You’ve seen our Meet the Team series, where we spotlight the incredible people at LiquidSpace. We’re excited to launch a new interview series spotlighting our guests! It’s always exciting for us to see who is using LiquidSpace and hear how workspace freedom empowers them personally and professionally. We’re kicking things off by interviewing Manhattan-based Sabina Hitchen, co-founder of Tin Shingle. Read on…
Can you give us an overview on Tin Shingle?
You got it! Tin Shingle demystifies PR, social media and online marketing for small businesses and entrepreneurs by providing them with the education, tools, motivation, resources as well as an online community of other entrepreneurs to connect with and support.
Our audience ranges from jewelry designers in San Francisco to a veterinarian in Brooklyn, from entrepreneurs in London to mompreneurs in Florida. Whether they make products, services or they’re experts, the common thread is that they know they need to build buzz for their business in order to survive and thrive and for years they’ve been coming to us to make that happen. Literally every week we hear their success stories, from people who took one of our webinars and landed a major magazine article or a business who read our Ask the Expert tips and finally figured out Instagram. At the end of the day all of the things we provide are designed to help them save time, money and stress, and really “get it” in these key areas. It really is democratizing PR, social media and marketing and putting a lot of power and knowledge back into the hands of the business owners.
How long have you been enjoying workspace freedom, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I’ve been an entrepreneur for nearly ten years and it’s been a magical adventure so far. I love the freedom of setting my schedule, though I’d be lying if I said that in order to do that you have to work both hard and smart. That said, I’m really able to work when I’m feeling highly creative and productive and other moments are spent getting inspiration or a breather, and it’s nice to be able to follow my gut and desires as opposed to a set schedule. I also love planning trips and not wondering how they cut into my vacation time!
We blushed to hear you call LiquidSpace your mistress in this blog post (but appreciate the compliment)! What are your favorite LiquidSpaces so far, and why?
For starters let me say to any entrepreneur who works from home or perhaps is on a trip somewhere away from their office: the power in leaving your usual work space or in opting out of working from a less than stellar space you’re visiting and heading over to a LiquidSpace venue is not to be underestimated. It’s a great way to refresh your creativity muscles and shake things up a bit.
For us it began accidentally, as the area I usually worked from kept losing Internet service. Once I found LiquidSpace I was hooked, and after the first visit, I was going at least once a week. We have been using the same space for awhile now, and that’s because the beauty of LiquidSpace means we can pick a spot that is close and easy transportation-wise, and also gives me the amenities and “musts” I was looking for. For us it was all about finding a quiet space with fast Internet, as I record classes when I’m at a LiquidSpace. Looking into the future I think I’ll be doing a lot of writing at WorkHouse NYC. At the end of the day it not only gives me a new, distraction-free space to work out of my home office, but it also lets me hang out in a new neighborhood for the day which is also a refreshing change.
What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
I’d say that if I were to start all over again I’d have strived to make balance and down time not just a luxury but a requirement. Sure, those first years you work hard, but sometimes working smart and giving your brain time to recuperate can have a bigger payoff. Things I’m glad I did that I’d advise others to do include finding a supportive community of other entrepreneurs (like Tin Shingle) to connect with remembering that when I shift my attention to “how am I helping people, what is my purpose” it helps clarify everything from marketing plans to conflicts of ideas.
How can our readers get their hands on some of Tin Shingle’s online education and expert advice?
I’d love to invite anyone who may feel stuck or like they’re unsure of what or where to go in terms of their “buzz building efforts” from pitching the press to working it on Pinterest to head over to Tin Shingle and let us help change that. They’ll learn a lot and feel highly motivated and dare I say have fun while doing it. Blending our education with some feel-it-in-your-spirit motivation is our trademark because let’s be honest, if you can have a great time while mastering these essentials, you’re going to keep getting better and learning more!
You can access regularly updated articles and experts via our website, catch our weekly live “TuneUp” webinar or any past podcasts and webinars we’ve done at anytime, from anywhere. In fact, use code LIQUIDSPACE and pick out any podcast or live webinar to check out for free!