405. From Antiques to Coworking: Carol DiGiovanni's Journey to Building onFlume Coworking

What do antiques and coworking have in common? For Carol DiGiovanni, more than you'd think. Carol never set out to run a coworking space. With a degree in material culture and a long career as an accredited antiques appraiser, she loved researching the stories behind old treasures—not managing HVAC contractors or setting up a member portal. But when the pandemic hit, Carol and her husband—owners of a full city block of office space in downtown Chico, California—knew they'd need to pivot. In this episode, Carol shares her journey from antique expert to community builder, and how she's doubled the size of onFlume Coworking while keeping it intentionally local, friendly, and low-fuss.  We talk about: Why her quiet, dog-friendly coworking model works perfectly in her market How she expanded from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet (and filled it fast) Why pre-marketing matters—and what she'd do differently next time How owning the building changes her approach to pricing and expansion What she learned about patience, marketing, and negotiating from the operator's seat If you've ever wondered what it looks like when a building owner takes coworking into their own hands—and falls in love with it—this episode is a must-listen. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: onFlume Coworking's website Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

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