. Box
Unlike a P.O. Box, you can receive packages from virtually any carrier at a real street address. You will not run into any of the typical issues that may occur when you sign up for a P.O. Box with a Virtual Mailbox.
You can sign up for a Forge Virtual Mail membership for just $39/month here.
Forge News and Updates |
As remote work and flex working becomes more and more popular with a variety of industries, working from home is becoming the norm. But is work-from-home really the best, most productive way to work?
We explore 5 reasons that having a coworking membership is a better and more productive option than working from home.
Working Around Others
Working around others can keep you accountable, especially when they are not working on the same projects you are. Being around a group of motivated, productive individuals can inspire you to make progress on your own work projects and assignments! You may also get inspiration and motivation from learning about their work projects and what kind of goals they are working toward in their line of work!
Less Distractions
Working in a coworking space eliminates the distractions that can come with working from home. No laundry piled up out of the corner of your eye, no dishes to clean, and no other household tasks nagging at you. You can disconnect from home and plug into work in a work-only zone that is more inspiring and less chaotic than your dining room table setup.
Work-Life Balance
When you work and live at home, it can be really tough to maintain a good work-life balance because it can start to feel like you are always at work. Having a separate place to work is vital to keeping a separation between your work life and your home life. There are countless studies that show the importance of having a healthy work life balance for the impact it can have on your relationships, your well-being, and your quality of work. Obtaining a membership at a coworking space gives you the option to get out of your house and have a “true” workday that you can come home from at the end of the day.
Making Personal and Professional Connections
One aspect of coworking that can’t be overlooked is the opportunity to make meaningful professional connections. If you are an entrepreneur, the support and help you get from others is invaluable. You may make personal and professional connections who will help you propel your new business, take your current business to the next level, or connect you to someone who can skyrocket your career.
“Co-working also means brainstorming and learning new things every day from your differently skilled co-workers. In the long run, you become knowledgeable, creative, and eventually an industry-leading expert. That expertise will come in handy later in your professional life- You will be completing projects faster than usual by leveraging the skills you are gaining today.” – Facile Things
More Flexibility = More Productivity
“According to the Gartner 2021 Digital Worker Experience Survey, 43% of respondents said that flexibility in working hours helped them achieve greater productivity, and 30% of respondents said that less or no time commuting enabled them to be more productive.”
When workers have options and flexibility in their workday — whether that be with their hours, commute, or workspace — they are often more productive. When we feel like we have agency over our workday, we can get more done. Perhaps a coworking community is a shorter commute for you, or allows you more flexible workspaces to take Zoom meetings and in person meetings… whatever the reason, having access to a coworking space can increase your flexibility throughout your workday, which can in turn increase your productivity!
Forge News and Updates |
For entrepreneurs and established businesses alike, making a decision about office space is no easy task. There are so many options to consider and factors to weigh. Before you begin your search for a home base for your business, it’s critical to determine what you’re looking for: are you going to go with a coworking space or a traditional office?
If you are given the options of an office in a coworking space vs. traditional office work, which suits you better?
One of the most important benefits of coworking is its flexibility as compared to traditional offices. At Forge you can rent an office for one year, 6 months or month-to-month. You don’t have to commit to a long-term lease. And your rent at Forge includes things like utilities, internet, professional business address, meeting room credit, and even coffee.
Flexible lease options give you the ability to use the space on a short-term basis and to grow or shrink your physical space requirements as needed. Coworking offices can offer a more tailor-made solution when it comes to lease and space requirements.
Forge Rooftop Conference Room
Another perk? You can occupy your fully-furnished space right away. Forge private offices come with desks, chairs, filing cabinet, whiteboard and internet… plus a variety of amenities (like unlimited coffee!) and on-demand meeting space arrangements.
It’s not all about the physical space. Coworking spaces mean you have the opportunity to join forces with people with complementary skills and/or people who require your skills. Working from Forge makes it easy to network and grow your business connections and friendships!
Team office at Forge
Now let’s talk about traditional offices…
Leasing a traditional office usually represents a long-term commitment. Also, you need to think about your upfront costs with a traditional office. When you lease a traditional office, you will have to furnish and equip your space. This may also include expensive investments like building out amenities and meeting rooms.
And what about management of the space? You’ll have to take on the task of managing the office which can include maintenance and cleaning.
Not only that, but you have fewer opportunities to network and collaborate. You have less of a chance of connecting with people from other companies or industries.
Whether you’re considering a traditional office or an office in a coworking space, make sure the physical space you choose reflects the image you want to project for your clients, potential employees and partners, and the type of business you’re in!
Interested in touring a private office at Forge? Click below!
