XtraSpace Self Storage, which operates flexible, co-working office space and business services in many of its self-storage facilities in South Africa, is expanding the office concept and rebranding a separate work-space solution as The Workspace. The company will continue to offer branded FlexiOffice space at select XtraSpace locations, but new facilities under The Workspace name will feature office solutions with an expanded suite of services, according to a press release.
“The Workspace is a premium offering with fully serviced, furnished offices and co-working spaces. They’re connected and flexible with meeting facilities and excellent support services,” said Colleen Mansour, chief operating officer. Services include call-answering, décor and finishes, full reception, IT support, meeting rooms, onsite management, printing, and video conferencing.
“You can run your business from our premises instantaneously,” Mansour said. “The difference between [fully serviced and co-working space] is with fully serviced offices you get your own furnished, private lock-up office, and you have 24-hour access to the premises. With co-working, you make use of our open plan working space, and you have access to the premises during normal office hours.”
In contrast, the FlexiOffice solution will be characterized by a smaller suite of services. It provides infrastructure, such as business centers, meeting rooms, printing and faxing capabilities, and free WiFi, but excludes support services like call-answering, IT assistance and a reception desk. “Our FlexiOffices are located at selected storage facilities and are available to give additional support and service to our storage clients. Terms are flexible,” Mansour said.
The more robust office solutions are in high demand from South African entrepreneurs, the release stated. “We traveled extensively and observed and researched the ways in which co-working is presented and put together around the world; they are all very similar but still have unique aspects which are determined by local realities,” Mansour explained. “We spent much time ensuring that our model works for the business owner in South Africa, making it very convenient and very affordable because we really believe in assisting small businesses to grow.”
XtraSpace has implemented expanded office services at nine facilities in the last two years, which will be rebranded from FlexiOffice to The Workspace. It also has three Workspace facilities in development, including The Workspace at The Club in the Hazelwood area of Pretoria, South Africa, which is scheduled to open in October.
XtraSpace operates 21 self-storage facilities in the South African provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. In addition to traditional self-storage space, the company’s locations offer business centers with flexible offices for small and mid-sized companies. The company also offers domestic and international courier services. It launched its SpaceBox valet-storage service last year.
