The Road to Seasonality: Part III - Partnerships

"If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
African proverb

by Skip Cohen

I'm so tired of hearing how much the pandemic took away from business. I don't want you to think I'm minimizing the pain of the challenge, but Covid didn't take away your creativity, or your skillset. It also created great opportunities to demonstrate a leadership role in your community by working together with other businesses to generate some promotional excitement this holiday season.

Here's a shortlist of potential partners for five different specialties in the portrait/social category: 
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• Boudoir Photographers: Lingerie boutiques, spas, makeup artists, salons
• Pet Photographers: Pet food reps, animal shelters, pet boutiques, veterinarians, and doggy daycare and boarding facilities 
• Children's Photographers: Toy stores, summer camps, playgrounds, kids clothing boutiques, restaurants, pediatricians, or pediatric dentists.
• Family Photographers:  Family restaurants, decorators, parks, and special events 
• Wedding Photographers:  Florists, wedding planners, bakeries, caterers, salons, bridal shops, limo companies, musicians, tux shops, travel agents, and venues. 

And this is only a partial list. For example, years ago, while doing a Hasselblad University program in the Cleveland area, a portrait photographer told me how a landscaper approached him to do a landscaped scene behind his studio for family portraiture, complete with a small pond and walkover bridge. It was like a mini Hollywood set, and at no cost to the photographer if he'd just promote the landscaper's business. Why? Because the landscaper knew, for this artist, there was a high correlation between the families he photographed and homeownership!

In terms of designing an effective promotion, you can do anything from cross-promote each other's products and services to planning a mailing together to an open house, gallery-like event to introduce the community to your businesses.

Last but not least - think about partnerships like this - each member of the group becomes an ambassador for each partner's business. Working together reduces costs and increases cash flow. But if you do it all alone - 100% of the cost is on your shoulders and wallet!

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“Teamwork: Simply stated, it is less me and more we.”
Unknown Author

You don't have to be a solo act. Stop thinking you've got to do everything alone!