Co-opetition. Embrace it. All our so-called competitive companies in our space have grown due, in part, to getting over the fear of competition and embracing the impactful strategy of co-opetition. If coworking was just about providing a desk or private office for that one company to do it’s own thing, then this scenario would be an issue. But coworking is about trust, openness, sharing, collaboration, selflessness, etc. In that environment EVERYONE is safe as well as empowered, inspired and cheered on by what would be called in other places, competition. The idea of coworking with those in your industry has also honed all our companies to do what they do best. We talk to our so-called competitors and always find something that they do amazing, that we do mediocre. Now we have a partner.
Feeling threatened is different than feeling afraid. When ever I hear someone talk about an industry being “cut-throat” I sigh and say, "so what!” The question back to the owner is, “is that your MO?” If it isn’t, than carry on and consider how this new company could help you and you, them. If a competitive company does better than you in the exact same market and location, that’s your problem, not there’s. There’s plenty of work out there. Hustle for it, but don’t spend too much time guarding, spying and feeling threatened. This principle is part of our initial tour discussion. We not only talk about it, we celebrate it! Once it’s part of your ethos, your future members will not be afraid of competitive companies, rather will be the first one to shake take their hand and buy them a coffee. Peace, Chad Ballantyne 705.812.0689 c...@thecreativespace.ca Barrie's Coworking Community Perfect for small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs. 12 Dunlop St E, Barrie Ontario, L4M 1A3 Memberships start at $25/mth www.thecreativespace.ca <http://www.thecreativespace.ca/> 705-812-0689 <tel:705-812-0689> > On Jan 6, 2017, at 12:35 AM, Fiona Frank <fionafr...@gmail.com> wrote: > > We've been running for 3 years as a non profit Coworking and event space in a > small village in north west England. We have a shared Coworking space wjrh 9 > desks, and offices, studios and workshops most of which are leased and then > shared too. > > We have an interesting and surprisingly completely new situation where a > wedding and lifestyle photographer is objecting / very worried about the > possibility of another wedding photographer coming into the space and setting > up an office in a shared space next door. > > We run as a cooperative and encourage members to discuss issues like this but > wonder if other spaces have come across this. My ohotographer says it's a cut > throat business a s he would feel threatened .... > > What experience do other Coworking spaces have of this issue and what's the > answer ? We have always had a gut policy or not encouraging exclusivity . > Recently a wedding planner wanted exclusive rights to run weddings in our > space. We reluctantly agreed to it for a limited period but it felt wrong st > the start and as the months went on it was worse and worse - she put out > badly written brochures , she had loads of demands ... we had to set up a > really complicated and draconian contract to work wjrh her envisaging the > worst case situations etc ... anyway now she has pulled out due to ill > health and we are telling ourselves to go with our gut in future . > > So we know that exclusivity is wrong. But we don't want to upset our existing > workshop renter - while not wanting to limit who comes and takes empty space > . > > Help!!! > > -- > Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Coworking" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
