Sponsor: Thanks to turnstone, an office furniture company focusing on small businesses, for supporting Silicon Prairie News. The company is sponsoring our monthly Startup Spaces series.

About the author: The Turnstone Tip is authored by Jenny Gauld, space planner for turnstone.

Lincoln-based startup Bulu Box offers monthly subscription boxes of vitamins and supplement samples. 

For many entrepreneurs and startup teams, non-traditional workspaces have become the norm. And for Lincoln-based startup Bulu Box, a refurbished condo proved the perfect fit for the active, health-focused company.

“As a health startup company, an apartment is the perfect space for our culture,” Kate Stous, Bulu Box’s director of brand relations, told Silicon Prairie News. “When you work at a startup, it starts to feel like you live in the office so having all of the amenities is great. Having two showers available has been awesome for after group training sessions. And having a kitchen makes eating healthy much easier.”

The startup has been housed in its current office—located in the renovated Pepperburg Cigar Factory—for just more than a year. Bulu Box’s 10 full-time staff members and five interns work out of the space, which includes a full kitchen, two showers, a miniature photo studio and lots of room to help assemble subscription boxes.

Launched in June 2012, Bulu Box offers monthly subscription boxes of vitamins and supplement samples. The startup calls Lincoln’s Haymarket neighborhood home with an office in close proximity to the offices of Hudl, Hurrdat, opendorse and Fuse Coworking, to name a few.  

“While there isn’t anything super crazy, we do have a great community around us,” Stous said of Bulu Box’s office space. “There’s always something going down in the Haymarket and it’s that energy that makes this spot so great.” 

Turnstone Tip

“Bulu Box has struck gold by successfully incorporating style and culture into their space. With exposed brick, wood floors, metal staircases and natural light, the office is a star on its own, and Bulu Box’s efforts to enhance these assets are commendable. By giving thought to creating a strong brand presence through art and signage, Bulu Box fosters community and a homey work environment. It is also well-organized: products are thoughtfully arranged and supplies are accessible to team members.

One area we would raise for improvement would be to create a community space for lunches and social interaction. A few stand-up tables in the kitchen, for instance, would create an instant touchdown space for the team. Turnstone believes that space matters and that entrepreneurs deserve a fan club. That’s why we work to create inspiring furniture and share ideas to help startups thrive.”

Bulu Box will receive two turnstone buoys for free as a thanks for participating in SPN’s Startup Spaces. To submit your startup for consideration, email editor@siliconprairienews.com to tell us why your company should be featured and include a few photos. 

There’s no wondering whether or not this space is Bulu Box’s office—branded pieces and cube logos artfully decorate more than a few of its walls. 

Kate Stous, Bulu Box’s director of brand relations, says the full kitchen helps staffers eat healthier while working in the office. 

The startup’s offices house a mini photo studio that helps the team shoot product photos for its boxes. 

 “When you work at a startup, it starts to feel like you live in the office so having all of the amenities is great,” Kate Stous said of the converted condo’s many features. 

Storage space is important for the Bulu Box team—especially when assembling monthly subscription boxes. 

An open office layout makes it easy for team members to chat and collaborate. 

Inspirational quotes and typographic art decorate Bulu Box’s walls to keep staffers motivated—both during the workday and into group training sessions. 

Bulu Box sticks to its signature orange and white branding—even when it comes to office decor. 

Small Bulu Box wall signs help direct visitors through the hallways to the startup’s offices. 

Bulu Box calls Lincoln’s Haymarket neighborhood home and is nearby fellow startups Hudl and Hurrdat. 

The startup’s office is housed in a converted condo in the renovated Pepperberg Cigar Factory. 

This post has been co-authored by our sponsor, turnstone. 

Credits: Photos by Nick Goodwin.

About our sponsor: turnstone gives people in small business the freedom to think and move in ways that inspire, both by creating furniture unique to their needs and by supporting their efforts to thrive. We champion the idea that space and office culture matter, and work behind the scenes to connect the dots so that you can get back to changing the world.