SAVVY ‘OFFICE BUILDING’ PERFECT FOR DAY OR LONG-TERM SMALL BUSINESS, COMMUNITY AND RENTAL USE

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Christie Buckley is a savvy business woman.

She’s created a “co-working centre” offering “business support services.”

The new “Savvy Community” is an “office building” that caters to daily, weekly and monthly rental spaces for small independent business owners.

She has in mind private contractors or cottagers on the go — and anyone else in need of helpful friendly support or an offsite to work collegially at hand-in-hand.

“Sometimes a kitchen table isn’t big enough to spread out at the end of the day to do the books or conduct professional business meetings,” she said during a tour this week as she prepares for next weekend’s Saturday Sept. 28 official open house and tours on the main street in downtown Gravenhurst.

Location, location, location. It is located at 820 Muskoka Road South, near the Shopper’s Drug Mart.

Christie Buckley welcomes the public to her open house and a tour her new small business centre at 820 Muskoka Road South in Gravenhurst Saturday Sept. 28 from 1-4 p.m. Photos Mark Clairmont

Because office building spaces aren’t easily available or accessible, she’s identified a missing niche market.

“Drop in for a day with your laptop — or rent longer.”

Buckley dubs her centre “Community, connection and collaboration.”

Location, location, location the is ideally located on Gravenhurst’s main street with ample private parking front and back with lots of office space options.

With six private offices on the ground floor (two already rented) and at least two more upstairs, including a common work space and room to re-arrange several desks to accommodate multi-tasking, Buckley has created a workplace that’s conducive to either transient or permanent business office operators.

With a couple of additional large common rooms and comfortable lounges (complete with that “home kitchen table”) Savvy Community is a sharing workplace that allows business owners to network, exchange entrepreneurial ideas and expand their business reach.

There’s even an 85-inch TV in the main board meeting room “so when you’re doing a Zoom call the heads of the speakers aren’t tiny,” Buckley boasts.

And slick all new office furniture on wheels throughout.

Two of the wings in the vast space are named “Violet Vinyard” and “Juniper Junction.”

The well-appointed front common entranceway offers a warm, inviting, well-lit atrium area to sit and meat clients and chat and enjoy complimentary all-day coffee.

In the large second floor common room work area a half dozen student desktops suitable for studying and researching are easily accessible to learn or for tutoring.

Fast, reliable internet and WiFi service, IT support and a photo copy room with a large scale printer, it combines the best of an office building and that is convenient and affordable.

For either $30 a day or up to $1,000 a month (prices on their website) Savvy Community is the full service business centre that Gravenhurst has been lacking. There are also membership rates to reduce costs.

With very ample of private parking door-front and at back of this main street building, its location is ideal for commuters coming into town passing by en route to their summer and seasonal stays.

There’s also complimentary tea and coffee.

The large community room, available for public and community group meetings, features an 85-inch large screen TV and computer monitoring screen.

Buckley, who has operated her accounting business since buying the 6,000 sq.-foot building in 2019, is expanding and will also offer business mentoring courses and a small rental room meeting space at affordable community rates. Call to book a time(s).

On Sept. 28 meet three business coaching counsellors and mentors who will be providing helpful ongoing courses, seminars and workshops at Savvy.

  • Ian McIntosh’s “Digiminds CRM” will help you “attract and close more customers. We will give you all the tools you need to grow your business on auto pilot.”
  • Patricia Dent runs “Start-up & Exit,” to assist aspiring entrepreneurs begin their business, get it going, growing and if need get out. “Success and profitability by avoiding mistakes you can not even see coming.”
  • Similarly Rick Harris will run his “Work Boot Consulting” courses at Savvy, which provide “confidence” and “take you from craziness to control.” He launches Oct. 16 from 1-3 p.m.

Buckley brings a background in teaching and with adult education courses through the Simcoe Board of Education. And been on the Muskoka Futures board. She lives in Kilworthy.

She will continue to offer tax and bookkeeping services and courses herself.

“And troubleshooting. I can sometimes help in an hour what would take the client several hours or more to solve.”

The open house and tours start at 1 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting and will last till 4 p.m.

See their website for more information at https://savvycommunity.com/

The agenda for the open house and tour, above. And below a floor plan of the 6,000 sq-ft. building.

On the second floor office space is available to rent for $30 a day for businesses and students. Just bring your lap top.
New independent work stations are perfect for a quick hook up to the internet and a short business stay. Memberships are available for multiple uses with access to all the other business centre’s support services.
The third floor offers a balcony overlooking the main street and a comfortable common seating area lounge.
A couple of office spaces are for rent on the second floor.
Buckley likes this space on the second floor already nicely appointed.
With plenty of windows and blinds to let in the light, an office or conference room is just right for smaller private meetings.
Of course there is a kitchen and table to make business feel more home-like.
Another common lounge comes with its own large kitchenette for users’ use on the second floor.
The bright, sunny community room has an entrance from the front parking lot and can also be used by office renters to spread out their worksheets.
A separate large office space is for rent also facing the Muskoka Road South main street and has a kitchenette.
Also on the ground floor is another attached, but independent double-sized office space with its own access.
Buckley shows the private entrance that would be suitable to hang a business sign on.
With ample parking front and back the Savvy Community office building has room for rental and client vehicles.

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