Big Picture - September 2019 - 2

insight

Coffee Connections

s a remote employee, most days I need to work somewhere other than my kitchen. Sure, I
can easily walk to the Starbucks down the street as a reprieve from my studio apartment,
but where's the fun in that? San Francisco is booming with cafes and WeWork spaces I can
explore. My problem is, I get stuck. I wake up and work. By the time I consider leaving, it's
"too late" to search for my workspace-of-the-day.
There's a local coffee shop I frequent that has free Wi-Fi, decent java, and a few tables and chairs on
the sidewalk. It works - until I'm on a conference call and a bus blares by.
While I was there this summer, a guy approached me and asked "Do you work here often?" While I
tried to determine if this was a pick-up line (I've been out of the game for a while), he had already
assessed my situation: remote employee at a random coffee spot that has free Wi-Fi, OK coffee, outdoor
seating - and public transit that screams by every 15 minutes. Steve, co-founder of Out of Office, handed
me a flyer and gave me a quick pitch of his new app. OOO helps you find your perfect "office," from
unique cafes to pay-per-day workspaces. The perfect app for someone like me.
Steve followed up with an email and a code for a discounted workspace. After reviewing the app and
using it to book a spot in my neighborhood (free Wi-Fi, amazing coffee plus rosé, beer, and Kombucha on
tap, plenty of space in the sun, and zero traffic), Steve reached out to discuss my experience and waive
my entire booking fee. A few days later I met with his co-founder, Kyle, who wanted to know what
worked, what didn't, how the app could improve, and what he and Steve could create for users like me. As
a thank you for my input, Kyle added credit to my account.
Turns out I was able to help him in another way. Kyle recently purchased a bus that needs to be
wrapped. (Any Bay-Area takers?) Plus, he was interested in how Hint, a flavored water company, was able
to place wide-format prints in empty retail spaces in our neighborhood, directing passersby to their store.
Coincidentally, I had just spoken with the provider of the graphics, Big Picture Editorial Advisory Board
member Luis Vivas of Vivas Banners and Signs, earlier that week. I connected the two and am looking
forward to seeing out-of-home graphics from Out of Office very soon.
The point of this long-winded anecdote: You never know where the circle of life will take you. I
needed Steve to approach me, just as much as he needed me to download his app. He was persistent in
communication and I was excited to try something tailored to me. Kyle didn't even know he needed me
until we met, and now he has a PSP contact in the city.
Be open to conversations, try something new, and attempt to pay it forward. Stay in touch and have
open dialogue with your customers so you can provide the best, personalized service for them. You never
know the connections you'll make.

Adrienne Palmer
Editor-in-Chief
adrienne.palmer@stmediagroup.com
Anya Rao
Associate Editor
anya.rao@stmediagroup.com
Kelsey Johnson
Contributing Editor
Kathleen DeZarn
Art Director
kathy.dezarn@stmediagroup.com
Marty McGhie, Craig Miller,
Rachel Nunziata, Matt Richart
Columnists
Brian Adam, Ryan Clark, Terry Corman,
Scott Crosby, Michelle Gobert,
Diana Herrera, Brian Hite,
Hayes Holzhauer, Kerry King,
Robert Kissel, Chris Laniak, Stan Lucas,
Craig Miller, Nicole Piach, Carmen Rad,
Gary Schellerer, Elaine Scrima,
Jon Sherman, Reed Silberman,
James Swanson, Mark Taylor, Luis Vivas
Editorial Advisory Board
SALES
Lou Arneberg
Senior Market Strategist
East and Midwest US, E Canada
800/654-5169
lou.arneberg@stmediagroup.com
Jim Karwowski
Senior Market Strategist
West and South US, W Canada, Europe, Asia
630/474-4038
jim.karwowski@stmediagroup.com
Vernita Johnson
Directory and Classiﬁed/Account Executive
513/263-9313
vernita.johnson@stmediagroup.com
Linda Volz
Production Supervisor
linda.volz@stmediagroup.com

September 2019

Christine Baloga
VP Marketing Operations and
Customer Acquisition

Editor-in-Chief
BIG PICTURE

EDITORIAL

Murray Kasmenn
President
murray.kasmenn@stmediagroup.com

BY ADRIENNE PALMER

bigpicture.net

@Adrienne_BigPic

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Big Picture - September 2019

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