1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: Meek Stephen is on The Money Shows six to eight pm. 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: I don't know if you're quite as frustrated as I am. 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: You probably are by the shared number of calls you 4 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: get to your cell phone. That is someone you don't 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: know trying to tell you something, usually something that you 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: don't need for some reason. I'm in some car insurance 7 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: company books, and then there are people who say that no, 8 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: we'll reduce your loans. Yeah, whatever, I'm going to trust you. 9 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: I don't know, though, if you've had the experience of 10 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: someone you know offering you a service, maybe someone in 11 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: your neighborhood. So on my street WhatsApp group, I've noticed 12 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: a few people who live in the street will advertise 13 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: their services, and I have to say, if I ever 14 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: actually need a service, they're the first person I go to. 15 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: I don't necessarily know that their service will be better. 16 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: I may not even know them that well, but hey, 17 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: they're on their street, my street what's App group, so 18 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: they've got to be good, right. It's interesting that just 19 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: because I sort of know them well. The Shared Workspace 20 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: Provider Workshop seventeen they've started. I don't know if you'd 21 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 1: call this an experiment, but they've created the directory. So 22 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: if you work there, if you're one of them members 23 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: and you there regularly, an you're looking for a particular service, 24 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: well maybe that well dressed chap that you see in 25 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: the lift every day actually provides exactly that you just said, 26 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: no idea. Penelope Mania is the national marketing manager at 27 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: Workshop seventeen. Penelope, good evening. What made you think of 28 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: doing this? 29 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 2: Hi, Stephen, Yeah, thanks, thanks so much. So. Really I 30 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 2: think this is it's not necessarily an experiment, and it's 31 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 2: been something that I've been working on for quite some 32 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 2: time now, and it's really a digital platform app and 33 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: platform based digital directory, and I think it really talks 34 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 2: to what you're saying right now is you have trust 35 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 2: in physical proximity. I mean, you share or someone says 36 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: something in your network or your WhatsApp group, and you 37 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: automatically kind of trust them. It's a funny kind of 38 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 2: you know, a funny kind of concept. Maybe it's because 39 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: their proof of existence. You know, you share you know, 40 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 2: a dog walk, or you see them, you know, over 41 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 2: over the fence or whatever, and you automatically think, well, 42 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 2: I know them, they're like minded, and I trust them. 43 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:14,079 Speaker 2: So we've kind of taken that concept of really kind 44 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 2: of that trust element and then obviously the membership based 45 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: of like minded individuals and business men and women and 46 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 2: not all looking for data as you refer to them, 47 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 2: seeing them in the list, and really putting that onto 48 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 2: a platform which you have access to, immediate access to, 49 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 2: so you're cutting up that that noise. You know, if 50 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 2: you go into LinkedIn or whatever, that might look like 51 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 2: I'm searching for say I'm looking for a marketer or 52 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 2: I'm looking for a graphic designer. I can choose by sector, 53 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:46,799 Speaker 2: I can choose by location and by organizations. So it's 54 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 2: a really really seemless way of looking for a professional 55 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 2: that you're looking for, and you know it's it's it's 56 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 2: it's quick, and it's it's sufficient and effective. So really 57 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,119 Speaker 2: that's been our approach and something quite quite new. 58 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: Had people been making these connections anyway, I mean, I 59 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: am the kind of person you don't really want to 60 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 1: be in a lift with me because I ask you 61 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: how you are, what your name is, where you're from, 62 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 1: how many any children you have, how much they irritate you. 63 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 1: But had people been making these connections anyway. 64 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 2: I think they have, But I think you know, we've 65 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 2: we've kind of we've moved into a space where people 66 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:23,679 Speaker 2: are really busy, you know, they don't have the time 67 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 2: in the day. Yes, they connect authentically over a cup 68 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 2: of coffee around you know, the coffee stations or the 69 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 2: barister stations. But now we're giving you something that, as 70 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 2: I said, it's really kind of almost network as a service, 71 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 2: so you know, you can quickly tap into it. I 72 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: can say, Okay, that person's you know, sitting next to 73 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 2: me or down the hall. They're in marketing and I 74 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 2: want to connect with them. And it's it's literally a 75 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 2: really informal intro, but I really know them because now 76 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 2: I can just walk down I've made that connection. I 77 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: can walk down down the passage and now you know, 78 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 2: we literally can move from there. 79 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: The type of people who use your facility, so your customers, 80 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: I don't know do you call them community members or something, 81 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: but can I say your present is In a couple 82 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: of times i've sort of been into your facilities, I've 83 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: noticed they are a very particular kind of person, let 84 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: me say, a sort of upwardly mobile. There's someone who's 85 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: clearly sort of successful in their own sense. Does that 86 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 1: act as a sort of self selecting filter. It's only 87 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: a particular kind of person. 88 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 2: I think you're absolutely right. I mean, look, we've got 89 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: a base of about eight thousand professionals and was over 90 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 2: one hundred different sectors, so absolutely like minded individuals. You know, 91 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 2: they are obviously from as you say, definitely professionals. We 92 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 2: can and people can filter out that professional that digital directory, 93 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 2: so they you know, they come to the space and 94 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 2: they're looking for the same thing. So immediately, you know, 95 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 2: we talk about looking as that network as a service idea. 96 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 2: They're looking for those self fulfilling same things. 97 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: The people who go to your office is they're really 98 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: been looking for a workspace. I mean most of them 99 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 1: at one point we are probably just looking for a 100 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: place where the electricity in the y y always worked. 101 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 1: Now that's a little easier, but they'll stay where they are. 102 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: They must be. Now you're offering this, I mean, there 103 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:11,119 Speaker 1: must be value in the directory itself. You've actually got 104 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:14,599 Speaker 1: a collection of people who are known to be sort 105 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: of vaguely good at what they do. That that's valuable. 106 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: I mean, that's valuable for your customers. 107 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 2: It's hugely valuable. I think we've really moved away just 108 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 2: to work just sort of a desk or an office 109 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 2: or just an office space or any of that. Not 110 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 2: really it's hugely, hugely valuable because you know, whatever you 111 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 2: you know, it's a scarcity, and if you look at 112 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 2: things like LinkedIn, it's become such a digital noise. I 113 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: don't want to go onto that platform and start sifting 114 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 2: out through the noise and sending a message It might 115 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: actually just sit in an in box for six to eight, 116 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 2: ten months or never get onswered wherever. I know, you know, 117 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 2: these are the individuals that are actually doing and working 118 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 2: as hard or maybe not as hard as meal. But 119 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:53,359 Speaker 2: really they're they're they're in the same you know, the 120 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 2: same capacity. So absolutely, it's it really is, it's really 121 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 2: you know, working in that regard. 122 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: How are you finding business at the moment. I mean, 123 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: you're seeing a lot more people coming in. Did load 124 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 1: shedding the end of load shedding have an impact in 125 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 1: any way? 126 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 2: Load chedding was fantastic for business, not so great for 127 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 2: their economy or so South Africa, but really fantastic for business. 128 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 2: And we've actually never been busier. It's really been fantastic. 129 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 2: We've got you know, I think with the advent of 130 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 2: of you know, people going back to the office space. 131 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 2: Large companies obviously kind of sending a lot of their 132 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 2: workforce back into office spaces. We're seeing all sort of 133 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 2: from the solo entrepreneur to large big enterprises coming through btos, 134 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 2: bespoke office solutions. So we are getting you know, the 135 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 2: spaces are full. So you've got a great demographic of 136 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 2: you know, individuals to large different companies coming to the 137 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 2: space to utilizing the space. So there's a great cross sector, 138 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 2: as I said, over one hundred different sectors to pull from. 139 00:06:56,440 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 2: So it's a great directory and really beneficial from the 140 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,280 Speaker 2: individual to the large organizations. 141 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: It's not just yeah, it's not just. 142 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 2: It's not necessarily you know, just looking for someone to 143 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 2: do business. You know, someone who say, for example, I'm 144 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: looking for X person, you know, like a contractor or whatnot. 145 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: You know, it could be it ranges, you know, whether 146 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 2: they want an expertise or a speaker, or a connection 147 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 2: or a contractor. So the Rangers is really it's fantastic. 148 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: Banelape Emanira, thanks very much, the national marketing manager at 149 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: Workshop seventeen. So I suppose my question to you then 150 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: would be when do you answer the phone and why 151 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: and when you're looking for a particular service, who do 152 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: you contact? Is it someone who lives in your area? 153 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: I know so many people. I mean when I have 154 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: things done or I need something done, what I usually 155 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: do is I ask a friend or I ask actually 156 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: ask my street what'sapp group. Does anyone know a person 157 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: who will do this? Well? Does anyone knows someone who 158 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: you know? Is anyone basically used a person and being 159 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: happy with their service, and should I use them? Sometimes 160 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: you get people who say, look, i'll give you this number, 161 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: but I don't know if I would use them, or 162 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: they'll be very honest with their experience. Quite often though, 163 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: the first response, certainly on my street WhatsApp group because 164 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 1: it's a nice place, it's a nice street, is someone 165 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: will say, use this person, They're very good, this is 166 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: what they did for me, and so on you go, 167 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: because there's no stronger recommendation. So that idea of that proximity. 168 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: I think the other thing, and we must be honest 169 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 1: about this, is that I think there are two ways 170 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: that make you trust someone fundamentally. The one is if 171 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 1: you've known them for a long time, So you might 172 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: have known someone when they were young, you worked with them, 173 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 1: for ten years, you go away for five years, you 174 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: come back, you see them again. You immediately trust them 175 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: because you know them. You just do. And the second 176 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: is if you know where someone lives, and I don't 177 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: mean that in a threatening way. I mean in a 178 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: way that you live in the same area as them. 179 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: You know that if they do something wrong to you, 180 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: they are them selves vulnerable the other way, so you 181 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 1: know they aren't going to do anything aggressive. I think 182 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: that's really one way of looking at it.