Business & Tech

Digital Media Company Finds Home in Manayunk

Intuitive Company opens headquarters at 3 Rector St.

From drug companies to banks, nonprofits to softwarde giants, one of Manayunk's newest businesses brings modern prestige to Rector Street.

Intuitive Company, 3 Rector St., creates mobile apps, builds websites and helps companies like Adobe, TD Bank, Bayada Nursing and Yellowbook strategize the best way to conquer the digital wilderness.

And the firm chose to expand on its successes in Manayunk.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

"This biggest thing we needed was a place that reflected us. We are a creative company with creative people. We needed a type of place to fit us and a neighborhood that worked," said Sandy Greene, creative director and principal.

Launched by Greg Picarelli and Timothy P. McLaughlin in 2005, Intuitive slowly and organically grew. The company launched on-site at a client in New Jersey and eventually opened an office in Bala Cynwyd.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Intuitive specializes in creating unique but efficient user experience on a variety of platforms. While sleek designs and memorable interfaces are important, Intuitive strives to build workable and usable technology.

As the company acquired more clients, more employees and more prestige, Picarelli said it outgrew the functional but formless office suite and desired in a creative space in a fun neighborhood.

The Waterworks Building, owned by David Waxman, calls the visitor in with its high ceilings and open floor space spread over 8,500 square feet and two floors. Employees take breaks with the company ping-pong table or pop out for a run on the Manayunk Canal Towpath, which the businesses opens onto.

"It's a different space than what our clients are used, and now they prefer to come to us," said Picarelli, who also heads operations and technology. "That wouldn't happen before."

McLaughlin, in charge of relationship strategy, says cultured clients—from New Orleans or San Francisco—are shocked to visit Manayunk, a hidden Philadelphia neighborhood to them previously.

"This gives us the benefit of urban life and Manayunk draws clients to stick around," he said.

Intuitive credited Waxman, the Manayunk Development Corporation and the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority for aiding in the transition to Manayunk.

The company's only complaint is that they wish clients could stay in town.

"Manayunk really just needs a hotel. That's the last big piece here. We want people to walk around, so they don't have to drive back to Center City or elsewhere," McLaughlin said.

The three principals discussed the importance of luring business and businesses to Philadelphia and prides itself on remaining local. Many employees come from Philadelphia-area colleges—including a Philadelphia University graduate and a students from the Drexel University co-op program

For more information, visit the company's website here.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here