How Kim Lee Turned Virtual Mail into a High-Value Revenue Stream

Kim Lee has been in the coworking game since 2017—and she’s one of those operators who’s truly in it. From understanding her numbers to tweaking her team structure to building out a profitable mail program, Kim brings equal parts heart and hustle to the table.

In this episode, Kim walks us through her journey with virtual mail—from opening with it in place, to running the numbers year after year to make sure it still makes sense (spoiler: it does). She now has over 200 virtual mail clients, including some premium customers that contribute thousands per month.

Kim is also one of our coaches in the Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge, and she shares why even seasoned operators can find big wins by putting focus on their mail program.

What we cover:

• Why Kim almost didn’t add a second mail platform—and how it paid off

• The tweaks that helped her team cut mail processing time in half

• The customer who brought in 40+ pieces of mail a day—and how they handled it

• How to keep your team from burning out on details (hint: structure matters)

• Why virtual mail is one of the most scalable revenue streams for coworking spaces

• Her secret to tracking ROI and knowing when to pivot on event space vs. office conversions

• What changed when she added IPostal—and why that was the right move

Thinking about launching or optimizing your virtual mail program? Kim’s story is the perfect combo of honest insight, operator-tested tips, and encouragement to just get started.

And if you're ready to finally put this on your “done” list, join us for the Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge. Registration closes Friday, June 13th.

👉 www.mailboxchallenge.co

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• MoneyMaker Mailbox Challenge

• Kim's LinkedIn profile

• Forge website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

• Community Manager University®

• Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

• Coworking Startup School

• Follow Us on YouTube

Looking to connect with other podcast listeners? Join us in the Everything Coworking Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the best way to help others find our content!

For the transcription of this episode, click here.

Looking for a specific episode? Go to the episode index here.

Christine Tosi didn’t just open a coworking space—she invented one out of necessity. What started as a creative way to use extra space in a building she and her husband David bought for their first business has grown into a full-on coworking success story in Tucson, Arizona. Now, they’re gearing up to open a second location—this time under a management agreement—with a pipeline full of mail clients, a waitlist for dedicated desks, and a family-run team that includes their college-aged daughter (and some pretty savvy Canva support from their son).

In this episode, Christine shares how she turned her virtual mailbox business into a revenue stream that’s bringing in up to $195/month per customer—with no paid marketing. Plus, how a landlord partnership that was almost too good to be true opened the door (literally) to their second location.

What we cover:

• Why Christine and David traded snow shovels in Wisconsin for solar glare in Tucson

• How a side business turned into a full-time coworking brand

• The landing page tweaks that took their virtual mail business from 0 to 50+ customers

• How they got 10 members at $195/month… and hardly ever see them 👀

• The “mail-only” customer bundle that actually works (and the perks they threw in)

• A referral partner that sent them 50 clients—yes, 5-0

• Their new management agreement deal: what the landlord’s handling, and how Christine negotiated it

• Why their team structure (and travel goals!) made hiring early a smart move

• How a family of introverts built Tucson’s friendliest coworking community

Plus: 9 HVAC units, Duolingo-induced competitiveness, and how Christine wins massage swaps through creative bartering. You’re going to love this one.

🚨 Heads-up: Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge registration closes Friday, June 13th. If Christine’s story got your wheels turning, this is your nudge to get in there before doors close.

🎧 Tune in now and get inspired to grow your own virtual mail revenue—and maybe snag a massage along the way.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Register for The Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge

• Christine's LinkedIn profile

• Spoke Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

• Community Manager University®

• Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

• Coworking Startup School

• Follow Us on YouTube

Looking to connect with other podcast listeners? Join us in the Everything Coworking Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the best way to help others find our content!

For the transcription of this episode, click here.

Looking for a specific episode? Go to the episode index here.

Summer is here—and while the kids are out of school, your pipeline might be slowing down too. But don’t worry, I’ve got three ideas to help you bring in extra revenue during the slower months, and even build momentum heading into fall.

Whether you’ve got open offices sitting empty, a virtual mail program that’s been collecting dust, or phone booths that aren’t pulling their weight, I walk you through how to turn these underused assets into revenue-generating machines. I also share some creative packaging and pricing ideas and how to test new concepts without getting stuck in analysis paralysis.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why now is the perfect time to start—or focus on—your virtual mail program

• How to turn an unused office into a styled-up part-time rental for parents and travelers

• A clever way to monetize your phone booths (yes, really)

• How to sublet your members’ offices while they’re out of town—win-win

• The importance of clearly communicating your phone call setup to prospective members

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Register for The Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

• Community Manager University®

• Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

• Coworking Startup School

• Follow Us on YouTube

Looking to connect with other podcast listeners? Join us in the Everything Coworking Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the best way to help others find our content!

For the transcription of this episode, click here.

Looking for a specific episode? Go to the episode index here.

Craig Baute is a familiar name in the coworking world—and he’s got a big update.

After 13 years of running Creative Density, he made the leap and merged his coworking brand with Thrive, another local Denver operator. In this super candid chat, Craig dishes on what led him to walk away from day-to-day operations, what the structure looks like now, and why he’s finally embracing weekly meetings.

Whether you’ve hit the scale ceiling or you’re just wondering what it looks like to not be the boss anymore, this episode is a must-listen.

What we get into:

• Life with two kids, four coworking locations, and one burnt-out founder

• Why losing a trusted team member forced Craig to rethink everything

• The call that changed it all: how a casual “Let’s do lunch” turned into a merger

• The power of middle management (yes, it’s a thing in coworking now)

• Thrive’s operating structure and how Craig fits in post-merger

• The mental shift from “owner” to “team member” — and how that changes everything

• Why most spaces stall at 2–3 locations and how combining forces helps you scale

• 68 fake plants, a $6,500 coffee machine, and why Switchyards has everyone’s attention

Thinking about selling? Merging? Scaling beyond your comfort zone? This episode might be the nudge (or reality check) you need.

Bonus: Yes, Craig and Jamie share a birthday. Yes, that makes this episode extra fun.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Get on the Waitlist For The Mailbox Money Maker Challenge

• Craig's LinkedIn profile

• Creative Density website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

• Community Manager University®

• Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

• Coworking Startup School

• Follow Us on YouTube

Looking to connect with other podcast listeners? Join us in the Everything Coworking Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the best way to help others find our content!

For the transcription of this episode, click here.

Looking for a specific episode? Go to the episode index here.

If you're still asking people to "fill out a form" to book a meeting room—this episode is for you.

I’m joined by Miro Miroslavov, CEO and co-founder of OfficeRnD, to talk about why e-commerce is no longer optional for coworking spaces, and how their new Growth Hub is making it easier than ever to meet customer expectations—and convert website visitors into paying members.

We cover how consumer expectations have shifted, why friction kills revenue, and how the most successful operators are rethinking their websites and booking flows for today’s demand.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why meeting room bookings, day passes, and even small offices need to be available for instant online purchase.

• The two user personas your coworking website must serve—and how to optimize for both.

• Why booking friction is leaving money on the table, and how to reduce it.

• How OfficeRnD’s Growth Hub helps operators capture and convert demand in a competitive market.

• What’s changing in demand gen as users move from Google to AI-powered search—and how to stay visible.

Miro also shares how operators are already using the Growth Hub to boost bookings and better measure ROI, and what features (like dynamic pricing and deeper CRM integration) are coming next.

If your goals include better marketing performance, more bookings, and a more profitable bottom line—you don’t want to miss this conversation.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Miro's LinkedIn profile

• OfficeRnD website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

• Community Manager University®

• Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

• Coworking Startup School

• Follow Us on YouTube

Looking to connect with other podcast listeners? Join us in the Everything Coworking Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the best way to help others find our content!

For the transcription of this episode, click here.

Looking for a specific episode? Go to the episode index here.

If you’re not optimizing your coworking space for quick, seamless online bookings—especially for meeting rooms and day passes—you’re leaving serious money on the table.

In this solo episode, I break down the real numbers behind poor user experiences, what the latest coworking tech can actually do for your bottom line, and why every single operator needs to rethink how they serve the on-demand customer.

Whether you're in a small market or managing multiple locations, this episode will help you see your website, your phone booths, and your meeting rooms in a whole new light.

We cover:

• Why conversion rate optimization on your website is the fastest path to more revenue—and what’s getting in the way

• Real math on what a 5% improvement in booking conversions can do for your bottom line

• How operators are using new tools like Elumo and Growth Hub to monetize amenities and eliminate friction

• Why the traditional “tours-first” mindset doesn’t match today’s on-demand buyer behavior

• Why your meeting rooms (and phone booths) should be treated like products with real dollar value—and how to make that happen with minimal effort

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

• Community Manager University®

• Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

• Coworking Startup School

• Follow Us on YouTube

Looking to connect with other podcast listeners? Join us in the Everything Coworking Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the best way to help others find our content!

For the transcription of this episode, click here.

Looking for a specific episode? Go to the episode index here.

Operators are seeing growing demand for meeting rooms and private call space—but squatting, no-shows, and friction-filled booking systems continue to cost time and revenue. James Shannon and Kurt Patrick from Essensys join the podcast to share how they’re tackling those pain points with Elumo, a new product that simplifies access, booking, and billing in one smart, user-friendly system.

In this conversation, we cover:

• The real cost of squatting and how much revenue is lost from underutilized shared space.

• Why Essensys built Elumo and how it's solving both revenue leakage and poor user experience.

• How Elumo uses Apple and Google Wallet integration to streamline access and eliminate the friction of traditional booking systems.

• The role of dynamic pricing and data-driven utilization in maximizing revenue from shared spaces.

• How Elumo works with (not against) your existing tech stack, including OfficeRnD and other booking platforms.

If you’ve ever wondered how to monetize your meeting rooms without creating more headaches for your community managers, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Kurt's LinkedIn profile

• James’ LinkedIn profile

• essensys website

• elumo by essensys website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

• Community Manager University®

• Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

• Coworking Startup School

• Follow Us on YouTube

Looking to connect with other podcast listeners? Join us in the Everything Coworking Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the best way to help others find our content!

For the transcription of this episode, click here.

Looking for a specific episode? Go to the episode index here.

Roseline and Merlinn are the sister-duo behind Holistic Executive Suites in Boynton Beach, Florida. With backgrounds in healthcare and project management, they took their unique coworking model from concept to reality—serving holistic health practitioners and wellness-focused professionals.

In this episode, they share how they built a space that goes beyond office rentals, creating a supportive business environment tailored to their members' needs. We dive into their journey, the challenges of launching a niche coworking space, and the strategies that have helped them grow.

We cover:

• How they turned their personal need for space into a thriving coworking business.

• Why they chose a "wellness-first" niche and how it impacts their operations.

• The challenges of marketing a specialized coworking space—and what actually works.

• Lessons learned about community-building before and after opening.

• Why they chose not to list pricing on their website and how they guide prospects to the right membership.

If you’re thinking about launching (or refining) a niche coworking space, this episode is packed with valuable insights!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off - https://na.gcuc.co/

• Roseline's LinkedIn profile

• Merlinn’s LinkedIn profile

• Holistic Executive Suites website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

• Community Manager University®

• Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

• Coworking Startup School

• Follow Us on YouTube

Looking to connect with other podcast listeners? Join us in the Everything Coworking Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the best way to help others find our content!

For the transcription of this episode, click here.

Looking for a specific episode? Go to the episode index here.

The biggest real estate operator in the world—the U.S. federal government—is making a bold move toward flexible work. Mark Gilbreath, CEO of LiquidSpace, joins us to break down what this means for the coworking industry, why it signals a major shift in how large organizations view their real estate portfolios, and what coworking operators should be doing right now to prepare.

In this episode, we cover:

• How the GSA’s new enterprise-wide marketplace for flexible work could change the coworking industry.

• What it means when a government agency starts thinking like an enterprise occupier.

• How coworking operators can position themselves to capture demand from this shift.

• Why flexible office space is becoming a critical piece of workplace strategy for major organizations.

• Mark’s insights on how the coworking industry is evolving—and what’s next.

This is a huge step forward for the coworking and flex space industry. Don’t miss this conversation!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off - https://na.gcuc.co/

• Mark on LinkedIn

• LiquidSpace website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

• Community Manager University®

• Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

• Coworking Startup School

• Follow Us on YouTube

Looking to connect with other podcast listeners? Join us in the Everything Coworking Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the best way to help others find our content!

For the transcription of this episode, click here.

Looking for a specific episode? Go to the episode index here.

Coworking spaces often promise community—but what does it really take to build one that’s engaged, vibrant, and truly member-driven?

Liz Barney, Director of Marketing & Community at Cahoots in Ann Arbor, Michigan, joins us to share how her journey from remote worker to coworking leader led to a game-changing experiment: a member-led approach to building community and social events.

In this episode, we dive into:

• How Cahoots launched its “Community Committee” and empowered members to take ownership of events and initiatives.

• Why structured, member-led engagement can be more effective than traditional coworking social events.

• Lessons learned from different types of community-building experiments (what worked and what didn’t!).

• The surprising ways introverts and extroverts engage in coworking spaces—and why a variety of offerings matters.

• How this approach fosters deeper connections, improves retention, and makes coworking spaces truly feel like home.

This episode is packed with practical takeaways for coworking operators who want to level up their community strategy—without putting everything on their community team.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off - https://na.gcuc.co/

• Liz's LinkedIn profile

• Blog post describing the experiment: How Shared Purpose Creates Community For Remote Workers

• Cahoots website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

• Community Manager University®

• Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

• Coworking Startup School

• Follow Us on YouTube

Looking to connect with other podcast listeners? Join us in the Everything Coworking Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the best way to help others find our content!

For the transcription of this episode, click here.

Looking for a specific episode? Go to the episode index here.