• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Shop
  • Jobs Board
Campaigns & Elections logo

Campaigns & Elections

  • Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Articles
    • Industry News
    • CampaignTech
    • Creative
  • Videos
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • Reports
  • Expert Database
  • Events
  • Awards
    • Reed Awards
    • CampaignTech Awards
    • Rising Stars
  • Consultant Directory
  • Become a Member
  • Shop
  • Job Board
  • Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Why One Firm Invested In DC Office Space And Shunned Remote Work

Last year, the pandemic was prompting some firms to rethink their expensive leases in DC and transition to either fully remote work or occupying a co-working space. That trend may have reached an end.

With an eye toward picking up advocacy clients and more congressional business, Richmond, Va.-headquartered POOLHOUSE is getting ready to officially open its new DC office space — a move other firms may consider as the 2024 cycle is likely to begin earlier than ever.

Will Ritter, co-founder and CEO of the GOP media firm, said his shop got a “pandemic deal” when they signed for space in a building at 660 Pennsylvania Avenue SE — a short walk from the Capitol.

“We were looking at some spots that would have been harder to get during a pandemic,” he said, noting the firm signed the lease several months ago. The official opening is set for Sept. 29.

Subscribe for Industry News Plus the Latest in Campaign Strategy & Tactics

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Part of the reason Ritter wanted DC space for his firm, which also has offices in Atlanta, was simply fatigue with the alternatives. 

“Trying to take over a corner of a Starbucks while coffee is being ground in the background and you’ve got to ask for the bathroom code — a moment like this made sense for a number of reasons,” he said.

Ritter’s company has also been mainly working in-person even during the pandemic. Its DC-based staff, which includes co-founder Tim O’Toole and producer Tom Dickens, had been using co-working spaces.

“We are a creative company at our heart and creativity means in-person work,” Ritter said. “It means collaboration, and particularly in this kind of fast-paced environment, you need to have the best minds you have around the table banging things out. We think that’s something that you cannot replace with Zoom. You’ve got to make the investment.”

The firm’s investment comes as some in the industry, including some media consultants, have moved away from paying for prestige offices in DC.

In February 2021, Democratic Media consultant Mark Putnam told C&E that his company had paid a six-figure sum to get out of its lease of a top floor of a downtown DC building complete with a view of the Washington Monument and elevators that opened into the suite.

Still, that sum outweighed an even higher six-figure cost if the shop had stayed. After the downsize, which cut the firm’s rental obligation by more than 75 percent, the firm was based out of a co-working space.

“Occasionally, I do miss what we used to have, but I do know the world has changed and I’m enjoying where we are now,” Putnam said. “What we learned through those early months of the pandemic, is that we were just as efficient and effective for our clients working remotely. We found other ways to communicate internally — made high use of Slack, email and texting. I don’t know if we’ll ever go back into an office like that.”

Ritter sees the office space in the District a slightly different way: ”You can’t always be looking for ways to cut. We’re not going to cut to being the best political agency in the business,” he said. “We’ve got to invest to get there.”

Share:
FacebookTweetLinkedIn
Filed Under:
Business Development, Firm Management

Primary Sidebar

By
Sean J. Miller
08/24/2022 04:32 PM EDT
FacebookTweetLinkedIn

C&E Creative Summit 2023 Countdown:

Get Tickets

Most Read

  • Digital Organizing

    How Digital Can Help Thread the Needle in Virginia

  • Sponsored

    Combine Digital Advertising With Direct Mail, The SMART Way

  • Sponsored

    Political Comms Is The Premium Peer-To-Peer Texting Platform

Subscribe for Industry News Plus the Latest in Campaign Strategy & Tactics

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Related Articles

See More Business Development Articles
Restaurant tables on outdoor patio
Business Development

4 Ways Working in a Restaurant Prepared Me for Running a Political Firm

Firm Management

Risk vs. Reward: Timing Around Major Business Decisions Can Come Down To a Gut Feeling

Interior of an office through window
M&A

Want To Reach An Attractive Exit? Scale Is the Key

Become a member and get access to exclusive content.

Join Today

Footer

Upcoming Events

  • June 28

    The Future of Politics: Three Cutting-Edge Tools to Win in 2024

  • September 21

    Campaigns & Elections Creative Summit

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

For the latest in campaign strategy & tactics plus industry news and analysis, subscribe for free today.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow us

Follow Campaign and Elections for more daily content.

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Political World Communications, LLC

Advertisement

Subscribe for Industry News Plus the Latest in Campaign Strategy & Tactics

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.