Beverly Web Developers Keep Balance Through Nature

This is part of a Patch series highlighting why technology and media companies are choosing the North Shore over Boston. If you have a local, innovative business on the North Shore, and actively chose this area over Boston, let us know: email taylor.rapalyea@patch.com.

BEVERLY, MA – The Outfit – a web development company located on Cabot Street – once had a Boston office. They maintained the Boston branch in addition to an office in Beverly, and would trek into the city whenever a client wanted to meet face-to-face.

They were on South Street, an area dominated by offices and businesses, and quickly found that spending time around the Boston office felt rushed.

"The speed of everything is a little fast, everything is more expensive," said Marc Amos, one of the partners at The Outfit. "Everyone there is there just for the day."

The four partners at The Outfit – Amos, Brenden Tamilio, Johannes Booy, and Michael Witwicki – are either from the North Shore, or live there now in Danvers, Beverly, and Topsfield. If they need to duck out of work the pick up their kids, they can do so in a flash, and rent is a third of what it was in Boston.

"It's not all business, it's not all skyscrapers, it's not all concrete," said Amos. He and his family regularly walk along the trails off of Route 97, including the Rail Trail. The easy access to nature trails helps him keep sane in a fast-paced industry.

The Outfit, which closed its Boston office after some staffing changes, handles all web development except for the design aspect. Amos said they tend to tackle strange and difficult development projects. Their client list includes the Peabody Essex Museum, Amplify, and EMPath.

Because of the nature of the business, most of their work can be done without meeting clients in-person regularly. The Outfit has a video conference room set up, and tends to work with clients from all over. Amos said he's wondered whether not having an address in Boston gives clients pause when contacting them, but has no reason to believe it has.

The restaurant scene played a role in selecting the Cabot Street office. Amos said the dozen or so high quality restaurants just steps from the office sealed the deal for The Outfit.

Overall, Beverly provides the kind of environment that the partners were looking for.

"We love how inclusive it is with all the different types of people," said Amos. Nature, proximity to family, and home prices all played a factor in an easy decision for the developers.

To learn more about The Outfit, click here.

Related:

• North Shore 'It' Factor Grows Innovation Hub
• Community, Price Is Right For Salem IT Company
• North Shore Brain Power Keeps Design Company Connected
  

Photos courtesy of The Outfit