COMING SOON to Devine, Texas - Every step of the way God provides. That's what we've been witness to ever since taking Marken Media Co. full-time in December 2017. We never would have planned to leave Houston (the fourth largest city in the country) to move back to my hometown of Devine to start a business. But here we are!
Dreams can be scary to say out loud. Even more scary to put on paper, or in this case a blog post. But dreaming with Marcus has been life-giving and fun. Dreaming keeps us up late at night - talking about what it would look like to grow our home-based business, Marken. Here lately we have been circling our small town of Devine, Texas, like vultures. Pretty much every “nap-time car ride” we have driven down its streets, praying, dreaming, and praying some more. We have been feeling the growing pains of needing a space outside our home to be able to grow the business and expand our services. Marken has always been a creative company. We love designing and creating everything from marketing collateral, to videos that tell stories, to easy-to-navigate websites and hosting creative workshops. These are things we will continue to do. We also dream of gathering people together, building our community, inspiring creativity, and connecting people. That’s what Marken is all about. So with that .... We have some EXCITING NEWS!
Photo credit: Tristan Wood
This fall we will be moving Marken out of our home office and into 203 E. College Ave., Suite C in Devine, Texas! Its plain 1,800-square-feet is just begging to be Marken-ized! In addition to becoming our office, we will also have a collaborative working space (or co-working space) that we’re calling the Marken Co.Lab, a music room and recording studio called Marken Music, and the Marken common area, which will be host to special events and creative workshops. We feel this is just a natural extension of who and what Marken is - and we're so excited to be on this journey! Marken Co.Lab We want to invest in this community and its future by providing an inviting, inspiring space for people to connect, learn, and work. Marken Co.Lab members can make use of our common area and dedicated meeting room/conference room space, as well as dedicated desk space. What is a collaborative work space? The popularity of collaborative working spaces is on the rise. Projections from the U.S. Co-working Forecast suggest that by 2022 the number of people in the U.S. using co-working spaces will double. Co-working is not just for millennials, but also for those taking higher education courses who need dependable internet, those working for themselves or those with “side gigs” who need a dedicated space outside of their home to be able to focus on work. It’s even for retirees who would like a social environment to work on their passion projects. Noted benefits of co-working have included:
The Marken Co.Lab will be open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with additional appointments by request. We are currently under construction! Anticipated open-to-the-public date is October 2018! Membership Pricing: $20/day for single day pass (for common area) $65/month for single pass (for common area) $100/month for couples pass (for common area) $350/month dedicated desk* *There will be a very limited number of dedicated desks available Member Benefits:
You'll receive a FREE Day Pass when you register for a tour!
(Remember our expected open date is October 2018!) Marken Music In addition to work collaboration, we will also have a music room. Marken Music will allow local music teachers to teach their students in an inviting space. There will be a piano on-site, and teachers who reserve the space are encouraged to bring their instruments. Private locked storage will be available in our storage area upon request. Marken will also use the space as a recording studio with the ability to record, mix, and professionally master music for clients. (Don't worry, this area will be sound-proofed so as not to bother our co-workers!) Member and Student Benefits: As part of our Marken Music family, we will help promote teachers' lesson openings and offerings to our broad email network, social media following, and inside the Marken Co.Lab. Their students’ guardians are also encouraged to enjoy the Marken Co.Lab common area space and complimentary wifi during lessons (only). Music Teacher Member Pricing: $10/hr for music teachers to reserve music studio.
Workshops & Special Events
Marken will offer reservations for weekend and evening events like bridal showers, baby showers, and small parties. Rental pricing will start at $250 for common area space, and $150 for conference room only. For reservation inquiries (after our October 2018 open date) click here. We will also plan to host a variety of creative workshops like hand lettering, painting, and floral design. Weekdays, we will host small business workshops like photography 101, social media tips, and our favorite apps for organization. Space will be limited and advance ticket purchase required for most events.
Community Partnerships
We believe that partnering with fellow businesses will be mutually beneficial. In order to help create a space that not only inspires the community to connect with each other and foster creativity and growth, we want to give “shout-outs” to those who have helped us along the way. When we hosted previous Marken workshops in our home, we even had people from outside our community of Devine attend. The first question when the workshop was over was, “Where do we go now?” We plan to create a “Must-Dos while in Devine” brochure/map that will highlight area business services, as well as places to shop and dine. While we will help connect the Devine community in our workshops and the Marken Co.Lab space, we also know that many outside the community may be drawn to Marken, and what better way to showcase our community than to point them to some of our own unique shops and businesses?
Thank you!
The Best is Yet to Come! Marcus & Kennan By Marcus Buckner Honestly, I didn't think it would work. When I realized that I needed to quit my sales job, I looked around and couldn't find any jobs that seemed to fit me. It felt like the only valid option, after prayer and some long discussions with my wife, was to make our freelance media business a full-time gig. But to be honest, I couldn't see how it could work. There weren't enough clients or enough projects in my mind to see this thing working as a full-time job. We had been doing this "thing" on the side for a supplemental income for as long as we have been married.
In December 2017, we launched Marken Media Co. (a name that my wife created by smashing our names together). Every month we have seen God provide just the right amount of clients and projects. Every month we see His provision unfold. We are so grateful to be working together as a family and being able to spend more time together. It is amazing to see our 3-year-old son Jaxson hand out business cards to potential clients and see him get excited as we explore new business opportunities. So sometimes yes, it feels like you are about to jump off a cliff in faith. But for us, the reward is worth the risk even though we do not have it all figured out. He works all things together for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose! Good things are ahead! |
AuthorKennan is wife to Marcus, the other half of Marken Media Co., and mom to Jaxson, Caden, and furry Reba. Archives
March 2019
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