A day after the excitement that was the Inbound Marketing Conference 2015, members of the StraightArrow team were invited for a tour of the HubSpot office.
Last September, we found ourselves at 25 First Street, 2nd Floor, Cambridge, Massachusetts along with other HubSpot Partners in the Asia Pacific. It was an opportunity to get to know inbound marketers from the region in a laid-back environment. It also gave some some ideas on building a company culture that is focused on inbound.
Here are some of the things they do there that we found interesting:
1. Spaces That Encourage Collaboration
Their 2nd floor pantry has booths that can accommodate small groups of people. Each work station also has a bench where colleagues can sit for a brainstorming or catch up session. As each client or project might require 3-5 Creatives with different areas of specialization, these spaces are a great way to help teams composed of say, an inbound marketer, a web developer, an SEM specialist and a copywriter stay on the same page.
2. An Emphasis On Continued Learning
We got to see the room where new team members and partners come to get trained. The classroom-like environment makes the onboarding and learning process more fun. We also saw the tiny room where they produce those quirky HubSpot Academy videos that help marketers and Creatives across the world earn their certifications and stay up to date on the latest trends and practices in inbound marketing.
3. A Different Kind Of Vending Machine
The company makes it more efficient for both its Creative and technical support teams to replace keyboards, computer mice and other computer hardware. A few key punches and a quick ID scan cuts the paperwork and allows everyone to get back to doing what they do best. It also indicates the high level of trust they place on the people.
4. Employee Recognition
Looking around the many desks, we saw unicorn stickers that we learned were awards given to top performers. There were also balloons on desks of newly hired HubSpotters. Other cute and notable items were pet care products, as the staff are allowed to bring their dogs to the work.
One of the biggest and most immediate ways the marketing software company encourages expression is the chalk wall. It's a great way to change up the look of the office to welcome guests, to celebrate a milestone or to simply have a laugh.
5. Provisions For Health And Fitness
There were many indications that HubSpot cares for its employees' mental and physical well-being. There were spaces for quiet and spaces for mingling with people. Their nap room is particularly thoughtful considering events like a product launch can require teams to work at odd hours. We walked into the other pantry to find baskets and baskets of fresh fruit to encourage people to make more nutritious food choices. They also have a room with treadmills where people can exercise and where some have been known to do brisk walks while holding conference calls.
The Inbound Culture At Home
During the tour, we learned that HubSpot started out renting just one unit but are slowly taking over the building as the company grows -- a situation that is amazingly similar to the many units in the signature StraightArrow colors popping up in Silver City, Frontera Verde in Pasig City.
Take a tour of the StraightArrow office and you can find spaces for collaboration, continued learning and employee recognition. Check out our freedom walls:
Which of these ideas do you think will fit your business? Hopefully, you can use them to encourage your team to embrace the inbound culture which, in turn will produce delighted customers and brand ambassadors.
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