The Garoffice in Full Swing

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine told me about two brothers, Jackson and Justin Kelly, who run a business out of their garage in Costa Mesa, California. When she told me they named their office the garoffice, I had to find out more about these guys. I wanted to know what they really did in the garoffice, a space filled with everything from computers, to interesting gadgets, to a bed (yes, a bed). The garoffice guys have found the perfect mix of business, pleasure and fun. And their creative office set-up matches the high level of creativity they bring to their clients’ projects.

Working Naked: Who came up with the name garoffice?

J. Kelly: My brother and I were working out of our garage and it became our office. Just like our company name (JACKSTIN) we squashed them together.

Working Naked: What does JACKSTIN do?

Tables, computers, a sofa, bed and more make up the garoffice.

J. Kelly: We have a truly fruitful, informal collaboration between the two of us and also our clients. We help them get the message they want to send online via websites, social networks, and consulting with us in our prior experiences of what’s worked and what hasn’t.

Working Naked: Who else works in the garoffice?

J. Kelly: Day to day it’s just Justin and I, but we do have interns and friends that come over to learn our traits and ask us how we did it. Our clients will even come over and pull out their laptops and start working on their projects with us face-to-face.

Working Naked: What’s the best thing about the garoffice?

J. Kelly: Being in the moment and making clients happy without the stress of a cubicle or a boss looking over your shoulder. We love to take the laptop out on the backyard deck and look over the ocean and meet with clients…get creative on their project! A new concept that we have been pushing is the “Client Trust Swing”. New and old clients come over and there is no better way to get them thinking outside the box than to push them on our 35 foot, ocean-view swing!

Working Naked: I have to ask about the bed. Does someone live in the garoffice, is it for client meetings or is that topic off limits?

J. Kelly: It’s a guest bed. Sometimes clients come through town and need a place to stay, and sometimes we get downgraded from our own rooms for our parents when they come in town. It’s a very cozy, creative spot that lets us get out of the same chair and desk routine. Shouldn’t everyone be able to relax and work? That’s going to be our next slogan on our business cards.