How is business continuing for the industry now working from home is the new normal? Source talks to Dave Collins, co-founder, about how PowerStation Studios has adapted.
With the licensing industry now working from home due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, Source talks to key licensors, licensees and agents to find out how they are keeping business going.
Today: Dave Collins, co-founder, PowerStation Studios.
How is the team’s day now structured, with everyone working from home?
When in the studio our day was 9:30am to 6pm, but we have changed that to 10am to 4pm while working at home to allow the team to exercise, socialise and catch up with family.
Could you provide a rough timeline of your day?
We have a management team Zoom call at 9:15am to talk through the priorities, schedule for the day and any updates overnight that have come in from our international clients. At 10am we have a whole company Zoom call to check in on everyone, run through the schedule and update everyone on any news. The team then work on their assigned tasks, I am typically on Zoom calls with clients and partners back to back. At 2:30pm we have another all hands check in on work progress, general catch up and a check in on the team’s wellbeing. I am then on Zoom calls until the early evening with our clients in the US. On Fridays we do drinks from 3:30pm with the whole team and they usually last from 2-3 hours and we just talk about movies, work, art and hang out.
How is the communication with licensing partners continuing?
I am finding people very open to video calls and I am actually finding people more transparent and happier to talk through their real needs.
How important is it to continue keeping these lines of communication open during this time?
Critical, we are all in this together and problems shared are truly halved. Also we need to talk and plan not just for now, but for the other side of this crisis.
Which projects are you able to move forward on right now?
Well we are lucky that a large portion of our work is in the video game industry which is obviously doing well. We are also helping clients solve problems they didn’t have BC (Before Corona).
What piece of advice would you give about how best to continue to feel like a team while WFH?
We mix work and social. We have a company What’s App group which is just for banter and conversation – we use this to keep the team bonded and the spirits up. People are even using it at weekends to stay connected.
How are you keeping up morale?
We have Zoom background themes for meetings such as your favourite movie, we share funny things we find and Friday drinks are key as everyone can share how they are coping.
Best thing about WFH?
Shirt and shorts… plus I get to choose the music!
What’s the one thing you’ve discovered about each team member since WFH that you didn’t know before?
The more human side – I think this crisis has removed the facade that people project. We are more human together. It has been truly uplifting.
If you have children, how are you managing keeping them entertained/educated while you work?
Luckily they are grown up and only call me when they need money!
What advice would you give to people in the business who are worried about the future?
There is always a way to pivot part or all of your business. The greatest opportunity is within times of real adversity. This will pass and it will get better, not the same but different and change is positive.
If you or your team would like to take part in this feature, simply email Samantha Loveday on saml@max-publishing.co.uk.
