How to Create a Professional Relationship with Your Competitors

Jun 15

The quality of your reputation is key to the success of your business. No matter the industry that you are in, taking a well-rounded approach to maintaining an exceptional reputation is so important. Within the medical aesthetics industry in general, we believe that maintaining a genuine and professional relationship with your competitors is key, not only for creating and maintaining a strong reputation, but also for running a business that stands behind their core values, always puts their clients first and many more reasons!

Let’s take a closer look at how you can create a professional relationship with your competitors and the reasons why you absolutely should!

Why Befriend Your Competition?

While befriending the competition can be beneficial to businesses across many industries, we are going to focus on medical aesthetics and your cosmetic spa.

Put the Client First

At the end of the day, the needs of your clients will and should always come first. To best meet their needs, it’s important that we tuck our pride away and understand that sometimes we aren’t their best fit or able to meet their individual needs.

Many cosmetic spas will offer different services, solutions and products. What works for one person may not work for another. If a client isn’t finding the outcome they were looking for, they may benefit from another cosmetic spa.

There is no shame in this, as the same can be said for other spas - not just your own! By maintaining professional relationships with your local competitors, you will have a great understanding of the services that they can offer and which alternative may be best for your client.

By connecting them with another specialist that can better meet their needs, the client will be forever grateful and remember that, although you may not have been able to directly help them, that you did create a comfortable experience and make the transition as seamless as possible.

Just because you weren’t the right fit for them doesn’t mean their family and friends won’t benefit from your spa - and word of mouth travels fast! Referrals can most definitely help to build your clientele.

Build a Strong Community

Networking is key within any industry, but especially medical aesthetics! Learn more about certain services, get access to informative resources and build lasting professional relationships with other local cosmetic spas, all through the beauty of networking!

Ways to Create Relationships with the Competition

Take Notes and Keep Records of Local Cosmetic Spas

As you meet other business owners and learn about the local cosmetic spas in your community, you may find it beneficial to take notes and keep detailed records about their services.

If a client is looking for a service or product that you don’t carry or offer, this will make it much easier to refer them to another cosmetic spa in your area. This can also come in handy if the client is working within a certain budget or living in a different area than your spa.

Plan a Social Outing or Event

What better way to build a genuine relationship with your competition, than getting to know them? Plan a lunch, go for drinks or enjoy a morning coffee together. You can discuss your industry, area of focus, the tools, products and equipment you like (and dislike), and really egt to know one another!

If you’re feeling more adventurous, planning or hosting a social event with many local business owners and beauty professionals can help to further your networking and create a strong community within your local industry.

Show a Genuine Interest in Their Spa

The key to creating a professional relationship with your competitors is being genuine.

If you are looking to befriend them with only your interests in mind, chances are that they might see right through your intentions and not match your energy. If you genuinely care about their spa and want to deliver the best experience to your clients possible, you will show that you really and truly care about their business.