October – Innovator

Laurent Hage, Principal at Active Station, is on a mission to help promote a healthier workplace by providing great quality products for a fair price and unsurpassed customer service. Check out our NEW Walk & Talk conference room at Minnetonka with 2 stations ready for your next meeting! Laurent shares more below!

Every business has a story, tell us yours.
I came across the treadmill desk idea right at the time when I was looking for a change to a more challenging and independent career. Its positive effect on health and how under-served the market is became evident very quickly. The more I researched the concept, the more I got excited about the possibilities which lead to a commitment to “The office wellness solution” principle. Once fully committed, my partner James and I set out to formulate our business principles as follows:

• Design a product for group use to serve ALL office workers, not just the ones with enough private office space. Group use also allows for an improved investment value which makes it affordable to every business with employees.
• Stay focused on our philosophy of providing wellness to the office workers, not on equipment sales.
• Maintain the highest degree of customer service.

Since then, we designed, sourced, certified and manufactured the “Active Station®” product to be practical and quality tested for full time group use. We also designed a proprietary App to improve group use practicality and help promote a lifestyle change.

You were chosen as this month’s Innovator Client. What does being an Innovator mean to you?
An innovator is someone who uses existing resources to create novel products, ideas or processes that improve peoples’ lives.

No one likes to brag about their business, but if you HAD TO . . .
If I had to, I would mostly talk about our commitment to promoting wellness in the office space while providing the best customer service.

We learn from our mistakes, especially in business. Give us some words of wisdom.
1. It’s OK to make mistakes; the only way to not make any is to do nothing.
2. Learning from our mistakes is what provides us the skills and experience required for success.

Share the best advice you ever received.
Be true to yourself and never waiver from your principles.

Describe your perfect day off.
Spending it with family doing activities that make them happy.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?
I used to be a nerd; very timid, introvert and love math and physics.

Together we are stronger. Tell us something you like about being our client.
Even though our relationship is still pretty young, I’m pleased with the level of energy the staff portrays and the high standards you use in every aspect of the business.

If you could work anywhere under the sun, where would you choose?
To me, it’s more who I’d choose to work with rather than where. I would enjoy working anywhere if I’m working with a team of highly efficient, very positive and good team players.

How can people CONNECT with you?
Best by email at lhage@active-station.com