Hello there,Happy New Year - I hope 2023 is all you need it to be!This is the first newsletter of the year and it contains:
A coworking space update
A photo of my loooovely bespoke, hand drawn christmas window display that was created by illustrator and designer Katherine Tromans
Information about virtual office services
The Old Post Office 2022 in stats: including, a list of some of the job roles of the people who have worked from here (thanks for the idea Annabel!)
and a Music to work to playlist by Rebecca Vale
— Kerry
Coworking space update & changesBig news! The coworking space will be going to five days a week from Monday 9 January onwards when it reopens for 2023, this is thanks to ongoing support from weekly regulars Bryn and Mark from Coda Workshop (local collaborative architecture practice) and Laura from The Clear Space who leads the Wellbeing Walks on Friday mornings, she will be holding Sound Baths on a monthly basis starting on 13 Feb. Another positive change is the timings: half day bookings will now be 9am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-5pm. Lunch breaks all round.Prices have gone up slightly for bookings by £1 (I still plan on introducing monthly/bulk buy passes/ memberships which will overall be less per day.) Thanks for all your support in 2022 and spending your days with me!
Thanks Katherine Tromans for the hand drawn Christmas window display!
Virtual office service
Set up The Old Post Office in Stirchley as your registered address for a small monthly fee, and support a small business by doing so.
What’s included:
Use of The Old Post Office, 1533 Pershore Road, Stirchley, B30 2JH as your business address on website and marketing materials and as your registered office as recorded at Companies House
Mail Handling services: provision of a dedicated area on the bookshelves where I will hold your mail for collection
What’s the cost?The service is available for £8 per month and can be paid monthly (£96 per year), or annually for a 10% discount.
Respond to this email if you're interested, T&Cs on this link
The Old Post Office 2022 statsSince re-opening in May:
184 members signed up (thanks!!)
Those who booked have included roles: Copywriter, Writer, Arts Marketer, PR professional, Architect, Accountant, PHD student, Edible Insect Business Owner, Composer, Violinist, Events Producer, Business Analyst, Thanatologist, Charity CEO, Coach, Service Designer, Illustrator, Graphic Designer, Web Developer, Videographer, Software Engineer, Counsellor, Parliament staff, Journalist, Mentoring Officer, Photographer, Technical Author, Solicitor, Commercial Property Lawyer, Liveable Cities and Towns Officer, Jeweller, Forest School Leader, Artist, Games Designer, Chef, Social Worker, Theatre Producer, Bookseller, Ship Operator, Development Director, Fundraiser, Wine seller, Restaurant owner, Health and Social Care Researcher, Therapist, Translator, Cat Sitter (didn't bring the cats in with her), Medical AI Researcher, Brand and Digital Manager, Business Development Manager, Commercial Sales Manager, Volunteer..... and more!
Not everyone has come to do laptop work - BA/MA/PHD students reading, an illustrator painting, a few people writing and two people who worked from their phones.
399 newsletter subscribers (with a 59.6% open rate - thanks!)
1934 instagram followers
369 facebook followers, I'm sorry I neglect you
522 twitter followers, although I quite often tweet in a personal capacity, and I've attempted to move to Mastadon
12 tiktok followers (lol)
23 Music to work to playlists - thanks Julia for this idea, here's a link to hers, the first playlist
150 local events, businesses, and *good things* mentioned in my newsletter
11 The Old Post Office events not including the 7 wellbeing walks
We've got through over 30kg of coffee, firstly from Girls Who Grind (support women), then Quarter Horse coffee (support local), which is around 50 cups per kg (according to google) = 1500 (I'm not entirely sure about these maths but let's go with it)
7 times I've needed my 'emergency keys that I'll probably never need' from Krishan next door
And the best thing of all, many new coworkers and friends!
Music to work to #24 - playlist by Rebecca ValeSeeing 2023 in, here's Rebecca's playlist 'Work tracks to angrily make graphs to'. "Hello, I'm Bec. I work as a technical account manager, and spend the rest of my time living in a hedge in the black country hissing at passers by. My interests include home brewing, sewing garments, and growing food. Please enjoy my grumpy work tracks'.Enjoy! (link goes to Spotify)
And thank you, for reading this newsletter and supporting the coworking space. There will be more crafternoons, film nights, socials, coworkers curries and more this year. Book in your desk!