I’m hitting that open road for a little rest and relaxation — as if one can find that on a highway — so that’s it on blog posts for now.
I’ll be back Nov. 22. See you then!
I’m hitting that open road for a little rest and relaxation — as if one can find that on a highway — so that’s it on blog posts for now.
I’ll be back Nov. 22. See you then!
“Marathon was great!! Although my time was almost an hour slower than what I wanted to finish in but lost 2 toenails at mile 19 and (that) slowed me down!”
— Monique Garcia of ICM in an e-mail this week about the New York City Marathon on Sunday
WICHITA — A lot of independent creative professionals, such as writers, graphic artists and web designers, either work from home or in area coffee shops.
The Labor Party is looking to change that.
“We’re trying to provide kind of another alternative to that,” says Todd Ramsey, a brand strategist.
Ramsey is part of a group that has leased almost 5,000 square feet in a two-story building at 216 N. Mosley, which is north of the Hotel at Old Town’s banquet space, and will sublease space to creative individuals who’d like to share working space.
“The real benefit to people is more than just a desk or office,” Ramsey says.
“It’s more of a collaborative environment that can be created.”
Ramsey will work out of the space along with graphic designer Chris Parks, Jarrett Green of Blink Interactive and Kenton Hansen of Go Banana, who also is Blink’s collective director.
There are five offices left to lease that are $450 a month, which includes Internet and utilities.
For $150 a month, there also are an unlimited number of subleases for a large, open area that includes Wi-Fi and access to desks and other seating.
“It’s kind of like a coffee shop almost,” Ramsey says.
Hansen says the space will allow a lot of sharing of ideas and work.
“This is going to give us the opportunity to be the hub, to facilitate the community,” he says. “That’s really what we’re interested in.”
Ramsey says the definition of creative types will be fairly loose. For instance, he’s talking with an interior designer about subleasing space.
There’s no website yet, but if you’re interested in finding out more, you can reach Ramsey on Twitter (@toddramsey). The space should be ready in January.
WICHITA — Hayes Holdings has formed a new company, SourceWood Partners, a lumber brokerage that’s similar to what the company was when it started as Hayes Forest Products in 1979.
“When my dad first started off on his own, that’s what he and I started as,” Steve Hayes says. “So we’re kind of going back to our roots a little bit, which is really pretty cool.”
Hayes Forest Products, which eventually had two retail lumber sites and a manufacturing site, thrived for more than a decade. In 1988, Hayes says, “We decided that there was more opportunity in the manufacturing of products than there was just in the lumber business.”
It took a few years to phase out of the lumber business. Then, the company concentrated on making lawn and garden decor products.
The company sold that division in 2008.
The lumber business started looking attractive again.
“Now’s just an opportune time to come back in,” Hayes says.
“You have customers who are looking for raw material, and you have mills that are selling production.” His company will bring the two together.