1 JUNE 2023: When Natalie Wilson announced the sudden closing of Kingston Collective — a local directory and networking hub for small businesses in the Bayside region — Rebecca Monforte sent an urgent message: “Absolutely not.”
Mentone resident, and active member of the local community, Rebecca was disheartened to see her favourite business group go. Through offering her services for speaking events, online workshops, and marketing coaching, Rebecca’s ties to the group ran deep. She wasn’t ready to see it come to an end — so she took matters into her own hands.
The sale moved fast. The two entrepreneurs met for coffee, drew up the papers, and Kingston Collective exchanged hands within days of the initial closing-down announcement.
For Rebecca, the purchase was written in the stars: “As a marketing consultant under Silver Lioness Marketing, I joined my local business networking group, Kingston Collective. I fell in love with the energy the moment I went to my first event. The host and owner, Natalie, was magnetic in her passion for helping small, local businesses thrive. I remember saying to her that day: I wanted to have a job doing exactly what she was doing. It just lit me up.”
Natalie’s entrepreneurial shift came in the wake of the Bayside Beer Belt’s growth, a business that organically grew from the Kingston Collective, and not being able to run the two businesses simultaneously. She is thrilled to see the continuity of the business, particularly in such dedicated hands, as she re-joins the community as a small business owner member herself.
“When Rebecca contacted me about the possibility of continuing the Kingston Collective, I knew she was the right person for the job. I know that Rebecca will lead the community to new heights and take it to the next level. I’m so happy that the community and business lives on” says Natalie.
Rebecca looks excitedly to the future of Kingston Collective, passionate about adding her own spin on the business: “I’m thrilled at the opportunity to build on the amazing community Natalie has created and fostered. I can’t wait to take the wheel, with a marketing-led focus on supporting local.”
Rebecca will drive Kingston Collective with a small-business spirit, cheerleading the ‘little guys’ as they grow, thrive and support other business owners in their community. She plans to foster collaboration and connection, while encouraging the community to shop small and shop local.
“Small businesses are the heart of our communities, and it’s even better when we collaborate, learn together, and laugh about the highs and lows as we go,” says Rebecca. “If you’re in Kingston or the surrounding area — and you’ve got business, sporting, or community ties — you already belong. We’re a local support squad, and we can’t wait to meet you.”
Kingston Collective currently has 197 local businesses in its membership directory — and it just launched its value-packed calendar of events and workshops for the new financial year.
Small businesses in and around the City of Kingston can join the Kingston Collective by visiting kingstoncollective.com.au.
For media inquiries, please contact: Rebecca Monforte
Owner, Kingston Collective
hello@kingstoncollective.com.au
kingstoncollective.com.au
