By Wendy Lamond
Tucked away on Water Street between Betty’s Bookshelf and Miss Jones is Her Collab Co., an event space and co-working business for women where the passion and care that goes into it by owner and St. Pauls' native Natasha Bell is evident.
Her Collab Co. (HCC) opened in March 2022 and is a subscription-based business that offers co-working space for ambitious women that are like-minded in business life and in need of a space to thrive. Bell has a background in broadcast journalism and eventually found her way to entrepreneurship while travelling when husband Mark Bell was still playing hockey. During that time, Bell learned a lot about business and realized that where her heart was leading was to coach and support strong women in business.
When Natasha and Mark Bell were living in Berlin, Natasha Bell often worked from coffee shops and found a co-working space there that she loved, which gave her the desire to open a similar space somewhere that it was needed.
A co-working space is a gathering place where people can work independently on projects or together, but provides beneficial perks like networking opportunities, separation of work from living spaces, cost savings, flexible terms, access to office supplies and facilities, events and workshops. Over the last two years, more than 100 events have been held at the Water Street location.
There are in-person events three times a month on topics like heath and business and there are also virtual options, workshops and an app that connects you to a female community of business leaders.
When the Water Street building was getting a redo, Natasha Bell felt like it was the perfect fit for what she wanted to accomplish for supporting women.
“My mission in this business is to amplify voices, products and services of our members, and get them seen in the community,” she said.
Catering to a variety of women’s needs, there are three membership options available. There is a virtual option for $22 per month or $222 per year. Next is a community, in-person membership for $49 per month that includes two co-working days, three monthly events and the virtual hub. And last but not least is the signature membership for $99 per month that includes up to eight co-working days a month, events and the virtual hub.
Right now, HCC has 25 in-person members from all different areas of business with another 11 with virtual memberships. Being one of the few places offering this style of positive working environment in the region, women are coming from Kitchener, London, Stratford and across Perth County to work at the St. Marys co-working space.
The networking circle covers a wide range of industries including real estate, financial services, holistic healing, business coaching, nutrition coaching, photography, bookkeeping, mortgage coaching, esthetics, energy healing, marketing, mindset coaching and more. Brainstorming sessions are held every month to help members in a casual setting, especially when they need someone to share business ideas with.
“It is easy to get in your own head and the brainstorming is a great way to get help. We sit around a table and just listen to one another which leads to great conversations,” Natasha Bell said.
Natasha Bell also said the space on Water Street is available to rent, regardless of membership at the co-working space. It can hold up to 30 people and can be used for workshops, showers, team meetings, client appreciation, pop-up ecommerce, paint workshops, board meetings and more. Renters can bring their own food or Natasha Bell will help line them up with local food businesses for their events. The room has sitting areas, standing-work areas and a bar space for coffee, tea and water.
Natasha Bell also has a weekly newsletter that goes out with events and a podcast called Thrive with Me. The mom of three is always willing to sit down and learn about businesses to see if her co-working space would be a good fit.
In the fall, Natasha Bell will be welcoming two local women for an ambassador program she is launching. They will become familiar faces during co-working and event days for the HCC members and will bring fresh energy into the space. In exchange, the ambassadors will receive a membership, receive mentorship within their own businesses and benefit from the network within the community.
In the spring of this year, Her Collab Co. was nominated in the Trailblazing Award category for its innovative spirit and pioneering approach ahead of the Business Excellence Awards hosted by the Stratford and District Chamber of Commerce.
For more information on Her Collab Co. Natasha Bell can be reached at hercollabco@gmail.com or check out the website at www.hercollabco.com.
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