Why We Believe in Cross-Pollination

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This week, The Hive RI’s Queen Bee Tuni Schartner was a featured guest blogger on Hub Digital Marketing’s weekly blog & newsletter. Amy Levesque Fields of Hub Digital is a Hive coworker. She and Tuni, owner of TRS Strategies, both run their own boutique marketing firms but often partner on client projects. This is a perfect example of the shared service offerings that are a huge benefit of coworking!  

hub digital

Check out the original blog and more by Amy of Hub Digital Marketing here.

cross-pol·li·na·tion  [kraws-pol-uh-ney-shuhn, kros-]  noun

  1. Botany. the transfer of pollen from the flower of one plant to the flower of a plant having a different genetic constitution. Compare self-pollination.
  2. a sharing or interchange of knowledge, ideas, etc., as for mutual enrichment; cross-fertilization.

Well, clearly we’re relating to the latter definition here!

At The Hive, we have a mix of small business owners, writers, artists, technical folks, marketing professionals, remote sales people, entrepreneurs, scientists and many more. We respect everyone’s right to privacy, but offer the opportunity to share what it is that we do. The person working next to us might be able to design our logo or write our next press release, and conversely, we might be able to help them write their business plan, or handle their books!

The Hive was established with a mission to always encourage collaboration between members and so far, it’s working.  We’ve been (officially) open for 3 years and what has already happened here is pretty awesome!

We believe that a coworking environment in general, and The Hive specifically, is the perfect place to set up shop for a small business looking to grow organically. Coworking spaces are environments that promote positive energy and new ideas – innovation through collaboration. Your network of fellow coworkers provide a huge referral network, for your clients and colleagues when they need services your business can’t provide. Coworking spaces offer a network of professionals who you can throw ideas around with, discuss some of the newest trends with, and discover how you can bring innovation to your clients. As a collaborative work environment, there is always a small business owner around to help guide you through the difficult and sometimes confusing process of starting, or running, a business in Rhode Island.

Coworking is a relatively new concept for Rhode Islanders, but it’s a concept that encourages original thought, new ideas, and business development. It fosters independent growth in a heartening environment. It’s the right place for many to begin, or sometimes continue, their journey of business ownership.

Based in the historic Lafayette Mill complex in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, The Hive RI coworking space provides inexpensive working space, conference and meeting areas and professional amenities such as copy machines, printers as well as high speed internet. Local artists, businesspeople, lawyers, engineers and other professionals come together at The Hive to work independently, but not alone. The Hive is open from 9-5, Monday through Friday, welcomes walk-ins and offers affordable rates for daily, weekly and monthly use. The Hive hosts weekly lunchtime networking events and is also available for group events at non-working hours. Please visit http://www.thehiveri.com for more information on coworking, or www.millatlafayette.com for information on spaces available. 

Weekly BUZZ – Available Spaces

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Lunch & Learn:
We are taking a short break to line up a stellar new series of interesting & educational business development presentations for you all.  Check back as we should be starting our weekly Lunch & Learn program anew next month!
And…coming soon, ‘Food Truck Thursdays’ at the Mill at Lafayette!

Community:

The Hive RI
If you’ve been thinking about joining our community…now is the time as we are offering a really great special – sign a lease by 9/1 and get your first month’s rent FREE! Reach out to: tuni@trsstrategies.com or call 401-255-7413.  Here’s a list of available spaces open or opening up soon within the mill.  There’s a video on this page that shows the 3rd floor that will be ready in July…wait for it! ***Notice the picture above?  It’s ready for you!

Blog:

The Mill at Lafayette is the home to dynamic and innovative companies and entrepreneurs who think outside of the box. Here professional and affordable office spaces in our historic working mill community meld with natural elements that can be so lacking in our hectic, modern lifestyles.

Social Media:

Don’t forget to ‘like’ us on Facebook – we share information there on a daily basis!

Art:

Michelle Gradus Parenteau’s Soul Awakening Art Show is still up and if you missed the open house Saturday…have no fear!  We recommend self guided tours anytime during regular coworking hours (Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00) and if you are interested in purchasing any artwork within our gallery – please email tuni@trsstrategies.com.

 

Looking for a professional space to settle in and get some serious work done?  The Hive RI and the Mill at Lafayette have very affordable options, from open coworking space(s), to individual offices of differing sizes, to a private conference room, or you can even reserve the larger space(s) for your own events, presentations or workshops! 

Weekly BUZZ – Art & Updates

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Lafayette Mill

Lunch & Learn:

We are taking a short break to line up a stellar new series of interesting & educational business development presentations for you all. Check back as we should be starting our weekly Lunch & Learn program anew next month!
Community:

The Hive RI
If you’ve been thinking about joining our community…now is the time as we are offering a really great special – sign a lease by 9/1 and get your first month’s rent FREE! Reach out to: tuni@trsstrategies.com or call 401-255-7413. Here’s a list of available spaces open or opening up soon within the mill. There’s a video on this page that shows the 3rd floor that will be ready in July…wait for it!

Blog:

The Mill at Lafayette is the home to dynamic and innovative companies and entrepreneurs who think outside of the box. Here professional and affordable office spaces in our historic working mill community meld with natural elements that can be so lacking in our hectic, modern lifestyles. More and more people are turning away from the traditional “9-5, Monday through Friday” grind and balancing work and personal lives. Read more here…
Social Media:

Don’t forget to ‘like’ us on Fb – we share information there on a daily basis!

Art:

Michelle Gradus Parenteau‘s Soul Awakening Art Show Open House is this Saturday, June 18th from 5:30-7:30. As always, feel free to stop in for self guided tours anytime during regular coworking hours (Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00) and if you are interested in purchasing any artwork within our gallery – please notice the artist’s information within the gallery or email tuni@trsstrategies.com.
Looking for a professional space to settle in and get some serious work done? The Hive RI and the Mill at Lafayette have very affordable options, from open coworking space(s), to individual offices of differing sizes, to a private conference room, or you can even reserve the larger space(s) for your own events, presentations or workshops!

Historic Mill at Lafayette: Community Thrives Here

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The Mill at Lafayette is the home to dynamic and innovative companies and entrepreneurs who think out of the box. Here professional and affordable office spaces in our historic working mill community meld with natural elements that can be so lacking in our hectic, modern lifestyles. More and more people are turning away from the traditional “9-5, Monday through Friday” grind and balancing work and personal lives. Many are seeking nature and exercise breaks during the workday, due to an increased emphasis on the dangers of sitting too much, especially in office settings. Employees want the flexibility to be able to take care of errands or personal tasks that might otherwise have to be saved until the weekend. Workers want genuine social connections and support.

In our mill complex, we are the one-stop-shop for those seeking just these things!

Atmosphere

Many office spaces in The Mill have rustic exposed brick, as well as plenty of natural light, creating a productive and peaceful work environment. In addition, our mill property abuts Ryan Park where our tenants can hike, meditate, or eat lunch in a natural setting. Or, take your laptop outside and work in the sunshine. Getting out in nature each day brings incredible benefits to body and mind. On the physical side, nature brings lowered blood pressure, decreased depression, and increased immune system function. For the mind, nature can provide increased focus, productivity, and creativity. Bring a friend, coworker, or fellow tenant and reap the mental and physical health benefits of strong social connections.

Networking

The Mill at Lafayette is a thriving business community where you may work independently but also work together – here at the Mill we call it “working alone together.” The sharing of resources and ideas in our collaborative community is another benefit. Collaboration in the workplace is a growing trend among leading businesses, and has countless benefits for companies and individuals alike. This spirit of collaboration fosters increased productivity and revenue, strengthening networks and relationships. In addition, here at The Mill we have professional presentations, art exhibits, lunch and learn events and more that connect us to the people around us and inspire.

Support

With the diversity of businesses that call The Mill their home, another benefit is simply glancing through our tenant directory to find any of your fellow tenants that can provide services for you and your business. From web design to marketing services, insurance to law services, our supportive infrastructure brings peace of mind knowing that valuable time will not be wasted getting the services your business needs. Keeping business in our community strengthens the Mill and the greater Rhode Island business community at large. The shared service offerings at The Mill are a win-win for all involved!

If you would like more information on becoming part of the Mill at Lafayette, contact us today. We look forward to welcoming you!

Mill At Lafayette Community Spotlight, Inaugural Edition

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Welcome to the first edition of our Community Spotlight. Each month we will showcase one of our superstar tenants so that you can learn more about what they do, who they are, and what they love!

Today the spotlight shines on North Kingstown resident Joanie Flavin. Joanie is the owner of Lotus Fire Yoga and Healing, located on the main level of the Mill. Joanie chose to base her business at the Mill because it is her community and she has raised her twin daughters here for over 13 years. She has been a part of the Mill At Lafayette since 2002 and has enjoyed watching the historic location grow over the years. “The mill has a modern feel for business and offers a great place to do good work. It is small enough to feel personal yet big enough for the diversity of businesses. I am inspired by the feel of hardworking people from many walks of life that are working their passion. Tuni has created a niche in the community that links us all and allows for a friendly work environment.” She also loves the historical vibe of this unique, dynamic working mill community. “The natural elements of the building are very conducive to healing work.” And Joanie knows about healing work!

“I have been in the field of yoga for 17 years and a studio owner since 2006. I have been a Thai yoga massage therapist for ten years, as well. My inspiration is in the healing arts through the ancient teaching of both private yoga and Thai Therapy. I have made it a study of movement and how it affects the wellbeing of the body and the mind. This link between the physical and emotional body affects our health and lifestyle.”

Joanie is endlessly inspired by her work. “There are many nuances to the mind/body connection. Due to my experience and study, I have become more in tune with this and can help others find their own deeper well being. I feel a purpose to this work that authentically helps people. Supporting people’s healing is important to me. To help be a guide to on finding their own inner peace and work with their unique blueprint, life experiences, and inner work.”

Joanie is pleased to offer you 15% off first time services that she offers. Simply email Lotusfire1@verizon.net to take advantage of this offer and mention that you read our Mill At Lafayette Community Spotlight.

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mill office space ri

Choosing a Business Entity – 3 Perspectives:

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“An attorney, a CPA and a Payroll Specialist walk into a bar”. Well, actually…The Hive RI. Although it sounds like the beginning of a joke, choosing the right business entity is serious! The right choice will save you money, time, and effort. The wrong choice can be the difference between business success or failure. Our tag-team of speakers will be discussing what entity is best for what type of business. There will be ample opportunity to ask questions that pertain specifically to your own business.  
Learn more and RSVP here!

feeling thankful

We are feeling very thankful at The Hive RI

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Thank you to RI Small Business Journal for your annual Entrepreneurial Women to Watch Awards – what a wonderful way to honor & celebrate hard work and success.

Thank you also to our dear friend & colleague, Gail Ahlers of Ahlers Designs for once again making these very meaningful & beautiful works of art.  BIG Congratulations to our Hiver, Amy Fields of Hub Digital Marketing for winning in the Startup category!  And…many thanks from me, Tuni Schartner, to all for the Community Champion award – what an incredible honor!

Lunch & Learn:
We have a great Thursday Lunch & Learn for you this week with our very own award winning Amy Levesque Fields of Hub Digital with Amy Fields.  Join us to learn the 5 FREE things you can do to improve your SEO!

-Just because you are a small business doesn’t mean you can’t have BIG SEO.  Everyone talks about how much they need SEO but struggle with knowing what to do about it. In this informative Lunch & Learn Amy will talk about what SEO is all about, why it’s important and how to get started for FREE.  Learn more about Amy Levesque Fields and RSVP here…

New website:
Have you visited our new ‘Mill at Lafayette‘ website yet?  …check it out!

History:
We were very proud to be a part of last Saturday’s 31st annual RI Statewide Historical Preservation Conference:  ‘Building and Preserving South County’. We promised we’d be bringing more walking tours, presentations, book signings, etc…around ourhistory here at the mill in the coming months and we’re already delivering!  Our local historian, Tim Cranston of Swamptown Enterprises will be leading a historical walking tour of the Lafayette Mill Village on Saturday, May 21st & registration begins this Wednesday.  It sells out fast so mark your calendars!

Community:
The Hive RI
If you’ve been thinking about joining our community…now might just be your time.  We have 3 of the 4 offices within The Hive’s space opening up in June and 1 is already rented out so jump on it QUICK if you’re interested.  They are $300 per month and unlike elsewhere in the mill…no lease or deposit is required. Feel free to reach out to: tuni@trsstrategies.com.

Social Media:
Don’t forget to ‘like’ us on Fb – we share information there on a daily basis!  We have many Hive members (like the MAE Organization for the Homeless) that run their own events out of The Hive RI (or elsewhere, like the MAE fundraiser ‘MAE’s Battle of the Bartenders’) and we often post that info on our Fb page…just FYI!

Art:
If you are interested in purchasing any artwork within our gallery – please email tuni@trsstrategies.com.

lafayette mill north kingstown, ri

5 reasons why the Mill at Lafayette should be your next office location…

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Are you considering moving your business or office to the Mill at Lafayette? At the Mill, sixteen thousand square feet of professional and affordable office space will soon become available. Let us inspire you to take the leap by offering a few of the top reasons why setting up shop at the Mill is a great idea with benefits to you, your business, and an entire community of folks.

The pleasing aesthetic.
History and community certainly take precedence here, but it is the inherent beauty of places like the Mill at Lafayette that will draw you in initially. You will notice the architecture – the towers of red brick, the big windows, the large, open, breathable spaces. The natural beauty outdoors completes the experience – the running waterfall, birdsongs and paths lined with trees in Ryan Park. People are drawn to these places, where pieces of the past come together to form a picture of the present; generations have contemplated the beauty here. We invite you to imagine and contrast an experience of working in a place like this to the token office building – bland, dry and sterile. Of the two, which is most conducive to growth and creativity?

The active, vibrant community.
The Mill community is second to none and growing by the day. Take a look at our tenant directory for an idea of who you’ll be joining. Some highlights are the fabulous co-working space of The Hive and the weekly farmer’s market from November to April with its fresh produce and local artisans. There are dozens of professionals: hair stylists, lawyers, therapists, entrepreneurs, business leaders, strategists, designers, nonprofits and more. These are the people that you will be joining in this space every day.

The connections you will make.
At the Mill, “together we are stronger.” This is a place to make connections with others. Sometimes it may just be an inspiring conversation on the picnic table by the waterfall at lunch that brightens your spirits and your workday, other times you may create connections that will become catalysts in the growth of your business. Networking isn’t simply handing out your business card at events, it is creating meaningful connections that may lead in directions you never thought possible.

The preservation of history.
By moving to the Mill, you are taking an active roll in the preservation of our history. It is important that we take care of our historical sites and educate others about them, and by moving to the Mill, you are preserving an historical site by giving life to it. Because of this, the Mill is not merely history – it is history in the making. It is a place where great things are happening now, and will continue to happen in the future. Best of all, it is a place that adapts quite nicely to the changes that time and innovation bring.

The work space.
You will have to visit to understand why the spacial design and proportion inside the mill are so outstanding. Nothing compares to the high ceilings and historic character. There is ample natural light coming through the beautiful, tall windows. There is room to think here. Speaking from experience, this is truly a place that fosters growth and creativity.

The Mill at Lafayette is located at 650 Ten Rod Road in North Kingstown, within walking distance from the Wickford Junction train station. Parking is plentiful and things are always abuzz. Come take a look and discover for yourself, give us a call at 401-255-7413 or send us an email at info@millatlafayette.com.