5 Reasons to Root your Business in Independence
With the excitement of the NBA Championships and the exposure of the Republican National convention, 2016 will be remembered as the year that The Greater Cleveland Area enjoyed the national spotlight with other major US cities.
For those of us who live and do business in Northeast Ohio, though, the excitement of our region is nothing new. The Cleveland Area is regionally called “Northeast Ohio” and is filled with four major cities and over a dozen counties. The region is home to many major industries and boasts a strong labor force and many exceptional companies.Right in the center of our sprawling region is the city of Independence. Neighboring Parma and Brecksville, and landing due-South of downtown Cleveland, the city is an incredibly popular spot for office space.
Here are a few reasons why:
1. It’s Cleveland’s Most Central spot.
Looking at the map of Northeast Ohio, (below), it’s easy to see that Independence lands right off of the area’s most central highways; Interstate 77 (NS) and Interstate 480 (WE). Because of this, businesses based in Independence can tap into talent from all over the region without having any issues with employees travelling to and from the office. To get to downtown Cleveland in 15 minutes and downtown Akron in 20, there are very few other areas with the accessibility of Independence.
2. Dining and Nightlife
Cleveland is known for it’s food and Independence boasts many of Cleveland’s great restaurants. Have a client coming in from out of town? From LockKeepers to Melt, Independence has a little bit of every kind food that Cleveland is known for.
Below is a map denoting the locations of restaurants in Independence. For an interactive map, click here.
3. Variety
Regardless of industry, Independence is home to nearly every major industry in Northeast Ohio. From Manufacturing to service-based industries, there is a place for your business in Independence. Independence has focused resources on understanding the success of varying industries.
“The target industry analysis identified key sectors and industries for recruitment and retention in Independence based on the City’s relative competitiveness for these industries, their propensity to generate high-wage employment, regional and national growth prospects, opportunities provided for diversification in the local economy, and consistency with lifestyle attributes for Independence.”
Independence’s industry clusters include:
Administrative Services
Information Services
Health Care Services
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
Tourism & Accommodation Services
Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Education Services
Here is more information on the key industry performed by the City of Independence.
4. Incentives
The City of Independence makes doing business there easy.
According to the YourIndependence.org, Independence offers performance based incentives for businesses.
“Encouraging the creation of sustainable jobs is one of the key tenants of economic development. One way the City can encourage job creation is through performance-based incentives. Using job and payroll commitments provided by the company, the City may offer growing companies annual performance-based payments calculated as a percentage of annual municipal payroll withholding.”
Independence also offers relocation grants as well as price-reduction on land to facilitate economic development projects.
5. Designed for Business.
“As the area’s most central location, Independence is packed with energy. The community is home to a variety of industries and the city offers cost-saving incentives for businesses to grow. Your employees and clients will love the access to your office, wider roads, ample retail space, events, and restaurants. I describe Independence as a clean, safe area with an abundance of amenities and good energy.“
Julie White, VP of Leasing and Tenant Relations
Now that we’ve told you everything there is to know about why Independence rocks for business, check out some of The King Group’s listings in Independence:
Plaza 45 4500 Rockside Road Independence, OH 44131
Rockside Square I 6155 Rockside Road Independence, OH 44131
Rockside Square II 6133 Rockside Road Independence, OH 44131
For a complete list of our available properties, click here.
10 Myths About Working From Home
In today’s digital age more people are working remotely. There are a lot of misconceptions about what this can do for your business, most of which are seemingly positive. Although working from home may seem nice, and beneficial for your company, it can actually harm your company’s productivity and output.
Here are some common working-from-home myths debunked:
1. Working in a more comfortable environment will increase productivity.
Haven’t you ever heard “dress for the job you want”? People often believe that if they can work at home on the couch in their pajamas that they will be happier and get more work done. This is not the case. Yes, a change of scenery can aid creativity – but slouching on your couch will not benefit your health or work output.
2. Meetings are just as productive over the phone/video chat.
Meetings should only happen remotely if it is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, meetings in person are more productive.
According to a study conducted by Forbes, The Case for Face-to-Face, “Throughout, executives preferred face-to-face meetings when the decision-making process was fluid, requiring the kind of give-and-take typical of complex decisions and sales. For example, respondents said face-to-face meetings are best for persuasion (91%), leadership (87%), engagement (86%), accountability (79%), and decision-making (82%).”
Body language, presentation, and relationship building are just some things that can never be replaced by phone or video meetings.
3. I can make my own schedule.
Business drives on deadlines. Although your schedule from home may be more flexible – you still must ensure that you meet deadlines assigned to you. You may find yourself cramming in a project into the wee hours of the night, but remember, it probably won’t be your best work. In-office deadlines are structured so you can finish the work in the time constraints of your job.
4. Anyone can work remotely.
There are some self-starters out there that can work from home. But, it is definitely not for everyone. Often it takes a trial and error situation to realize that someone can or cannot work from home. Managers need to be aware that not all of their employees will be the right fit for working remotely. The few people that should work remotely have proven themselves through their work.
5. Working from home could eliminate the need for childcare.
Have you ever brought your child to the office (not counting bring your kid to work day, of course)? You probably couldn’t imagine your child running around your office. So why would you want that distraction working at home. It could seem like a best-of-both-worlds circumstance – combining being a working parent and stay-at-home with your kids.
6. Working from home cuts costs.
Although you may have less overhead, you will sacrifice productivity and employee output (see myth #1). Working from home could lead to a much larger sacrifice than just saving some money.
7. It’s better for your work-life balance.
When you work a more traditional 9-5 (nowadays it’s more like 8-6) work day, when you leave at the end of the day work stays at the office. This is not the case when your home life and your work life are one in the same. Work-life balance is so important to the success
8. You will get all your home projects done.
Please always remember who is paying you and what they are paying you to do. If you work remotely, and making the same amount of money as you would in-office, you should produce the same amount of results as in-office. You may think your house will be cleaner and more organized, but that is just another distraction from your work.
9. You’ll save money on food and lunch.
After some time, you will feel cooped up in your own home. You will actually end up going out more than you normally would, just to get out of your house.
10. You can keep up with team communication.
When you aren’t in the office, you may miss some important memos or information pertinent to your job. You may miss more than just water-cooler talk and your job may suffer. Keeping up with important, and relevant, information will end up taking extra effort than if you were in the office.
Working from home may seem like a nice alternative to going into the office. But when you keep in mind all of the truths behind these common myths, you should think twice before moving your office home.
10 Strategic Benefits of a Modern Workplace
New Property = Fresh Start
1. Architecturally advanced, professional-class, corporate office building.
With a new building, your company will have the most architecturally advanced, professional-class, corporate office building. Signature Square III will feature: a glass and stone facade, beautifully landscaped outdoor work areas with wireless connectivity, premium finishes throughout, and a two-story atrium.
2. State-of-the-art elevators, mechanics, and energy management systems.
Amenities like these can save you money.
Physical Environment
3. Expansive window line maximizing natural light throughout the interior.
Natural lighting is not valued enough in office space. It is crucial to recognize the importance of providing employees with natural lighting to improve not just work productivity, but overall quality of life.
According to an article from Northwestern, Natural Light in the Office Boosts Health, “Workers without windows reported poorer scores than their counterparts on quality of life measures related to physical problems and vitality, as well as poorer outcomes on measures of overall sleep quality and sleep disturbances.”
4. Energy efficient lighting and controls.
Green is trending and important to so many companies.
For the People
5. Sensory change and variability positively impact well-being.
There is something to be said for a change of scenery. A change of scenery can re-vamp your office morale. This in-turn positively impacts your client relationships. They will be more excited to come into your office and visit your re-energized workforce.
6. Competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining employees.
With a modern workplace, you will be able to better attract talent to your company. When looking for jobs, the work environment and culture is crucial, especially with the millennial generation. This also appeals to your current employees; potentially boosting staff pride related to the newly appointed office space.
7. Increase productivity, innovation, and staff focus.
An out-dated office space, that you’ve been in for years, can become stale to your employees. Something like a collaborative environment can foster creative thinking, vitality, and ambition.
Why Signature Square III?
8. Customization ability before construction.
With a building like Signature Square III, you are able to customize your ideal layout for your space. We will take into account your current and future needs when working with you to design the ultimate space. We understand that different industries have unique needs.
9. Branding inclusion in all property advertising.
Signature Square III will offer its key tenants unrivaled sign opportunities with exposure to, on average, 40,000+ cars – according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Your company will receive recognition on property advertising, ranging from print materials to press releases.
Why Now?
10. Early signer advantages.
- Advantage of discounted pre-leasing rates
- Few remaining commercially zoned sites for development
- Market data indicates a shortage of space over the next 36 months
- Rental rates are trending up and have been over the past 24 months
