Interview with Jérémie Trigano, CEO of Mama Shelter

How did you get into coworking?
J. T. - Mama Works was born out of a meeting with Keys Properties, the investor in the Mama, which will open in October 2018 in Toulouse. They wanted to get into coworking, either as a franchise, or by creating their own brand, or by partnering with someone who could add value. So we teamed up with an existing project in Lyon. They take care of the technical side, and we create elegant, cosy, fun and quirky spaces through design and furniture.

Is the Mama spirit also present here?
J. T. - Exactly. You'll find the Mama Shelter teams to be very friendly. Accustomed to room service, they put the same energy into dealing with the day-to-day worries of professionals. All in good humour, creating natural, unformatted links with customers. Mama Works also has a bar with good coffees and juices, and shops like those in Mama stores, but with a focus on office equipment. For a bit of fun, there's also a music room and a gym with a shower. In short, these are happiness labs that help you to be more productive. As in the hotel business, we offer affordable prices with three packages: Mama Mobile for itinerant travellers, Mama Desk guaranteeing a dedicated office in an open space and Mama Office, i.e. closed offices for two to ten people.

How do you see the future?
J. T. - This is no passing fad. While we are in the process of a soft opening in Lyon, the facility is already 40 % full. And the one expected to open in Bordeaux in December is 60 % full! Lille is also scheduled for early 2018. We're targeting the major cities of France and Europe, with Mama Works that can be stand-alone or in a hotel, as will be the case in Luxembourg.