The Sandbox Brings New Collaborative Working Space to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara’s co-working scene has expanded with the recent opening of The Sandbox, a collaborative working space at 414 Olive St. in Santa Barbara’s Eastside neighborhood.
The 5,000-square-foot facility offers members 24/7 access to a variety of group tables, desks, offices, conference rooms and private rooms — including an Airstream trailer — which individuals, organizations or companies can use as their offices and meeting spaces.
People can also get a day pass, and use the working spaces only when they need to.
The business is the product of Goleta natives and longtime friends Kyle Ashby and Mark Schulbach, who wanted to found a place where local start-ups could launch, grow, collaborate and receive mentorship.
Ashby said the pair felt “there was a need for (a co-working place) that was a little more creative, a little more open, a little more inspired by creativity.
“Those are sort of the goals we have in mind here: Make it a little more friendly, a little more relaxed, but still able to get stuff done. A little more inspirational.”
The Sandbox also partners with local business and organizations to host events like benefits and movie screenings. The Lagoon District building is the former home of a furniture store of neighboring Santa Barbara Design Center, as well as a number of local entrepreneurial businesses.
Like Uber and Airbnb, the business is part of the booming sharing economy.
“There are a lot of benefits in sharing a printer or sharing the coffee or sharing the Wi-Fi,” Schulbach said.
“Beyond that, it’s really about the networking and the productivity — about working at a place instead of working at home or fighting for a spot at a coffee shop.”
Most of The Sandbox’s members have been local entrepreneurs, software-as-a-service companies, marketing and PR businesses, creative types and nonprofits.
“You’re going to meet people who are also doing the same thing, you’re going to be able to collaborate, you’re going to be able to create new relationships that are going to further your business,” Schulbach said.
