Setting up Clout’s Headquarters

The last couple of weeks have been busy and exciting!

We finally set up shop for Clout; our start-up’s flagship offices are at 1122 Wellington St in Ottawa! [Foursquare / Maps]

The Boardroom

After months of functioning as a virtual agency, I found the best opportunity possible right under my nose: while looking around for offices in Hintonburg in the west end of town,  I stumbled upon a space available at the Antian corporate center.

Within a few minutes of viewing the space, I knew that it was perfect for Clout’s beginnings. We now have great work spaces in a cool building; and, we have an amazing boardroom and reception, a cool lounge and kitchen.

I think that our clients and our pioneering staffers will love it.

Whence the arrangements were made last week and I had key in hand, I began the process of hauling my gear to here.

The Bored Room

I have always been a packrat of electronics, computer parts and accessories, always with the hoarder’s logic that someday it would come in handy, someday each of these little doo-dads would save the day.

Of course, what I’ve always had in mind is what I’m doing now: setting up my own shop, literally, that is dependent on communications technologies.

I spent the previous weekend loading everything into the biggest suitcases that we own and hauling it across the street and into its new home: hard drives, mice, monitors, printers, pens… on and on the exodus went with everything that I could find.

And then came the behemoth: a giant, wooden side table that I had put aside “in case some day I open my office”.

I had envisioned it being converted into a stubby, stylish PC or server hutch (by taking off it’s back panels and such). I was so determined to get it in here and try to bring my idea to life that I stubbornly ignored my girlfriend when she warned me that i would throw my back out trying to carry it across the street.

I tried to prove her wrong and, in the end, spent much of the first half of today laying on my living room floor, begging to be euthanized. Amazing what a few Robax, vitamins and humiliation can do to get you back onto your feet.

Coupled with all of these toys in here is furniture generously lent to us by the building for us to use as we continue to bring in gear new and old. To say that Antian and its President, Thomas, have been amazing and generous is an understatement.

Having it, the work and tools at hand, is giving Clout a hell of a leg-up on realizing our mission: bringing exciting and engaging marketing innovations to life.

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From The President’s Blog.