Mobile technology enables people to work from anywhere and the communal work space is becoming increasingly popular. Although traditionally suited to those who freelance or are self-employed, these work spaces are now attracting more corporate businesses. Genevieve Putter visits three such hubs in central Cape Town

Hot-desking for men in suitsPHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED AND MICKY HOYLE (DADDY O)

The Inner City Ideas Cartel (ICIC) is set in the bustling pedestrian node of Waterkant Street in Cape Town’s CBD. It has a healthy mix of tenants, from freelance designers,

mobile ad execs, writers and even a winery to those from more traditionally corporate fields, such as IT and medical solutions. The biggest draw card of this space is the sense of community harboured among its members, many of whom engage with entrepreneurs, start-ups and freelancers by offering advice pieces on the ICIC website. It also offers an ideal networking opportunity and access to a range of services. ideascartel.com

The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock is known for its creative currency,

acting as a base for numerous studios, agencies and businesses in the creative fields. Daddy.O, a communal workspace in the heart of this vibrant community, has tapped into this currency with cutting-edge interior design, including furnishings and accessories by Haldane Martin and Opus Studio — both of whom are based in the neighbourhood. Aside from hot-desking, tenants use this venue for meetings, realising the benefits of a beautifully designed space, 24-hour access and bottomless Deluxe coffee. daddyo.co.za

Community is key

“Community is key to mood and, here, organisations can utilise a co-working space that is productive and professional while being vibrant and creative. Everybody wins”Schuyler Vorster, founder of Inner City Ideas Cartel

THE DIRECTORWHO? Geir Tellefsen, director and country managerWHAT? Door IT (doorwayit.co.za), a Norwegian IT solutions company with a satellite office at ICIC in Cape TownWHY ICIC? “We currently have 15 employees, including myself,

who work full time at the space, which allows us to compete with other larger organisations in the IT industries. The great design, perks, high-speed internet, good food and the best coffee in town are all components contributing towards our increased

productivity, creativity and initiative. The space has a good vibe and although most of our employees are here from nine to five, they’ve all remarked that they love coming to work every day”BEST-KEPT SECRET: The roof-top coffee bar

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Unlocking the creative cache

“Many corporates like to change their venue when they need to do some strategic or creative thinking. Here, they get an entrepreneurial vibe in a setting that combines a great space with individualised service”George Gabriel, co-founder and director of operations at Daddy.O

THE CONSULTANTSWHO? Patrick Ryan, MDWHAT? Mobius Consulting (mobiusconsulting.co.za), a management consultancy specialising in assisting large corporates and other organisations to govern and manage their information risk

WHY DADDY.O? “We’re a team of consultants predominantly based at our clients’ premises and we use technology extensively to collaborate. Daddy.O is one of the spaces we meet in once a week when we need to consolidate as a team. From a hot-desking perspective,

Daddy.O works well when we’re running between clients and need a desk for a few hours to increase productivity” COMPETITIVE EDGE: Friendly staff make members and guests feel at home, offering them both personal and professional support

OFFICE

“There is a need for many more spaces like The Barn and I am certain that more

corporates will be investing significant funding into

similar initiatives”Vasileos Sofiadellis, PwC innovation manager,

business development

Hot-desking for men in suits

Unlike most other co-working spaces in the city, The Barn at the trendy Woodstock Exchange is geared primarily towards corporate and entrepreneurial tenants. What

sets it apart is the fact that it has been established to mentor, promote and accelerate today’s start-up entrepreneurs to be tomorrow’s big businesses, and, as a result, hosts a lot of corporate stakeholders. About 55 resident companies operate out of the space, including shared secretariat services, drop-in space for ad-hoc usage, a protyping lab, legal-support services, accounting and bookkeeping services, and a full-time business banker. bandwidthbarn.org

THE INNOVATORSWHO? Vasileos Sofiadellis, innovation manager, business developmentWHAT? PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC; pwc.co.za), Africa’s largest provider of professional assurance, tax and advisory services geared towards organisations and individuals WHY THE BARN? “PwC knows the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation, with the latter becoming a competitive necessity for companies and something PwC recognises. Our involvement at The Barn is a strategic investment, which will result in benefits for both our clients and ourselves. We know that there is a need in this space for professional

services and a need for companies to gain access to markets. We are always looking for feasible ways in which we can add value, through guidance and support, to these innovative start-ups that will be the disruptive future leaders”THE BEST PART: “Despite having flexibility, I’m generally here every day from 8.30am till 6pm and the best part about working at The Barn is that it feels like you are working from the ‘heart’ of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. There is a lot of daily activity and many events take place here, not to mention prominent government officials, international students and successful entrepreneurs visiting and supporting The Barn”

A top tourist destination, Cape Town boasts many appealing factors

when it comes to property, including mountain and sea views, and world-class amenities and facilities. The V&A Waterfront is fast becoming one of the jewels in the crown.

“Marina developments are among the most desirable addresses in the city and are highly sought after worldwide,” explains Pam Golding Properties (PGP) area rentals manager for the Cape metro Dexter Leite.

There is a steady demand to buy and/or rent properties in the V&A Waterfront and Granger Bay area, the PGP team points out, with the V&A Waterfront offering a range of apartments, including those

with one to three bedrooms and penthouses. “All of the apartments have high-end finishes and offer 24-hour security, access to a gym and communal swimming pools,” Leite says.

The area is attractive for buyers due to its central location and its reputation for sophisticated living in an opulent environment at the foot of Table Mountain. Leite explains that the area offers residents pedestrian access to the world-renowned V&A Waterfront, which features a vibrant night life, exclusive hotels, restaurants and designer boutiques. The Cape Town International Convention Centre is also a short walk away and the area has quick and easy access to major highways.

Although the sale of French wines is still a small niche

in the market, “it’s a category that is growing”, says Derek Kilpin from Great Domaines, specialist importer of European wines in Johannesburg. “Wine consumers are travelling more and people are learning about wines from outside the country.”

Great Domaines focuses firmly on Europe, representing 55 wine producers in France, Spain and Italy. Bottle prices range from little more than R100 to R40,000 and R50,000. Yes, that’s per bottle.

With bold, brash Bordeaux working on the en primeur

system of middlemen negotiants, Kilpin and business partner Wayne Visser focus instead on the boutique region of Burgundy, an area most famous for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

With much of their stock sourced from small, family-owned vineyards, it is a case of getting creative when shipping the small allocations back to SA. With air freight billed at a hefty R200 per bottle, most imported wine is shipped into the country.

“We pay a little extra to ensure everything ships in a refrigerated container,” says Kilpin.

Surprisingly, there is only negligible per-bottle duty charged on European wines

TRAVEL

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THE NUMBERSEntry-level sales for Granger Bay start at around R3m for a studio apartment and, for the V&A Marina, at around R3.9m for a one-bedroom apartment on the canal, Leite says. He notes that a two-bedroom apartment in Granger Bay ranges from R8m to R10m and, in the V&A Marina, from R5.6m to R9m. Canal-facing apartments start at around R12m and penthouses range from R25m to R30m.

Rentals range from R20,000 to R35,000 a month

for two-bedroom apartments, and three-bedroom apartments from R40,000 to R65,000 a month. Penthouses can cost up to R120,000 a month.

“Rentals vary based on the apartment’s position within the Marina — some apartments face the canal and others the Cape Grace hotel,” explains Leite.

Ideally located, varied in both size and price and, not to mention, fashionable, V&A Waterfront properties offer an investment and a lifestyle in one.

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“We pay a little extra to ensure everything ships in a refrigerated container”Derek Kilpin, Great Domaines

“With air freight billed at a hefty R200 per bottle, most imported wine is shipped into the country”

25% duty charged on non-European wine imports

R15-R40: cost to ship a single bottle from France to SA

It’s a long way from the Rhône to Randburg, so it’s no surprise French wine commands a high price in SA. But is there value to be found?

Wine from afar

An ecosystem of entrepreneurs

The V&A Waterfront is one of the most popular spots in the Western Cape for visitors to the region, but it’s also a sought after address for property investorsWORDS: TAMMY SUTHERNS

Perched on the canal

landing at South African ports, yet wine imported from the rest of the world is slapped with a 25% duty.

With the rand in free fall, fine wines from far-off lands are becoming more expensive — and, subsequently, elusive — than ever, but it is not all bad news. Relative to other markets for fine wine, South African vinophiles still enjoy some of the cheapest prices for Burgundy worldwide.

For instance, a mixed case of the sought-after Romanée-Conti that sold for R130,000 from Great Domaines would set you back R450,000 in London. And if you talk to the right people, there are still bargains to be had, despite the exchange rate.

“There are certain estates in Europe that are vastly underpriced when you consider the quality,” says Kilpin. “There are bottles in our cellar — Valencisco estate from Rioja for example — where the exchange rate could go to R25 per euro and there would still be value in the bottle.” greatdomaines.co.za011 778 9300

PROPERTY

WORDS: RICHARD HOLMES