Do you want to destroy your competitors?

I thought it might be interesting to gauge how the businesses on the forum treat their competitors.

I've spoken to a few of the designers on the forum and to be honest we seem to get on and maybe even more so than other industries within 4N.

Or am I being naive?

I'd even go as far as saying that in some cases we share an interest in what each other is doing and also consider the possibilities of referring work to each other when busy or appropriate.??

So, do you treat your competitors with respect or would you (if given the chance) like to destroy their business? ?

Other VO's that I know through Twitter and the interwebs and i get on really well. We've often chatted over Skype, tweeted each other and generally kept in contact, always see what each other are up to, and I think that's really good. We've also passed business between ourselves because of different types of voices suit different projects, so I've passed some onto an American VO I know, to a female etc etc. It's all based on mutual respect, which I think is vitally important.....

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer - Sun Tzu (Chinese General & Military Strategist)

That's a hard one Gareth..there are some competitors who I will work with and get on well with yet there are others with whom I don't get on with at all especially as they do their utmost to undermine my business. I can't give two answers on your poll though :(

Depends. Some of my competitors I would happily pass work onto if I thought it was work I could not take on and they would benefit from it. There are some I would happily see go out of business because I think they are a pile of dung.

In all honesty would love some more mystery shopper businesses in the parish. Spend half my time explaining what mystery shopping is before I even get near the qualities of objective eye. It can be pretty frustrating. For an industry that's 70 years old the lack of knowledge about it is alarming. My predessors suck!

Aha! Yes, this is a good point Sean and weighing it up I share this opinion...damn, I can't change the poll now.

A mix of the first two options for me (I voted for the top one). Actually I think it's great to speak to, work with and see the work of other designers - the more talented they are the more that's the case. There is room for plenty of designers and most differ in style and approach to some degree. I've collaborated with others for larger projects at times. It's important to see what the current design trends are and it's helpful to speak to others sharing the same challenges. Of course there are some people who might take advantage of that and a few whose attitude makes it difficult to take that approach (genuinely, I can't think of anyone in that category on this forum, but I've met the odd one elsewhere) but I think the vast majority have respect for each other.

I welcome my competitors with open arms - even if they produce cack I learn from them.
Of course, those that I respect I tend to pass regular work to.

I share Seans sentiments, I clicked on "I speak to a competitor(s) regularly and we are looking to work together in the future" as the closest however in answer to the question I would never set out to destroy my competitors, if they're that bad they'll do it themsleves.

Denise

There are loads of "marketing bods" in 4N and I think it's great. I definitely learn from them. Have some really good conversations with them and am looking to collaborate on projects with a few of them.

There is room in the world for us all (well the good ones anyway!!)

Years ago I worked in retail (petrol stations/forecourt shops as they were then) and it always worried me when someone pitched a product that would be exclusive to a specified area. I figured that people like Mars didn't do that with their sweets and most mainstream products are widely available - even more so with the web.

I clicked the first option as I believe you can always learn from competitors, even the bad ones (what not to do can be as important as what to do).

And if the option had been there I'd have thought carefully about watching non-competitors. Some of my best "ideas" have been tweaked from what's working well in other industries but not tried in the industry I'm working on. Which has just got my mind thinking on how I can adapt bogofs to areas like SEO services (dead easy now I think of it). Bother, thought I was about to unwind for the day!

Trevor

Without competition, you cant look good, or bad

Two of my biggest spending clients this year are Recruitment Agencies, one of which is a 4N member. Work with them or against them? With!

Isn't it just "meet, like,know & trust"

Sorry to be a 4N geek but I get on with some of my competitors and others are a complete waste of space.

I pass work to the good ones, and hopefully they might reciprocate. Why would I want to recommend a competitor if I'm too busy, who is not any good.

I speak to some and ignore others. Don't we all!?

I don't think you are niave to work alongside or talk to your competitors. And you never where it might lead.

Negativity never got anyone anywhere, did it?

Absolutely take every opportunity to win. I am not in business to support my competitors.

That No.2 is dangerous. On several occasions I have had to threaten people who have been "working together" as that quickly leads to price fixing and a lack of competition. This collaboration is quite illegal in many circumstances. Discussing pricing or agreeing over tactics (I will not offer this or compete here if you don't offer that or compete there, or "let's agree not to undercut each other") is probably unlawful.

I think a lot of views are a bit naiive about this stuff.

Gareth asks "So, do you treat your competitors with respect or would you (if given the chance) like to destroy their business?"

That is a stupid question. You can (of course) do both at the same time.