Would visiting a 'serviced office' put you off?

[EnglishDispenser]

Hi,

I need some advice from the HOH here, if you could spare a moment ...

I currently run my discount hearing aid practice full time from a standard office on a long lease in a semi-retail area. Name above the door etc.

However I am thinking of opening another office some distance away.

I would like to use a 'serviced office' : essentially one or two rooms in an office complex located on an industrial estate.

Good parking, easy to reach, very stylish modern building with shared reception, cafe type area, decent toilets ... but in a fairly industrial area. Nothing like a High Street retail shopping area!

Soooo ... would visiting a dispensing practice in a serviced block be OK for you ... especially if the prices were VERY low?

Or would using a dispenser located in Room 123 of the XYZ Business Centre on Steelworks Road (behind the truck park) put you off?

This is a typical UK serviced office - a Basepoint building in this case.
Great building - but the surroundings might be rather industrial.

[Raudrive]

The answer may vary pending on age and sex. People do want to be secure.

As a man in my 50's I would not be nervous about the places you have mentioned.

From a business standpoint, a good reputation is the best advertisement no matter where you are.

Good luck

[jdtruly]

My audiologist in Texas is officed in a situation like this. It is on the second floor of a ~12 story modern building. The office suite includes a couple of real estate offices, an attorney, a nutritionist, etc. There is a common waiting area and receptionist. The set up is fine with me. I'm paying for the service not the storefront.

[canthearmuch]

R, I have used Regis and others serviced units and in my view, the details matter.

You should be able to add your business name to signage/park map on the way into the park, to the unit, on parking spaces and at the main door.

You must have labelled, reserved parking as these units tend to be swamped with others "borrowing" adjacent spaces, often when they have a big meeting or presentation going on.

Is there a shared reception/receptionist? If not, how will customers be directed to your room(s) and how will "front door" security work?

Where will they wait if early?

Its all about the image of permanency and establishment plus minimising the effort to get there........it would certainly work for me - after all, where is the advantage in paying more to be seen in a shopping centre?

[EnglishDispenser]

You should be able to add your business name to signage/park map on the way into the park, to the unit, on parking spaces and at the main door.
Not possible.

You must have labelled, reserved parking as these units tend to be swamped with others "borrowing" adjacent spaces, often when they have a big meeting or presentation going on.
Not possible - but road parking available too.

Is there a shared reception/receptionist? If not, how will customers be directed to your room(s) and how will "front door" security work?
Full time receptionist.

Where will they wait if early?
Sofas in reception, plus cafe style coffee area adjacent.

Its all about the image of permanency and establishment
Tricky - but possibly explained via web site.

plus minimising the effort to get there
100 metres off a major road and 200 metres from McDs, pizza house, filling station, supermarket etc.

Tricky decision ....

[RoseRodent]

I am perhaps from a more unusual situation because I have other disabilities, and the only places to go these days and buy wheelchairs and lifting equipment are on such estates, therefore I wouldn't find it at all unusual to think you'd go there for a hearing aid. It might even give you some good cross-business if it's full of wheelchair and stairlift companies!

I think you have the best of both worlds if you are talking about having a second office, as people who see your outlet in the other office might call for appointments and you can say can see you earlier in our building out in the business park do you want that one, and from there a reputation for the new place will spread. Especially if your high-street office has poor car parking or restricted access for the less agile customer.

I think perhaps having pricing too low would lead to some suspicions, though, and add the low prices to the industrial outlet and you could be in for some people thinking it's not so genuine, so I'd be tempted to keep business cards showing the high street address as the primary focus, and to pitch prices to attract business, but not in a way that people will think hmmm, operates out of an office unit and charges rock bottom, what's he selling?

[EnglishDispenser]

I am perhaps from a more unusual situation because I have other disabilities, and the only places to go these days and buy wheelchairs and lifting equipment are on such estates, therefore I wouldn't find it at all unusual to think you'd go there for a hearing aid. It might even give you some good cross-business if it's full of wheelchair and stairlift companies!

Bingo! That's how I found the place!

I was visiting a disabilities supplier - but too late as they have already signed up with another dispenser.

[xbulder]

Originally Posted by EnglishDispenser

Bingo! That's how I found the place!

I was visiting a disabilities supplier - but too late as they have already signed up with another dispenser.

Does it really pay to aim for the right segment. I would try to aim for a differnt
segment that you do not have. Excuse my ignorance, what about aiming at the very
highest level. Perhaps it provide less volume but more revenue.

Just a though

[EnglishDispenser]

Excuse my ignorance, what about aiming at the very
highest level.

I would LOVE to do that!

Sadly that would mean returning to London where all the rich live and where all the action is.

I've 'done' London in my youth ... I couldn't face all that again.

FYI, England = London .... anyone who lives outside London is regarded as a hick. However out here I have farmland and sheep and fresh air ... why would I want a tiny grubby apartment instead?

[xbulder]

Originally Posted by EnglishDispenser

I would LOVE to do that!

Sadly that would mean returning to London where all the rich live and where all the action is.

I've 'done' London in my youth ... I couldn't face all that again.

FYI, England = London .... anyone who lives outside London is regarded as a hick. However out here I have farmland and sheep and fresh air ... why would I want a tiny grubby apartment instead?

Is there a premium price segment in london?