What is your personal mission (for your whole stay)?

What is the target/goal/question of your investigation (for your whole stay)?

For who will your investigation be interesting, for who do you write it?
What gives you energy? What do you like to do?
Present yourself on the facebookpage of the Winkelhaak, the Intramuros Winkelhaak and in the
community of APBC. (Let Noël check it before you post it)

Hi everyone, my name is Ivanna and I arrived in Antwerp within Erasmus program for young
Entrepreneurs to work in De Winkelhaak. With my Economic background and passion to planning,
organizing and analyzing I will try to improve activities in De Winkelhaak and get as much experience
as possible. If you have any questions, please, contact me by email nutakonuh@gmail.com

Based on this, can you make a content table for the total rapport (that will be finished at the end of
your stay), so you’ll more easily see what is still missing.
Make your workplanning till the end of your stay, based on your content table.
Can you structure your text better? with titles, paragraphs,…
I’m missing lay-out, illustration, a list of sources, page numbering, your own profile/bio…
Define in the first place what a coworking space is. How did it started (in the world compared to
Antwerp), what is it now, how do you think it will evolve? Why do you want to investigate it?
Check the structure of a typical SWOT analysis and try to use it in your evaluation of the different
locations.
You have an economic background but a don’t see any financial plan or info about the rendability of a
coworking space. What is the business model of a coworking space? Innovation possible?
Also the legal consequences are important: can everybody official register his office in a coworking
space? What about money laundering and fraude? …

The sense of coworking centers and how it works (based on De

Winkelhaak, Antwerp, Belgium)
BIO: Hello, my name is Ivanna, I am 23 years old and Ukrainian. My background is Economics and
Corporate Economics but I don’t like to work just with clear numbers. My passion is planning, analyzing,
searching and getting results. My study in the Universities brought me analytical skills which I try to
use and improve in different fields. I have experience as economist, categorical manager, project
support manager in export, content manager, chairman in the university and volunteer. I like to go out
of my comfort zone and learn something new. This is on the main resources of my getting energy when
I learn and see how to use it to get results. Second one, is when I have schedule for days, weeks and I
am busy with something I like to do. For example, I use my planning knowledge in managing my trips
to get maximum with the lowest (really lowest for someone who knows how to be a student) price and
I get so big pleasure in the end and especially when I share my experience with others. The same at
work when I can see results and feel myself important.

Mission: my mission in De Winkelhaak is to get as much experience as possible and find how I can
improve their activities to involve more people, to become more interesting to them, to start being
more popular and handy etc. I am here to see how businesses work in Belgium, especially Antwerp,

1
Flanders region, how coworking centers work (De Winkelhaak business center), how people work here
and what is their mentality. Also, I would like to be involved in different kind of projects to practice my
skills and get new, make connections and meet new people, solve problems, generate ideas.
Furthermore, I would like to help to develop social media and participate in trainings what business
center does.

Investigation: my first research of coworking centers in Antwerp I have done is interesting for De
Winkelhaak firstly, as I did comparison with it in the end. But, by criteria have been made it could be
interesting for coworking centers what already exist in Antwerp to see their competitors and make
comparison for themselves. Also, entrepreneurs who are interested in opening new spaces can use
that information to see what they can add in their business plan to be better on the market.
Furthermore, freelancers, startapers, workers, companies can easily use excel file to see what they can
get, where and by what price. It is very handy for new people here too as you can check do they have
website in English or may you rent a office there, or what you can expect with services included in the
price etc.

I think that my next investigations will be useful for the same target groups as first one but for me as
well, to have knowledge how coworking centers and business centers work here and get ideas how to
make my own business.

Content table: with what activities I can help you here? In what projects I can be involved? In
what trainings I can participate?

Introduction: Coworking is a business services provision model that involves individuals working
independently or collaboratively in shared office space. Target group for that type of business spaces
doesn’t have limits and increases. It can be freelancers, self-employed people, companies, designers
and others who are interested in building network or don’t want to work from home, would like to be
involved in the community or just meet people. There are a lot of reasons why people choose
coworking spaces to work and there are a lot of different coworking spaces what based on various kind
of activities in the world. For example, spaces what concentrated on building network, being just as
offices, having inspiration atmosphere, stimulating collaboration etc. All that things depend on what
kind of services they want to provide and target group to involve. Commented [IK1]: https://www.slideshare.net/carstenfo
ertsch/the-first-results-of-the-2017-global-coworking-
survey

2
Coworking isn’t something new today, the history begins from 1995 year from Berlin and first C-base
called hackerspace. The biggest wave was in 2005 year when officially first coworking space was
opened in San Francisco and after one year was replaced to London and 40-ty francizes were sold after.

And some new information about 2019 year. Commented [IK2]: https://www.coworkingresources.org/
blog/key-figures-coworking-growth
Commented [IK3]: https://www.slideshare.net/carstenfo
ertsch/the-first-results-of-the-2017-global-coworking-
survey

3
4
5
There are some trends what are in 2019 year:

Niche-specific spaces: 2019 see a growth in sector-specific flexible, serviced working spaces. According
to GCUC, the number of spaces that appeal to members with specialized needs – like shared biolabs,
writers’ spaces, women-oriented spaces, commercial kitchens, etc. – continue to grow.

Corporate coworking is growing: corporate coworking is a fast-growing global trend. According to

GCUC, “this trend will accelerate over the next 5 years due to corporations looking to reduce their
exposure to long term leases and employees insisting on more workplace options.”

Better technology: coworking spaces integrate smart tech to keep up with the demands of the modern
working force. Technology in coworking spaces will go beyond performant computers, and traditional
office utilities like printers, copiers, fax, and so on.

Apps: many coworking space providers around the world have partnered with Raaly, and app which
lets any company offer access to coworking spaces around the world. Raaly users can search and find
coworking spaces at a discount.

Blockchain: In March 2018, WeWork competitor Knotel launched KnotelKoin, a platform based on
blockchain technology where users are rewarded with digital tokens, whose value can increase over
time and which can be used to pay for transactions on the platform.

Chatbots and voice assistants are slowly finding their way in the workplace. A Spiceworks study
showed that by 2019, at least 40% of businesses will implement one or more intelligent assistants or
chatbots on company-owned devices, compared to 25 % of mid-size companies and 27 % of small
businesses.

Real estate industry joins the revolution: per the 2019 Global Coworking Forecast by GCUC, large real
estate firms and other landlords are starting to offer coworking spaces to tenants too.

Wellness at the workplace: coworking spaces providers will enhance their offering with all kinds of
amenities designed to attract more members but also to promote a healthy working environment:
yoga and fitness classes, climbing walls, relaxation areas.

The purpose of research: After my starting working in De Winkelhaak (business center with coworking
space) we decided to make a research about coworking spaces in Antwerp and check in what we are
competitive and what we can improve. The main idea is to compare us with competitors and see our
weak and strong sides to know how to work with it after.

Research:

The city: Amount of inhabitants in Antwerp is half of million. Not so big city to have so many coworking
spaces but still it’s growing. The boom of coworking area started not so long time ago but the temp of
growing is rapid. The forecast is said that from 2017 year and 14411 spaces it will be 30000 in 2022
year. The number of coworking members will grow from 1.74 million in 2017 to 5.1 million in 2022 at
an average annual growth rate of 24.2%. Commented [IK4]: https://www.carmelon-
digital.com/articles/coworking-spaces-revolution-
innovation-trends-2019/

6
This is big amount and now it is the era of freelancers and we can feel the importance of building
community, network and connections to develop your business and get inspiration.

Antwerp is really good place for coworking spaces. Here you can find different locations to work and
get inspiration, different events to make network or to join any community you are interested in. It is
the place where you have good infrastructure what is very important in today’s busy life and you can
feel that life as the biggest group of people have age between 20 and 40 years. On my opinion it is very
important as in competitive world young people develop economy.

So first step was to check what are the most popular spaces in the Antwerp and see their websites.
After checking information (mostly prices, location, popularity and what services they can provide) the
criteria were made to do analysis based on it.

Second step, the criteria were divided in groups as location, design/ interior, prices/ membership,
reception, services, infrastructure, events and efficiency. That helped me to estimate every coworking
space in equal way. We didn’t decide to check every space, only in which we saw competitors or were
interested in.

Third step: So, I did a schedule to visit places and was done in one week. It was not hard to ask them
to tell me about their space but you needed to keep all information about what you want to ask in
your head. Next step after visiting was to make an estimation based on impressions and visits.

Forth step is to do visits and write the impression.

Stockers – good location, very calm neighbourhood but they are not interested in you ( I came to ask
about their services and the girl from reception said you need to make an appointment in advance, so
I had to go again), also, they have complicated information about prices and how to be a member,
furthermore, only they didn’t make a tour in their space.

The residence park – it is hard to find entrance as they are in the high building with different parts of
it and you will not see any signal that here is coworking center, by the way, its not so accessible. But
the atmosphere there and the girl on reception makes you feel like at home. They are not so big, so

7
they don’t have fixed offices but they have fixed desk you can rent ( they made their priorities based
on space they have) and amazing view as its 6th floor. Also, they are very flexible with transforming
their place with tables from 1 to 16 units.

Fossbury&sons – they made the best impression as for me, but it was hard to go inside as there no
arrows or signals that the entrance for the visitors is another one. But when I came they met me with
a smile and explained everything very clear and with pleasure. Also, administrator showed me
everything around and I really like their style of design and cozy atmosphere there and they are really
huge!

Regus – it’s big network and advantage of them is that you can be a member in one place and use all
of places they have in the whole world. But they look like more as office and it’s not cozy at all and
networking side is hided there. By the way, if you are not a full member you are allowed to have only
one cup of coffee.

APE – this is completely coworking space what makes their own community and they are not interested
in one day or half day passes but you can try a free week instead. They don’t have big square but they
have three meeting rooms and there is really networking atmosphere where you can make
connections. By the way, they really stimulate it by four meetings with different topic every month.

Meet district – the newest one of coworking spaces I visited, but it is hard with public transport to go
there. They have a lot of space and one new thing I saw there it is education room. But you cant book
a tour because they will not answer you ( I did it twice) and they will not you send prices after the tour.
But they have a lot of fun things to do and big open space just to relax.

Comparison: So, based on made research and criteria what are in the excel file, I would like to say that
De Winkelhaak has a lot advantages and the biggest are nice personnel, location and prices.

But still here are few things that should be improved:

Implement card system for it's more handy to follow how much time person spent in the
coworking space coworking space and by this it is possible to give 24/7 hour access
Put clear information on the
website about:
24/7 access if you are a more valuable bc people see us as
member flexible place
change prices, add half more useful, + we can make
and day passes membership + days you use or
prices for 1 day per week, 2 days per
week etc.
 add information about if we have it we should mention it
acoustic
 about discount for for meeting rooms as 60% sounds
members better than just a price
 about tips for that we can give advice
foreigners
 catering not every space can propose it
 that kitchen and
shower are here
that reservation online is
available

8
 change information about the mistake in English version of
cash website
fix button for route at the
website for English
version
Add fun things to do (2 floor?) will help to increase
cooperation between
Put a couch on the 2 floor people in the building too
Add photos on the website
about different area of
coworking space (common
area, chilly area, work area)
Add plants make it more cozy
Change chairs make place more
ergonomic
Put a paper in coworking space
for people to leave a review
about De Winkelhaak
coworking center
Add different kind of activities running guide tour, school
in the autumn

The next part of research was social media activities. How companies manage that things is important
how they can get feedbacks after and encourage people to visit them. Nowadays, social media it’s a
kind of advertisement and a way to build your community and share information.

On my opinion the activities in social media are very important and some of coworking spaces I visited Commented [IK5]: https://www.slideshare.net/carstenfo
do it very well as APE, for example. Their main goal is to build the community so they use all channels ertsch/the-first-results-of-the-2017-global-coworking-
survey
to do it. But Meet District doesn’t do their campaigns in social media so it can be bad side to tell people
about them as they are new in the city. Other information is in Excel file.

9
De Winkelhaak is good in social media activities, they are on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. I think
after changing the prices and posting new information on social media in a new season in September
the amount of visitors should increase.

Conclusion: After careful analysis of coworking environment, competitors in Antwerp and coworking
in total, I would like to say that De Winkelhaak has strong advantages as friendly personnel, under
market’s prices and location but still here are things how to improve situation and be more attractive
to people to use coworking space. The idea of sharing desk sounds good. To make a simple app where
based on your location you can find someone who can make you a company at work, to share
knowledge with you or just talk if you feel yourself lonely. Also, adding activities and make information
on the website more handy will help to improve situation.

SWOT analysis:

Strengths Weaknesses
Perfect access to public transport
Veloparking
City center
Close to train station
Easy to find and go inside
Good accessibility
new building
big discount for meeting rooms Bad neighborhood
cost of services under market prices Hard to go by car
possibility to rent fixes office office atmosphere
friendly environment not ergonomic (chairs)
tips for foreigners no fun things
English speakers no possibility to have 0,5-1 day passes
coffee is included additional costs for print service
ability of reception for full time you can't leave your stuff there
catering, bar, horeca are hard to use coworking hours in practice
shower and kitchen are no possibility to build network
you can do reservation online no possibility to make bar'd office bigger
you can promote your company through
De Winkelhaak website
Events are organized
English version of website
Activities by social media
Information about prices on website
Good acoustic for making calls

Opportunities Threats
10
 Implement card system for coworking
space
Put clear information on the website
about:
24/7 access if you are a member
change prices, add half and day passes
• add information about acoustic
• about discount for members
• about tips for foreigners
back to criminal neighborhood
• catering
new cheap and strong competitors on the
• that kitchen and shower are here
market
that reservation online is available
decreasing in popularity of coworking
change information about cash
spaces
fix button for route at the website for
innovations in changing of idea of
English version
coworking
Add fun things to do (2 floor?)
no priority to develop that area in the city
Put a couch on the 2 floor
from municipality
Add photos on the website about different
economic changes
area of coworking space (common area,
changes in law
chilly area, work area)
Add plants
Change chairs
Put a paper in coworking space for people
to leave a review about De Winkelhaak
coworking center
Add different kind of activities (running
guide tour, school in the autumn)
make bar'd office network to work

By the way, during analyzing coworking spaces, the list of things you need to think about its cost before
you will open a coworking center was made.

SPENDINGS

One time spendings:

1. Establish a company () = depends on the law in the country and type of company you want to
open
2. Additional money you need to have on the account to open the company
3. Light reconstruction of space = depends and square of the place and in what condition the
space is
4. Technical & kitchen equipment = is it new building and what was there before
5. Wi-Fi (instalation) = depends on type of contract, country and market price
6. Stationery
7. Opening event + promotion

11
Monthly spendings:

1. Office rental
2. Municipal services
3. Cleaning
4. Security system
5. Contract with post office
6. Wi-Fi
7. Stationery
8. Catering for events = depends on amount of events and participants there
9. Marketing
10. Salaries + benefits for the personnel

And other stuff depend on what services you are going to provide. Don’t forget about break-even
point!

12