Why - Work Evolution - creative coworking space in Long Beach, CA

Capturing the Essence: Lara Mirinjian

Thu, 25 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Lara Mirinjian is an immensely talented pianist and entrepreneur whose passion for music has driven her to create an online piano course for beginners. Lara’s unique approach is to teach her students the foundation of music based on rhythm, ensuring they learn this crucial element in order for them to have a full understanding of music.

New to the Work Evolution community, she’s been a member for just over a month and is now expanding to in-person group classes here at Work Evolution. WE asked Lara some questions about her business, passions, and aspirations. Here are some memorable moments from our conversation that WE believe captures her true essence:

“Your heart has to be behind everything you do. And if it’s not, it’s not going to be successful. This world is run by love. You know, if something is going to be successful it’s because you love it. You nurture something that you love . . . . Your business is you. It’s a representation of you.”

“What inspires us to play music? It’s passion. It’s what’s in our hearts. So by focusing on our passion for the music…then anyone can learn how to play.”

“I don't sell piano lessons. I sell passion for life through music.”

“Music is so much more important than what a lot of people think. I know musicians all agree. But for the ones who are not musicians, music can change your life. You know, that’s what it’s done for me…there’s so much love to be felt around music.”

Lara will hold two introductory classes for adults on July 1^st; the first from 6-7pm and the second from 7-8pm right here at Work Evolution. To stay updated with Lara’s piano lessons and online courses, visit her website at www.larasmusic.com.

We Labs Visits Agenda Trade Show 2015

Wed, 14 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Agenda Trade Show’s impact on Long Beach, Los Angeles, and all of Southern California is a study of not only the effect of counterculture on society, but also of how over 750 lifestyle brands can change the economic landscape. Varying from Nike to Obey, Zero Skateboards to Lunar Socks, there truly is something for everyone - from industry insiders to impatient and dedicated fans.

Looking back to last January’s Agenda, covered in detail by WE Labs’ own Sarah Bennett, one can see how the city of Long Beach quickly became a leader in the buying and selling of surf, skate, sneaker and streetwear brands. “There have been brands that their whole career has been launched here,” says Agenda founder Aaron Levant, who personally chooses which brands get invited to buy booths each year. “The retailers and buyers they met with and the press they got from this event has literally changed and made their brand and that’s a really cool thing to be a part of—these entrepreneurs fulfilling their dreams and chasing their passions.” - Click for more of Sarah's article in the LB Post.

As a creative collaborative coworkspace dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and small businesses grow, all of us here at WE Labs know the feeling Mr. Levant describes above and couldn’t be more excited to see the evolution of Agenda in our own back yard. “[A]fter 11 years in business, Agenda has become much more than just a place where youth culture brands come to make sales in sunny SoCal. It has expanded to become an all-encompassing celebration of the California lifestyle with live art, daytime drinking, a food truck court and celebrity sightings from Famous Stars and Straps owner (and Blink 182 drummer) Travis Barker to Long Beach luminary Snoop Dogg, who this year had no less than three collaborations with different brands featured across Agenda.” - Click for more of Sarah's article in the LB Post.

As for this year? The 2015 Agenda Trade Show has worldwide appeal and showcases how to build brands from the ground up. The Long Beach convention center is the perfect forum; hosting Agenda positions our city at the crossroads of small business and entrepreneurial growth. An expanded women’s section highlights a growing sector within the lifestyle retail market. There was a notable uptick in designers focusing brands exclusively on women this year, a welcome sign in this traditionally male dominated industry.

The intensity was palpable, as Agenda benefited from not only being the first trade show of the 2015 season, but also from the cold weather preceding it: “A cold snap in December pushed a higher demand for apparel, retailers said. A few days after the New Year, Agenda booths were packed with buyers, according to vendors.” - Click for more from Andrew Asch on Agenda 2015.

On the trade show floor Long Beach small business owners could see firsthand how an original idea combined with the right niche market can create billion dollar trends that move markets. This intrepid WE Labs representative was reinvigorated after immersing myself in the action - coworking goes hand in hand with the independent and fresh minded thinking that leapt off the convention floor. I couldn’t help but picture how these businesses would flourish within WE Labs’ creative environment, and am even more excited as I look forward to seeing our members represent Long Beach and make the transition to exhibitors in coming years.

We told you there was something for everyone...

WE Labs Interviewed for Outlier Magazine

Tue, 09 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

"Having a true creative center, somewhere that people can bounce ideas off each other and network is key to survival." - Robbie Brown

Robbie Brown, CEO, and Ted Sieving, COO, talked with Outlier Magazine about WE Labs and the benefits of coworking:

You can catch the video walk-through tour of the workspace here.

Pitch or Treat vs. the World Series

Thu, 06 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

WE didn’t realize WE’d scheduled PitchLab: Pitch or Treat on the night that would be game 7 of the World Series until the celebratory cheer from every watering hole in Downtown Long Beach filled the air around our 8th floor perch in the Pacific Tower. However, not even sports history could keep the entrepreneurs and visionaries from our most popular monthly event (and the spread from Beachwood BBQ probably had something to do with it too). But more on that in a second.

Our featured feedback panel for the October PitchLab included Mike Daniel, director of the Long Beach SBDC Service Center, and Lisa Mastramico, director of PADNET at the Long Beach Community Action Partnership. They lent their feedback to ideas ranging from a veteran’s art program, to a hip-hop festival, to an app that allows you to treat your friends to dinner or buy them a drink with your smartphone.

But the most important part of PitchLab is the open networking mixer after the pitches. It’s always easier to make connections and create friendships among creative individuals when WE can establish some common gastronomic ground, and that’s where Brandon at Beachwood BBQ came in. This month he provided pork, chicken, and brisket with their delicious array of sauces. And oh yes, there was beer.

Please join us for our next PitchLab on December 3rd at 6:30pm. Keep an eye on our newsletter for updates and announcements, including who will be on our featured feedback panel and what sponsored goodies will be tempting us this time! This will be our last PitchLab of 2014, so come join us to celebrate the closing of one year and all the possibilities in the new one!

WE Are WE Labs: Meet the creative forces behind the WE Labs community

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Meet the creative forces behind the WE Labs community:
TED SIEVING, COO

Theodore Christian Sieving is a California licensed attorney and Chief Operating Officer of WE Labs, Inc. After graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology, he earned his Juris Doctorate from Emory University School of Law. After working with a handful of startups and entrepreneurs, his practical experience as an attorney and business consultant—combined with an irrepressible belief in the collaborative process and empowering creative individuals to monetize their talents—prepared him uniquely for his current role as Chief Operating Officer with WE Labs, Inc.

WE: How did you first get involved with WE Labs?

TS: When close personal friend and Founder of WE Labs Markus Manley passed away suddenly at the age of 39, Markus’ mother Mary Charles along with co-founder Robbie Brown asked me to help carry on the WE Labs vision and join in the formation process of WE Labs, Inc. Without hesitation, I accepted, taking on the awesome responsibility of continuing to make Markus’ dream a reality.

WE: What are you most excited about for the future of WE Labs?

TS: I'm most excited to see WE Labs achieving the dream that Markus told me about when I first met him. I see members collaborating and our community growing and I know how happy Markus would be. We're working towards a partnership with the City of Long Beach, LBCC, the SBDC, and already have synergistic relationships with local businesses for event sponsorship and member discounts. (For example, WE Labs members get 10% off at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing!) As we go forward and look to open a new and complementary location in San Pedro, I'm excited to see WE Labs reach new heights and be able to better serve our members and community.

Why Coworking?

hostmaster@lundmark.com (Super User) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

You need to invest in you first.

How do you create opportunities for your business to grow? Becoming part of the Work Evolution community will give you more opportunities to get perspective, word-of-mouth marketing, trade referrals, as well as find partners for new business ideas. Basically, we are where all the cool kids work and play.

Working at home alone can be a drag.

Working from home is isolating, unsettling, and filled with distractions. If it’s not a basket of laundry or having to clean the house for a meeting, it’s the dog nudging you or your unemployed gossiping neighbor at the door. Work Evolution is a place where creatives, thinkers, and visionaries come together.

Your local coffee shop office sucks!

You won’t feel the guilt of having to buy coffee every hour, there are plenty of outlets, and the wifi speed doesn’t get major lag after only 10 connections.

Only you think your cat has great ideas.

Generating new ideas and solving problems are at the top of the list of important things about running your own business. Our members geek on ideas with one another, give advice, and often collaborate to make epic things happen. How are your cat’s skills on infographic design?

You need to grow your professional wolfpack.

Being around the right people as a free-range human is important. Not only does working alongside like-minded people help innovate and grow business, it gives you lunch buddies and play partners. Free range humans are a unique breed. Making friends with other creative free rangers that understand your independence is important and can bring better balance to your work and social life.

Finding new clients can be as easy as saying hello.

Members openly exchange referrals to help each other generate more business. How, where, and when does this happen? Serendipitous hallway crossings, group lunch outings, post-it notes, and engaging community events.

Show your clients you mean business.

Meetings in living rooms and coffee shops typically equals discount service to clients. Having a client meet you at a legit business address in a legit conference room will leave a solid impression. Plus it makes it easier to ask for what you’re worth when they see you take your business seriously.

Who do you call when you need services?

We invite people with a variety of expertise to join our community. Graphic design, marketing, mobile app programming, web development, film direction, music production, fashion design and copywriting are just a few of the skills available. There’s no better way to find the right person for the job than experience them working in person.

You can work when, where and how ever you like to work.

You are the boss, so you can show up early, late, or not at all. We offer a variety of work areas within our nearly 8,000-square-foot facility, so changing it up daily is that easy. There is every workspace imaginable, from traditional workstations to comfy couches and beanbags.