Business partnerships lead to profit

By Carla Waldemar

Partnering offers the best of both worlds. “Our philosophy is: Make the person who hired you look good,” Mutton says. “If all goes properly, they leave smiling and get the credit. Meanwhile, we make a profit, but it’s definitely done as a customer service.”

Lee agrees. “If your competitors are working the same event, you’ve got to work with them or the customer loses out. We don’t go after their clients.” Lee says his business comes strictly by referral; his company doesn’t run ads.

“If a tent rental company refers me, they’ll certainly be in my proposal,” Stern says, emphasizing that ethics and loyalty must be the common meeting ground. “Remember,” she cautions, “this is a small industry and we all talk to each other. In the long run, unethical behavior will seriously hurt your business.”