6 March 2023. After announcing in February that we'd be moving to our new office, we all counted down to that date with impatience and excitement. On Monday 6 March the whole Social Hippo team would come together for the first time in our brand new office in Ruddervoorde.
Read the full story of our move below and let yourself be inspired by all the new doors that have opened for us. 👇
Saying goodbye to a great workplace
We started out as a pair in a home office, but that soon became too cramped and it wasn't long before Social Hippo moved to BORA Coworking in Zuienkerke. Warm, inspiring, ambitious — just a few of the many vibes and moods that describe that work environment perfectly. We felt at home in BORA straight away, and the presence of all those flourishing businesses gave us the chance to grow with Social Hippo and go big. 🌱
For one year and eight months our Hippo hung proudly on the glass windows of our offices. At first there was only one, but we soon took a second office space because our company grew faster than we'd ever dared to dream. So fast, in fact, that we eventually decided to go looking for our own office space.
With a little emotion, a lot of valuable insight and an Instagram feed full of good memories that nobody can ever take away from us, we said goodbye to that ideal — and oh so important — first step in our entrepreneurial story. 💛
Our new office: the next chapter
We'd already been to view our new office in Ruddervoorde with the team in complete secrecy. Back then it was entirely empty: white walls, an endless grey floor and various unfilled spaces that had us daydreaming about all the possibilities our new office had to offer.
We all stood there shuffling a little awkwardly in the middle of that giant workspace. The thought that within a few weeks we'd be working there on autopilot and routinely making a perfect coffee in our own coffee corner still felt a bit unreal to everyone at that moment. ☕
"Our new office is the icing on the cake. Our hard work has led to us having our own place, where we can not only put our creativity to use but also take on new challenges." — Lindsay
Day one of many to come
The first day in our new office was a big step for all of us. We all arrived at roughly the same moment from all sorts of different corners. New routes for everyone, and therefore new routines and new roads to discover. 🤩
Opening the front door for the very first time gave many of us a strange feeling. But as soon as we walked up the stairs and into the office space, we were all overwhelmed by the same 'WOW' feeling. 💛
One by one we went exploring, like children in a sweet shop. 😄 Little remained of the empty office space we'd seen earlier. Instead our imagination was captured by modern desks with more places than our team has Hippo heads, a light-filled meeting room with a bowl of colourful fresh fruit, and a coffee corner that gets even non-coffee-drinkers excited about reaching for a Social Hippo mug. 😉
"Social Hippo's growth creates even more productivity, creativity and appetite to make the most of our potential. Our own workspace is the reward for every Hippo's hard work." — Phebe
One of the doors of our new workplace also opens onto a quiet room where we get the chance to be productive at a sit-stand desk in an ergonomic way. And last but not least: a huge open space with a ping pong table and table football to let our energy run free whenever we need to. 🏓
"There's always something to do in the new office. Whether that's working or absolutely destroying someone at table football." — Lean
We felt a lot in that moment. Excitement, an abundance of creativity… and above all APPETITE 🔥 to get going and make this amazing workspace with endless possibilities our own: our one and only Hippo Home. 🏠
So many days later…
At the moment this blog is being written, we've been in our new work environment for almost a month. We even check the calendar to see whether that's right, because it feels much longer. Funny how that happens… and somewhere logical too, because we feel so at home here that it seems like we've always been here — and like nothing has changed at all. 😉
In the meantime we've discovered our do's and don'ts, claimed favourite spots, and we can say with certainty that we genuinely love coming here to work. Bit by bit we're getting to know the area better too: the supermarket nearby, the food bars and the sandwich shops. Next up? We're not called the Hangry Hippos for nothing, so testing every chip shop is definitely still on the list. ✅
"My favourite spot in our office is at the ping pong table. Ideal for a short distraction that gives me the energy to get back to work with a fresh head." — Lander
Come inside our Hippo Home
Our new office space brings out the best in all our Hippos and gives us the chance to discover new sides of ourselves. We have both the space and the freedom to take on new challenges. That's also how our 'Hanger Games' challenge came about, to encourage healthy competition between our Hippos and above all more movement at work. 🙌
When we need to, we can retreat into peace and quiet to get back into our creative zone. Feel like stretching our legs and having an exciting game of table tennis? Then we just do it. 😉 We're very aware that we haven't only been given a new office space, but a lot of freedom too — and we're embracing that with both Hippo paws.
"The move and the new location contribute to why I enjoy working at Social Hippo so much. It embodies the growth we're experiencing as a company and feeds the ambition to keep growing." — Brecht
Conclusion
Taking the step to look for our own office space took a lot of energy, time and effort. And of course there was a price tag attached. At the same time it was the best road we could have taken on our Social Hippo path. One door closed for us, but a lot of new ones opened. ✅
In other words: we're ready to make things happen 💥 from our Hippo Home. 💛
Curious about all the adventures our Hippos get up to at work? Then follow our socials for extra fun content. 📸
