Marketing agency Fallon & Co are just one of many small businesses to pass through the Stretton Centre on their path to success.
A Barossa local, Fallon Roocke kickstarted Fallon & Co while working from her home office, toiling away for several months gaining clients and new employees on the way. With growth came the need for a space where Fallon could better engage with her clientele, cater for her growing team and make them feel part of a larger workforce. Her sights were also set firmly on establishing the business in Adelaide sometime in the future. While researching co-working spaces she found the Stretton Centre.
‘I found there wasn’t a huge amount of co-working spaces in the northern suburbs so when I saw the Stretton Centre I was really interested,’ said Fallon. ‘The location right in the middle of my homebase in the Barossa and Adelaide immediately appealed and once I went on a tour, I loved it instantly.’
After deciding Stretton was for Fallon & Co, they moved into the ‘sunny side’ of the building with two desks by the windows and soon began enjoying all the benefits the centre and co-working provided them.
‘We got to dress up and meet people, not just sitting behind a laptop in your activewear! The team felt part of a community with all the networking opportunities and coffee machine chats, the things you miss while working from home,’ said Fallon. ‘Plus, the team at Stretton Centre provided so much support and even became a client as we took on some social media work – it was a win-win. Everyone was lovely.’
Aside from the affordability of spaces and free coffee, the networking opportunities was where the real value lay for Fallon & Co as they quickly found new clients and business from just being in the centre. It also provided the opportunity to ‘pick people’s brains’ over any situation or problem with fellow co-workers as well the Stretton Centre team.
After three years in the Stretton Centre, Fallon’s plan came together as the business had seen sufficient growth to make her vision of an Adelaide office a reality, recently moving the team into their own office in Keswick. They have renovations planned which include an outdoor area as well as plans to include co-working spaces for videographers and photographers, an area Fallon described as a ‘mini-Stretton Centre.’
For anyone thinking of starting their own business or looking to expand beyond their home office, Fallon says co-working at the Stretton Centre is a ‘no brainer’.
‘Take that step. Come in for the space and become part of the community. Network, meet new people and lean on the staff for business advice and any opportunities. And it is just such a beautiful building to work in!’
