entrepreneurs part 2
What does it take for In House Architecture + Construction to make it in the Midcoast? Here are some of Carrie's and Steve's thoughts:
Affordable (and inspiring) space - In House needed an affordable downtown office. Main Street in Rockland provided something that would have been out of reach in their recently departed San Francisco. "Where in the City could we have afforded this space?" says Carrie. The ceilings are high, the floors are original wood. Looking out big windows across Main Street, you can just about smell the coffee at Second Read.
A community that understands entrepreneurialism. Carrie launched In House from her home. It kept costs low as she built her business. Working from home would have been inconvenient and would have put her at a professional disadvantage in San Francisco's high-powered (yes, you heard me) metropolitan environment. Here in Midcoast Maine, it's what people have been doing for generations.
Pool of talent. A big pool of skilled workers is important to any small shop as it begins to grow. In House has to spend extra time and energy fishing around for the right people with the right skills at the right price. Contrast this with a metropolitan scene where entry- and mid-level workers are popping out to colleges and universities left and right. (Is this beginning to improve? You tell me. . .)
Market. Carrie says that one of the best things about setting up shop here has been the scope and scale of projects that they've landed. You can see how this would be counterintuitive to someone who still had their city glasses on. Big cities are supposed to be the places that provide opportunity and variety. But all these local projects have provided more of a range than this husband and wife team ever imagined for this stage in their careers.
More to come.
Affordable (and inspiring) space - In House needed an affordable downtown office. Main Street in Rockland provided something that would have been out of reach in their recently departed San Francisco. "Where in the City could we have afforded this space?" says Carrie. The ceilings are high, the floors are original wood. Looking out big windows across Main Street, you can just about smell the coffee at Second Read.
A community that understands entrepreneurialism. Carrie launched In House from her home. It kept costs low as she built her business. Working from home would have been inconvenient and would have put her at a professional disadvantage in San Francisco's high-powered (yes, you heard me) metropolitan environment. Here in Midcoast Maine, it's what people have been doing for generations.
Pool of talent. A big pool of skilled workers is important to any small shop as it begins to grow. In House has to spend extra time and energy fishing around for the right people with the right skills at the right price. Contrast this with a metropolitan scene where entry- and mid-level workers are popping out to colleges and universities left and right. (Is this beginning to improve? You tell me. . .)
Market. Carrie says that one of the best things about setting up shop here has been the scope and scale of projects that they've landed. You can see how this would be counterintuitive to someone who still had their city glasses on. Big cities are supposed to be the places that provide opportunity and variety. But all these local projects have provided more of a range than this husband and wife team ever imagined for this stage in their careers.
More to come.
1 Comments:
Hmmm, that is a kick BUTT site for Second Read and Rock City Coffee...but, I am a bit biased. :)
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