How retail, hospitality and leisure spaces are flexing to attract remote workers and fresh revenue
The pandemic has pressed fast-forward on what is being dubbed the work-from-anywhere phenomenon. Businesses that previously had no relation to the world of work are recognising that how we work has changed for good, and that their business model can adapt accordingly. Retail outlets, shopping malls, hotels, service stations, golf clubs, leisure centres – the list goes on. All are looking to redefine their service offering by creating spaces that enable customers to work. So how easy is it to achieve this transformation?
Nook Pod
Creating a work-from-anywhere space
This is not a case of shoe-horning a few seats and tables into a drafty corner and hoping individuals take notice. Businesses looking seriously at this work-from-anywhere model are determined to get it right. And they’re finding that getting it right can be quick, simple and inexpensive.
It really can be as easy as providing great coffee, great wifi and a Nook. Nooks are acoustic work pods, designed to dampen sound and to deliver comfort and privacy without isolating users. The addition of just one Nook can immediately redefine a space and change the way a customer interacts with a business. And the fact that Nooks are built on wheels also gives businesses the ability to effortlessly change-up space – a portable office to be placed wherever works best.
Nook Pod
What are the business advantages?
Take leisure-centres as an example. Previously, a busy working day may have resulted in a customer choosing to work from home rather than enjoy a swim. With the introduction of professional and productive work pods to the leisure centre this customer can take their exercise and remain on site to complete any work tasks – no rushing about, no either/or. This is a long way removed from trying to balance a laptop on a wobbly table in the leisure-centre’s noisy café. Work can be completed in a calm, productive and purpose-designed environment.
For the customer, the ability to exercise and be productive offers a much healthier work-life balance. And for the leisure centre, it means one more customer on-site who otherwise may not have been, potentially spending on refreshments and equipment – even paying to use the work pod itself if that’s the chosen financial model. The addition of Nooks may encourage new memberships, attracting those who previously worried that work didn’t leave time for exercise. It’s the equivalent of working in an office with a fantastic pool!
For customer-facing businesses – many of whom will have taken a financial hit during this testing year – the opportunity to add new revenue streams is very attractive. The demand is there. So are the solutions. Flexing your service offering has never been easier; or more important.
To read even more on this subject, visit our page dedicated to Hospitality HERE
