We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rebecca Luther. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rebecca below.

Rebecca, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

There was a time, many years in fact, where I was desperately lonely. I was in an unhealthy marriage and couldn’t find a way to connect with my spouse. My heart was screaming for a connection I would never find in my marriage.

Then, I became single and attempted to find connection on the dreaded dating apps. It was soul crushingly detrimental to the mental health, psych and confidence.

So I made the determination I was going to create a BETTER WAY FOR SINGLES TO CONNECT, and it would be IN PERSON.

Because the fact of the matter is that we are connected through social media and phones and email and television, more than ever before! And yet… We’re more lonely. Loneliness and the devastating effects of it have skyrocketed, particularly since that horrible pandemic.

I wracked my brain trying to figure out how to fix this problem and I realized, it’s simple! 🎯There are thousands of singles out there who are craving connection. I just needed to figure out how to bring these beautiful hearts together.

So, I started a simple facebook group for singles. A group where I do IN PERSON GROUP MEETUPS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. It started as just me, with a tiny idea, but to my joy, it exploded rapidly. People loved it. People LOVED it. PEOPLE LOVED MY LITTLE IDEA!!! 🥰

Because here, in these low pressure group meetups, people are truly connecting OFF THE APPS! They are connecting through friendships and fellowship (and so many romantic relationships, as well!). I get messages daily from people telling me “I was lonely and now I’m so happy to be a part of something, I’m a part of a community.” I never knew how many people were out there, they say, that felt alone, just like me. 🥹 🥹 🥹

Sometimes, I look back at that Queenie Be, from those dark years, and I want to hug her. 🫂 I want to tell her that the loneliness will end and one day you will build a new kind of community. You will find a way to help others out of that same dark hole that you fell into. I would hold her tight and whisper in her ear “Just be patient, dear women, the darkness will end for you, and you will help bring the light of connection to soooooo many others.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Queenie Be was one of the many in NWA that were single and lonely, spending evenings alone and craving meaningful connections. After failed attempts at finding an authentic relationship through the dating apps, she decided to create a better way for singles in NWA to meet!

The challenge lay in finding a way to unite these individuals. The answer she landed upon? Queenie Connects, an active social community with a mission to change the way NWA singles meet and connect through DAILY in person low-pressure group meetups. Subscribed members get access to the Queenie’s coveted calendar, so their social calendars are bursting with 1-4 different meetups DAILY. And YOU don’t have to plan a THING. You simply show up to the meetups that interest you, and a host will greet you when you arrive, introducing you to the other members.

Most are smaller casual/low pressure group meetups at a local venue; game nights at a brewery, live music, trying out the hottest new cocktail lounge, brunch with friends or kayaking the Illinois river. There is something for EVERYONE at Queenie Connects.

But once monthly, Queenie throws a massive party! In the boot for a black and white masquerade ball? A throwback prom? A glow party or a Foam Frenzy dance party?? Queenie plans it, you just show up and buy a ticket at the door. Proceeds donated to CASA NWA.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

How did Queenie Connects go from a facebook group to a thriving business?

Queenie had no goals to start a business when this all began. The idea was simply to start a modest facebook group and connect some singles in her area.

But people were craving what she offered. Within only two weeks, she had 400 members, within two months she had a 1000. Singles were so sick of swiping on the apps and were so craving a reason to get dressed up, get out of the house, and a full social schedule. So very quickly after inception, it became clear that this could not stay a free volunteer model any longer. It was simply growing too big, too fast to be sustainable. The group needed a website, a way to sell tickets, etc.

So QB launched a subscription platform only five months after starting the Facebook group, keeping the mission the same: To connect NWA singles through pre-planned low pressure group meetups, no RSVP required.

This is thriving as well. with a monthly subscription group of over 400, only 6 months after it was launched.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Word of mouth. Queenie Connects has been blessed with a steadfast group of loyal singles that are so in tune with the mission of the group, that they want to help it grow! Far and away our biggest soure of new members is referral. Members invite single co-workers, friends, relatives, many of our singles even invite their ex to the group, knowing that the connections will be a blessing to them!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.queenieconnects.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queenieconnects/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QueenieBeNWA
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/queenie-connects/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@QueenieConnects
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@queenieconnectsluxe

Image Credits

Jordan sander photography