Should Your Business Co-Operate?
I’m all about cooperating, and I don’t just mean in the sense that your Mother taught you. Yes, it pays to play nice with your coworkers and business acquaintances, but what I’m really talking about is co-operating – operating alongside someone else or some other business in order to create amazing opportunities that you couldn’t have done on your own.
The Arts are Co-Operating in Chatham
This week I learned about an exciting new Arts Co-Operative that’s currently in the works here in Chatham. Yes – in Chatham! (If you’ve ever been to Chatham, you’ll understand that this is an exciting edition to our predominantly blue-collar town). The space, which is being spear-headed by local artists Christy Obalek DeKoning and Linda Van de Bovenkamp, will include a combination of studio, retail store, workshop space, and café. It will provide artists from throughout the municipality with more than just a place to work and connect, but a place to inspire and create. How awesome is that!? (Want to learn more about this unique local venture? Linda can be contacted either by phone at 519-350-3146, or through her Facebook profile).
Collaborative working and co-operating spaces make complete sense to me, probably because I currently work from a home office. I spend five days a week talking to my trusty assistant, Marg the Cat, and my security detail, Pepper the Dog. Sadly, they aren’t the most creative bunch in the world. Of course, I could open an office and hire in-house staff as opposed to contract telecommute staff, but then I’m surrounding myself with people that do the same thing as me… which still isn’t the creative atmosphere I want. What I want is a collaborative space that houses a whole spectrum of professions. A place where graphic designers work alongside writers, where local art is displayed on the walls, and a demo CD from a local band is playing in the background. I want to feed off of the creativity of others, even if that creativity has nothing to do with mine. It’s a big dream, but the unveiling of this new Arts Co-Operative goes to show that it’s not an impossible one.
How You Can Start Co-Operating Today
While we don’t all have the luxury of working in a collaborative space, we can start approaching our business from a co-operative stand point. Take a minute and start brainstorming other businesses in your area that you admire – either for their awesome product offering or friendly customer service. Now, think of ways that you can combine your business with theirs to create a truly unique experience. Perhaps you could embark on a great co-operative marketing strategy that would bring both of your businesses new clients. Or maybe you could arrange to carry a few of their specialty items in your store, if they offered to do the same for you.
It doesn’t need to be a dog-eat-dog world out there. Stop constantly competing against other local businesses, and instead, start working together to create stronger communities and better services. Your customers will appreciate it and I’m willing to bet your business will benefit too.
Do you co-operate with another business or businesses? Tell us how!
2 thoughts on “Should Your Business Co-Operate? ”
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I like the idea of cooperating with businesses in our area. In fact, my business partners and I have started talking about possibilities like that. Our problem is that we are brand new…. and that makes us not very attractive to other businesses I think. Any suggestions?
I know exactly how you feel Christina! I’m a relatively new business as well so finding other businesses that are willing to jump on board with the idea of co-working is proving difficult. What I’ve been doing is trying to join some local networks, so the Chamber of Commerce, and we have a Young Professionals Group here that I’ve helped organize some events at. I’ve really tried to build some strong connections with members of these networks in order to bounce the idea off of them and see if it would be something that they would be interested in, or something they think others would be interested in. Once you’ve pitched in to become part of an established group, I think it’s easier to try and reach out. Try asking some connections on LinkedIn about what they think of the idea – you never know, someone might be planning something similar already, you just have to find them!