Loading ...souk 8 January 2009
A creative workspace
souk is an unique workspace that offers hourly, daily and monthly work and meeting space for freelancers, independent consultants and entrepreneurs. souk was developed by Julie Duryea and opened in January of 2007. Inspired by Portland’s strong (and growing) creative class, she sought to create a business that would play a supportive and developmental role. Since its launch, souk has been featured in Business Week, Portland Monthly, Portland Spaces, Portland Business Journal, on American Public Radio’s Marketplace, and on numerous female entrepreneur blogs.
Purposefully located in artistic and culturally diverse Old Town, souk participates in several events and organizations that comprise Portland’s creative fabric. Here are a few:
• Featuring local art, hosting an artists reception on First Thursday
• Partnering with 52ltd to present educational and inspiring topics, quarterly (mostly)
• Co-leading Ladies Who Launch incubators to assist female entrepreneurs hatch business ideas
• Welcoming cre8camp on a quarterly basis
Julie and souk are happy to be part of a growing trend – dubbed coworking – that is spreading across the world like wild fire, building community and fostering collaboration, one hot desk at a time.
What are you up to?
Currently, and to be honest, for the last couple of years, it’s been all about developing partnerships. One of the best ones has been coordinating with existing coworking spaces in other cities to agree that if someone is a member in one space, they may use a “partner” space free when they travel, dubbed the coworking visa.
Many of the partnerships about to flower continue to support and educate souk members, as well as sole proprietors and small business. All build community.
In February 2009, I am thrilled to share my experience (for better or for worse!) of female entrepreneurship with Oregon State’s College of Business. At the end of Q1, I look forward to attending – and possibly sharing in a panel – SXSW’s Interactive Conference in Austin.
What do you do best?
Connecting people and resources is my forte, as well as my greatest source of professional satisfaction. A close second is collaboration. I think I do a fine job of balancing consensus with leadership.
Who are your past souk mates?
So many users flow through souk’s space, from start-up teams to sole proprietors. All the members are courageous and interesting, pursuing unique paths. It’s very gratifying to witness their trailblazing journeys during the time they are here.
For start-ups, a former Adidas executive conceived his business, ryzwear in souk’s space before graduating to his own digs. The company crowd sources shoe designs, and monetarily rewards the winners for first prize, as well as a cut of all shoes sold. Their launch party at souk was off ‘da hook! New Zealand company Icebreaker found themselves flooded out of their temporary offices in the summer of 2007 when souk and merino wool met each other. Their then fledgling, first North American team – now burgeoning – took up residence at souk until moving into the Pearl, and now permanently at NW 14th and Overton.
In terms of sole proprietors, a long time financial advisor, former “slave” to someone else’s schedule, broke out on her own to launch her own practice. She began with a private office at souk, building her clientele over the course of a year, then graduated to the deep, Westside where she now runs a large office to house her overflowing business.
However, though not all stories may end with the perfect scenario of growth, they are just as successful. Very early on we had a member who was pursuing her own HR consulting company, only to find she absolutely did not want to do that. She now happily works for a local, headhunting firm.
Each and every day, branding consultants, retail designers, marketing expert, web designers, non-profits and programmers come together at souk – veritable, professional marketplace!
How do you stay inspired?
I attend conferences when possible time-wise and money-wise. PUSH08 in Minneapolis lit my fire for a long time afterwards. On a more daily basis, I network and play with other entrepreneurs through Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, Ladies Who Launch, StarveUps, impromptu lunches and cocktails, not to mention simply interacting with the members at souk.
What is your opinion of OTCT?
Hot. Seriously, though I can’t pinpoint the start point of its renaissance, I can highlight examples of it since we’ve been in the neighborhood:
eROI moved in, along with many other web 2.0 companies.
The Iwojimaya market has been courted and a site planned for housing them.
The University of Oregon renovated the White Stag building (though they best not change that sign!).
The Oriental College of Medicine moved in.
Rumored that the former Hung Far Low will be a bustling “street noodle” house with peeps from W+K and Pok Pok behind it.
The MAX line tracks on 5th & 6th simply await the completion of the yellow line.
Connect:
- Julie Duryea (Female Entrepreneur, Business Yenta, Owner of souk)