In this episode, Jamie chats with Amanda Lewan, CEO and co-founder of Bamboo, about her journey from a grassroots coworking concept in Detroit to leading three thriving locations across Michigan. Amanda shares invaluable lessons on building sustainable, hyperlocal coworking communities, and how community support, private offices, and strategic expansion can drive success.
We talked about:
How Amanda built Bamboo from a small pop-up to three high-demand locations, starting with $5,000 and a passion for community
Insights on navigating the coworking needs of different markets and why hyperlocal adaptability matters
The importance of small private offices for stabilizing revenue and meeting community needs
Bamboo’s approach to forming a launch committee to integrate authentically into new markets
Leveraging community-driven initiatives and strategic property ownership to create a sustainable coworking model
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Everything Coworking Featured Resources:
Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space
In this solo episode, Jamie breaks down the critical elements of sales funnel automation and member onboarding, drawing from personal experiences outside the coworking world. Jamie explores the power of creating a frictionless sales funnel and dives deep into how a strategic onboarding process can drive member retention.
Here’s what she covers:
The role of automation in streamlining your sales funnel to convert leads without missing a beat
How to use text messaging and email automation effectively to engage potential members
Why first impressions during the onboarding process are key to creating a lasting member relationship
Simple strategies to gather feedback from new members and improve your space’s experience
Practical tips for avoiding the common pitfalls of automation, from broken links to inappropriate messaging tone
Everything Coworking Featured Resources:
Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space
In this episode, I’m excited to chat with Sarah Athanas, Co-Founder of Groundwork Coworking in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Sarah's story of starting and growing a coworking space in a smaller market is inspiring, full of persistence, creativity, and community building. She shares how her experience living in Argentina planted the seed for Groundwork and how she navigated the challenges of building a business from scratch in a city that needed it.
Here’s what we dive into:
How Sarah’s experience at an Argentine coworking space inspired her to bring the concept to New Bedford
The unique journey of partnering with the city and using grant funding to get Groundwork off the ground
What it’s like to grow a coworking business in a smaller market and how patience and persistence paid off
Insights on expanding to a second location and the importance of finding the right partners
The evolving role of nonprofits and the offshore wind industry as key members of Groundwork
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Everything Coworking Featured Resources:
Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space
In this episode, I chat with Evan Preslopsky, Senior Sales Manager at Venture X and Office Evolution, about his unique path from fitness to coworking sales. Evan shares how his background in fitness and construction sales has influenced his approach to building broker relationships and scaling sales across multiple coworking locations.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Evan’s journey from the fitness industry into coworking and sales
How to cultivate strong broker relationships to close larger coworking deals
The role fitness plays in maintaining discipline and focus in the sales process
Key strategies for managing multiple coworking locations efficiently
Tips on automating and tracking sales processes to support coworking growth
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Venture X - Charlotte – The Refinery website
Everything Coworking Featured Resources:
Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space