This advice from Colin Bates’ BuildingBrands newsletter could be a mantra for small biz survival. Of course, he offers huge business examples, so let’s add some small biz perspective.
“Cooperate on product design.”
Everything you do is your product. How you do it is design. (see Tom Peters) Can you design your product work with someone else’s product, even if one or both are services? Maybe your income-tax service can coordinate with an investment advisor to develop products that are both a good investment and a wise tax strategy.
“Cooperate on product placement and usage.”
Can you offer local brands? Or famous products? What are the leading products that compliment yours? Can you strike a deal to cooperate? We’re looking for more locally-made wines for our store.
“Cooperate to build your industry.”
Can you work together build your entire town or region? Can you connect with others inside your industry but outside your area? We frequently share info with a neighboring liquor store.
Technorati tags: [small business] [small biz][Tom Peters] [Colin Bates] [cooperate] [brands] [small town]
- Community engagement planning: old way vs. Idea Friendly way - October 3, 2021
- Boost your maker economy with a “Made in” day - September 17, 2021
- How a ghost town made something from nothing with a folk festival - September 3, 2021
- Rural business idea: sell foraged fruits and more - August 3, 2021
- Best practices for rural housing - July 19, 2021
- How to be more open to new ideas #IdeaFriendly - July 3, 2021
- Market your small town as a movie filming location, attract movie and game fan tourists - June 28, 2021
- Survey of Rural Challenges 2021 results, analysis of themes from 2015 through today - June 7, 2021
- What makes a small town a micropolitan or nanopolitan? - May 22, 2021
- Improving Rural Housing: turning blighted dilapidated houses into new homes - May 7, 2021
Great ideas Becky! I’m actually putting together a magazine that focus on collaborative business marketing. I’m planning a spring shop local event for Clayton County, GA to encourage businesses to team up for a weekend of special business savings and open houses that will allow them reconnect with residents.
We’d love to hear how that works out!
I think those could be a very important strategies for small town businesses. How about local wine, cheeses and artisan breads(made with local wheat, of course)? You could also sell wine glasses, baskets and breadboards, etc. I’m also wondering if it is possible for small stores in different towns in our county to co-operatively order items (such as clothing) and offer inter-store transfers when someone wants a color or size not available in one of the shops. Our town is too small to carry much variety alone. Is that a realistic idea?
Lila, I think it would pay off nicely for towns and stores that could manage the transportation. Thanks for sharing a great idea!