Why brand collaborations are a must for small businesses in 2023
Did you notice how many big brands release “collab” products? From fashion (Moncler, Uniqlo, H&M) to hard luxury (Patek Philippe x Tiffany & Co, Breitling with Iron Man, and just recently Tiffany & Co and Nike), to wine (D&G and Donnafugata) and many more.
You know why? There is one thing that no other strategy can achieve and collab does it to perfection: make a meaningful introduction. If you are a business owner, I know what you are thinking - nothing lifts up a small business like a purposeful brand association.
Small business collaborations built trust and create connections. A key strategy for SMBs in 2023.
Let’s explore further why making collabs as a small business in 2023 can be beneficial and how the new working conditions are creating fertile grounds for finding the best partners out there to collaborate with.
A collab match made in heaven is a win-win-win.
When two businesses, that truly share common ground of any sort meet and create something together, they each win out of the collaboration and the communities that trust these brands win as well. Here’s why:
Each business gets a sincere and vetted introduction to a new audience. The brands involved implicitly give each other a mutual strong endorsement and a glowing recommendation. How valuable is a new audience for a small business and how important is it to be introduced to it by someone the respective community already trusts?!
The clients and followers of each business get to learn about a new brand/offering that is probably quite interesting to them, via a source that they value and respect. Who doesn't love new and happy customers?!
On top of it all, doing collabs demonstrates openness, willingness to share, availability to work together, to join forces, to create something new. These are all positive messages send towards the market, quite the opposite of a hostile and fierce competition out of which rarely anybody wins, customers inclusively.
Opportunities to find a potential partner for a collaboration are everywhere.
With the flourishing of the co-working spaces, all it takes is to be open, to “talk to strangers” and get into the mindset of intentionally meeting new people and likely minded businesses.
During the past year, we have joined ourselves several clubs, events and fairs and not surprisingly at all, each and every one of them had collaboration as the core theme: female entrepreneur support groups and association, small and local business fairs, inspirational talks and mastermind sessions all praise collaboration because “if everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself” (Henry Ford).
You can start by simply creating a Instagram collab post with another brand that you have true synergies with.
So, in 2023 go out there and MAKE A COLLAB!
Make collabs with other brands that complete your offering.
Make collabs with other brands that you share values with.
Make collabs with other businesses that do what you do.
Make collabs with your suppliers / sellers or partners of any sort.
Simply, collaborate. It builds trust. It builds connections.
This is the 2nd article from the series “5 empowering thoughts for small businesses in 2023”. Sign up to the newsletter (form available in the website footer) to receive them directly in your inbox.
Image credits: Marvin Meyer via unsplash.
About Journee - Digital at Ease
Founded by two digital marketing professionals with extensive international experience, Journee GmbH is a female owned digital marketing and technology boutique consultancy.
We aim to make a big difference for the small: small business owners and solopreneurs looking to start and advance on their business digital journey.
Our combined expertise covers digital marketing, digital analytics, advertising, marketing technology as well as overall digital strategy support and mentorship.