The new space enticed with its convenience
Julius Urbonavičius, the manager of the store “Protecus”, which sells construction equipment and tools, says that „Urban HUB“ offered a new standard in the market: “Currently, we have everything in one place, both premises for storage, trade and office. This model allows you to work smoothly and offer customers the highest quality service in the shortest possible time. Also, Urban HUB’s strategic location near the A1 highway and the A6 road is exceptional and easily accessible not only for customers but also for employees. We believe in the growth of our business by being part of the Urban HUB business community.”
Domas Jakutis, the manager of the company “Lonas”, which sells Lithuanian mattresses, revealed that the company previously only had showrooms in shopping centers in Kaunas. “Urban HUB” was attracted by the possibility of having a stand-alone showroom, where it is easy to come, view the exhibition in spacious premises, buy products and pick them up immediately, as well as find other companies whose services or products are needed for home furnishing.
“The team of the SBA group, with whom the negotiations took place and the long-term lease agreement was signed, also had a great influence, their values, reputation and flexibility. We opened the salon in a strategically convenient location not only for Kaunas, but also for guests of the city. Catering and entertainment businesses will also be located nearby. We believe in this project and its long-term success. We have no doubt that soon more and more customers will discover the amenities of this place,” said D. Jakutis.
The head of Antalis company Egidijus Ramanauskas revealed that bigger premises were needed when planning business development, so it was decided to stay in a new business town: “In the near future, we plan to merge with a Latvian company, with which we have four offices in Kaunas. In order to achieve efficiency, we decided to focus on one place, we were looking for a suitable object for it: an office for our employees, a retail location, a space for displaying equipment and other goods, a warehouse, a pick-up point for e-store customers and wholesale corporate customers.”
Expect a large group of customers
Since businesses had the opportunity to set up their own office premises, everyone planned them according to their needs.
“When setting up the office, we tried to create a communal working environment for employees, but also to maintain the feeling of a personal workplace, so that each employee would be comfortable performing both individual functions and communicating with colleagues. In our office, there are not only places for work, but also a rest area to drink coffee or have a quiet lunch”, said J.Urbonavičius, head of Protecus.
During the negotiations, the Urban HUB team offered flexible pricing to Lono’s manager D. Jakučius, presented various scenarios: whether the premises were rented unfurnished, semi-furnished, or fully finished: “We have our own salon concept, so we chose to set up ourselves – some solutions became experimental , others – repeat as standard as in other salons. We had complete freedom to set up the way we wanted.”
The spacious premises allow not only to exhibit more of the products produced by the company, but also to immediately hand over the available large-sized products in the warehouse to those who want and have the opportunity to take them here and now.
When establishing the premises, the manager of “Antalio” E.Ramanauskas found the convenience provided to customers to be the most important: “Very good location, visibility from the highway. In this way, the geography of the activity of this facility is not limited to Kaunas customers, but also attracts those passing by on the highway. The LEZ, where there are many potential customers, is also nearby. The concept will be quite unique in terms of packaging goods – we will offer the largest assortment, and customers will be able to collect goods from the shelves on site, pay and take them away immediately.”
You will discuss the interior with the staff
Modern workers often expect more than functionality and convenient parking from their office. Rest and play areas, more personal space are also desired, so interviewing employees and delving into their needs before setting up an office is nothing new.
“During the preparation of the office plan and visualizations, every employee of the company was involved in the process, thus trying to meet everyone’s expectations. We noticed that the most important thing for employees was the synergy between privacy and shared work spaces, and we tried to maintain this principle. There is also a recreation area, the main purpose of which is simplicity and accessibility, for which a common kitchen area with a dining table and a closed meeting space were installed,” said J.Urbonavičius.
D. Jakutis pointed out that it was not difficult to assemble a team of Kaunas people in the newly opened salon: “After the Urban HUB project is fully completed, a sustainable trade and business community will gather here, not only recreation spaces will appear, but also entertainment and catering businesses will be established, where visitors customers, guests and people who work there will find everything in one place.”
The manager of Antalis paid great attention to the convenience of employees and customers, emphasizing that even before COVID-19, the company’s employees had the opportunity to work partially remotely, and during the pandemic, this practice was applied even more widely. Now, more and more employees choose to work in the office themselves – to meet with colleagues, to solve work situations faster, so the importance and relevance of the quality of the office is growing.
“We spend a very significant part of our lives at work, so we try to make employees feel at home here. During the more than 30 years of the company’s existence, we have tested various practices and philosophies of office furnishing and realized that one of the most important aspects is not foosball and other fashionable gadgets, but comfortable conditions to perform your tasks. For those who work in a job that requires a lot of concentration and attentiveness, silence and private space are extremely important,” said E. Ramanauskas.
He added that those who often communicate on the phone can also work in a larger space, but separately from colleagues who perform tasks that require high concentration. Therefore, special attention was paid to noise control in this office – the office is separated from other spaces, a sound-absorbing carpet is laid, workplaces are separated by special acoustic panels.
SBA Group real estate development company “SBA Urban” develops “Urban HUB” projects in Kaunas and Vilnius. In Kaunas, over 70,000 square meters are planned to be developed in several stages. m. commercial spaces. The first, 22,000 sq. m. the phase has already been completed, over 70% is leased here. spaces, but the second one, which will offer another 26,000 sq. m. m. spaces for offices, trade, warehouse.
According to the company’s manager, Giedrius Muliuolis, it is at this stage of the project that the team has the most freedom to replan and can offer businesses the most flexible space arrangement solutions: “The stage when we are just creating and designing the buildings of the project is extremely convenient for businesses planning to set up „Urban HUB“. At the moment, we can flexibly adapt spaces to very specific business needs, thus avoiding additional costs for customers when an already built project needs to be rearranged.”
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#Business #spaces #change #attitude #workplace #examples #Kaunas #inspire #Business
Has placed a significant emphasis on creating modern and functional workspaces that cater to the needs of both employees and customers. The recent establishment of showrooms and offices, like those of “Lonas” and “Antalis” in Kaunas, highlights this trend.
Domas Jakutis, manager of “Lonas”, has noted the appeal of having a standalone showroom that enhances the shopping experience by allowing customers to easily view and purchase products. This new location not only caters to local customers but is also strategically positioned to attract visitors to the city.
Egidijus Ramanauskas, head of Antalis, emphasized the importance of larger, multifunctional spaces to support business growth, particularly with plans for future collaboration with a Latvian company. The design of their new facilities focuses on efficiency and accessibility, offering spaces for direct interaction with consumers and ensuring a seamless shopping experience.
In both companies, modern office environments are being tailored to balance communal and personal workspaces. The incorporation of areas for rest and informal gatherings reflects a growing recognition of the need for a pleasant work atmosphere. This approach not only improves employee satisfaction but also enhances productivity.
Furthermore, the thoughtful design choices, including attention to sound control and private workstations, underscore a commitment to creating a conducive work environment. The aim is to foster a sense of community while providing spaces that meet individual work styles and preferences.
As these businesses prepare for the future, they anticipate a diverse group of customers, aided by the location’s visibility and accessibility. The incorporation of nearby entertainment and catering services adds to the appeal of the area, promising a vibrant and integrated community focused on work and leisure.