The outdated office model is simply not suitable for Ballito. Days begin with essential school runs and surf checks, transition into serious work, and culminate with evening jogs along the boardwalk and quality family time. What has been missing isn’t ambition; it’s a dependable, conducive place to work that’s close to home. That’s why Workshop17 launched Club17, a membership priced at R1,500 (excluding VAT) per month, transforming professional space into a utility that feels like a local tradition.
Workshop17 established Club17 in Ballito because the demand was undeniable. For months, they witnessed coffee shop workers navigating power outages, noise issues, and unreliable Wi-Fi. Freelancers, new remote hires, and small teams were all looking for one thing: a hosted space equipped with fast connectivity, power resilience, and bookable meeting rooms, without the aggravations of long leases or city life. The solution needed to align with the Ballito rhythm, local, calm, and highly productive.
“We didn’t choose Ballito; Ballito chose us. The demand was evident, and the lifestyle fit allowed us to create a calm, credible default for serious work, away from the chaotic environment of Umhlanga,” asserts Penelope Meniere, Marketing Manager at Workshop17.
“You might ask why we didn’t simply set up another location in Umhlanga. The truth is that while Umhlanga boasts scale, Ballito offers the invaluable gift of time. Here, individuals can transition from home to desk in mere minutes, meet clients with confidence, and dodge the frustrating traffic jams. For first-jobbers and side hustlers,
having access to professional meeting rooms and high-speed uploads is not just a perk; it’s an essential pathway into the formal economy,” continues Meniere
For larger companies, a Club17 membership significantly lowers the barriers to testing a satellite or continuity site before making a commitment. What exactly does the membership provide? A hosted environment featuring shared work areas Monday to Friday, bookable meeting rooms, member events, and local partner benefits -All supported by resilient power and robust connectivity. The result is fewer cancellations, better client impressions, and enhanced team focus. Price matters, but predictability matters even more. You gain a professional default you can rely on, at a cost that’s akin to a phone contract rather than an expensive office fit-out.
Club17 is not a critique of traditional offices; it’s a superior choice for a coastal town that takes both life and work seriously. When proximity supersedes prestige, people show up more often, waste less time, and achieve more. The town flourishes as local spending increases, the carbon footprint improves when fewer people drive long distances for meetings, and the community strengthens through collaborations and referrals.
The last few years have shown that we can work from anywhere, but Ballito proves we work best from the right place, a place nearby, reliable, and human-centered. That’s the mission behind Club17 by Workshop17. It’s how a “holiday village” becomes a powerful hub for meaningful work. DM
Discover more at Workshop17/Club-17.
Author: Penelope Meniere, Marketing Manager, Workshop17.