The Hauser Group Launches New Division; Targets St. Charles, Batavia

Article By Ted Schnell

For those whose work from home often takes them to coffee houses, the library or other public places, The Hauser Group is launching a new division, Local Branch, to provide alternatives.

A release from the Downtown St. Charles Partnership calls Local Branch a “cutting-edge concept” which is a “branded model of coworking space catering to contingent workers” in need of options on places to work.

The Hauser Group has scheduled an opening event at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2013, at The Office, 201 E. Main St., St. Charles, for anyone  interested in learning more about Local Branch. This is a free event, but RSVPs are strongly encouraged by emailing info@hauserwork.com.

Coworking has been developing in urban areas throughout the world since 2010, offering this set of workers a dedicated workplace that can be rented by the day, the week or the month. Included is access to meeting spaces of various sizes, and private and flexible open space options.

The release states that coworking is more than just a place to work, because it is designed to create  a sense of community — and social interaction opportunities — that working from home does not offer.

Mara Hauser, president and owner of The Hauser Group, said coffee shops or spots in a library are not an ideal solution either, because they lack the collaborative environment or sense of community many people seek.

Public spaces also offer such challenges as taking phone calls in noisy environs, a lack of security or privacy, and sometimes a lack of space.

A national trend-setting office design firm, The Hauser Group specializes in interior design, project management, and construction management and is known as a natural innovator. The Hauser Group looks to workplace trends to find the best office solutions for its clients.

Hauser said that statistics indicate that roles once traditionally filled by full-time employees are becoming blends of employees and contingent workers, with nontraditional employees expected to make up 40 to 45 percent of the entire workforce by 2020 and more than 50 percent of the workforce by 2030.

Hauser reviewed best practices and conducted market research to create Local Branch for central business districts (or Main Streets) in the suburban market, with the first Local Branch locations targeted for downtown St. Charles and downtown Batavia, the release states.

The Hauser Group’s office is located downtown St. Charles, the release state, so Hauser already knew this would be a good fit for her concept, citing plenty of amenities within walking distance, such as a grocery store, dry cleaner, coffee shops, bakery, banks and restaurants. Batavia offers similar amenities, Hauser said, and the proximity of the two locations offers additional flexibility for the co-workers, who can book time at either location.

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