If you haven’t heard already, we’ve officially moved into our new HQ! After months spent working from home, our Loungers are officially reunited in a HQ that’s more than just a working space, but a HQME.
We’re talking three floors of luxurious Lounging space, countless Brew Bras, a fully equipped gym, our very own CUP cafe and more. It truly is our home away from home.
We wanted to get the lowdown on the big move and what it means to our founders, Dan and Mel, to now have over 100 passionate Loungers in our biggest space yet after 12 months of insane growth. See what Dan and Mel had to say below.
Hi, guys. Thank you so much for chatting with us. How excited are you to finally be in your new HQ? It looks incredible!
Dan: It’s so hard to put into words, but this HQ is essentially 5 years worth of work all coming into fruition. It’s just the most amazing space to work in and doesn't really feel like an office to be honest.
How long has Sunnyside been in the works and how long did the overall design/fit-out take?
Dan: Sunnyside took 6 months to fully renovate from design to build, but when we first saw the building when we moved to Blythe Valley Park over 2 years ago, we just knew that it was the future home of Lounge!
Was it nerve wracking expanding into such a big space during a global pandemic?
Dan: Yeah, there’s no doubt that it’s been a huge risk in such an uncertain time, but we've put the investment in now to secure our future as a brand and to ensure that we can scale as fast as possible without any growing pains.
Tell us all about the powerful messaging and motifs around your new home and how it inspires your Loungers.
Mel: It's true that we wanted our HQ to really feel like a home in so many ways, but we also wanted to inspire and excite our team every day through bold and meaningful design decisions around the building. 'She' is a prime example of this, which I'm sure we'll talk about later.
We’ve intentionally placed cute and thoughtful positive affirmations on cubicle doors inside the male and female toilets and hidden statements around our HQME. They're designed to catch you off guard and make you smile just when you might need it. There are so many little details like this that we took a lot of time and care in placing, all to ensure that no matter what kind of day our team is experiencing, we lift them even higher.
What’s your favourite thing about the new home of Lounge?
Dan: It’s so tricky to nail down a single space, but it's pretty awesome having a gym on site, but also the canteen we are offering now is such a massive step up to what we were used to. It's just so convenient.
Mel: I think I'd have to go for our CUP Cafe. The versatility that this space offers for our team is just awesome. It’s spacious and free flowing, whilst filled with comfort, food and fun. CUP has its own cinema club, large family dining tables, lounge spaces, games like pool and table tennis, cosy booths and gorgeous big day beds. What more could you want from a family space?
We obviously have to ask about the Vault too. Can you give us any exclusives?
Mel: Ah, The Vault is our little secret space for wonder and Lounge magic, haha!
Inside our Lounge Lab is our own little version of a Harry Potter-esque vault. We wanted our design team to truly feel the weight and importance of their work through giving them a space that would blow their mind and never, ever get old. Inside the vault, we essentially house our history and detailed steps of our design and sampling processes, all kept safe and locked away to protect the beauty we're creating as we continue to scale and innovate for our community.
The brand has already experienced significant growth over the last 12 months. How much more growth are you hoping to achieve with this new space?
Dan: Long term, the vision is to be the biggest underwear brand in the world. This HQ will definitely help take us close to that as we facilitate our growth in the UK.
Mel, I know you mentioned 'She', the sculpture in your new HQ. She definitely has heads turning when you first step inside! What does 'She' mean to you personally?
Mel: She is a representation of our history and also our future, that's how I like to sum her up anyway. I guess that's the beautiful thing about her - her meaning is unique to everybody she greets.
The meaning behind her true story will always feel super personal to Dan and I, and the fact that we can now stand underneath her to tell that part of our story as soon as someone walks into our HQME is really special. Her female form is just beautiful, it's strong and powerful. We hope that 'She' will touch everybody who steps foot inside the building in a way that is special and unique to them.
You’ve mentioned how the new home of Lounge isn’t just a HQ but a HQME. Tell us a little bit more about that.
Dan: Everyone that steps into our HQ says how homely it is! It’s the opposite to a corporate space. Some of the areas literally feel like you're working in your Lounge.
Tell us a little bit about the huge Lounge logo outside. That's one way of making a statement!
Mel: We wanted to create a buzz before you even stepped inside our HQME, so that as soon our team are pulling up at work, they instantly think, 'Hell yeah, I work here!”
Finally, where do you see Lounge heading in the next year?
Dan: The next 12 months as we come out of lockdown is definitely going to be a tricky one. We’re still aiming for significant growth worldwide, but also taking the year to regroup and make sure the foundations of the company are solid to build off again for our next phase of growth.
Do you want to work in one of the biggest and best HQ’s ever? If you’ve ever dreamed of having a HQME away from home, you’re in the right place.
We’ve got loads of Lounging opportunities available on our Careers page here.
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