Having a business partner is one of the things that you have to think about when you are building a clothing store. The fashion industry is one of the biggest industries in the world, and it continues to grow because of e-commerce and other technological advancements. That is why having someone who will help you with your tasks is essential.
Having a partner is not limited to partnering with only one person either. You can also collaborate with a manufacturer or a supplier using the Sewport website. A business partner comes in various forms but how do you know which questions you should ask a potential partner? Well, this is what you will learn as you read this article!
1. Ask About Their Goals
You and your potential partner might be passionate about fashion and have the same taste in clothing, but this doesn’t mean that he or she is already the best one for you. Asking your partner about his or her goal will give you an idea as to why he or she wants to pursue this path. By asking this question, you will be able to take a peek on the personality and determination of the potential partner. Evaluate his or her answer and let the conversation flow freely.
2. Ask About Their Skills
Knowing about their skill set is the most basic information that you need to decide if you want to work with someone. Business owners ask about skills and qualifications when hiring an employee and you should also ask the same when looking for a partner or a team to collaborate with.
Asking a person about his or her skills would lets know which set of skills they have that are similar to yours, and which ones are different from what you have. Learning which of your partner’s skills would complement yours will allow you to divide the tasks that need to get done.
3. Ask what motivates them
It’s also important to know the things that motivate your business partner. Working with someone to run a business might be fun, but it’s not easy as well. There will be challenges, but things that motivate each one of us can keep us going even when we fail.
People might forget to ask this question because they focus on more significant matters such as financial statuses and relevant skills. But motivations are also crucial when you are trying to make your business succeed. You can also share your motivations with your partner so both of you can help each other when there are challenging situations in the company.
4. Ask About Their Priorities
Running a business is not easy. Yes, you can try running your store even while doing part-time gigs or while taking care of your children at home, but nothing compares to being a full-time business owner.
If you want to commit your full schedule, attention, and energy in your business, you might also want a business partner who can fully commit to the company as well. That is why it’s important to consider your partner’s priorities as well. Does he or she have a lot of problems at home or are there matters that can affect his or her commitment? Try to understand your partner’s situation but at the same time carefully evaluate if they won’t get distracted while working or running the business. Knowing such matters at an early stage will save you from a lot of trouble later on.
5. Ask About How They Handle Challenging Situations
Challenges are inevitable when it comes to running a business. That is why you need to have a partner who will be strong in the face of challenges. If your partner easily gives up when you encounter problems, then it can have a considerable effect on your team. You need to find someone who has the same fighting spirit as you and who you can count on to when the going gets tough.
6. Ask About What They Want To Do Together
Collaborating or partnering with someone means that you are optimistic about working together and making the business succeed together. Know what your partner is bringing to the table. It can be financial support or specific skills.
If you are talking with a manufacturer or a supplier that you want to collaborate with, ask them what makes them stand out from the crowd and what can they offer to your business. Do they have new business ideas that you can benefit from? Being clear about this is important since such matters would be vital for your business and it would also be written down in your agreement papers.
7. Ask About How They Handle Conflicts
Even if your partner is a friend or a family member, you’d still encounter conflicts when running your business. That is why as early as now you should ask your partner how they would handle disputes. Are they the kind of person who gets out the door as soon as they encounter some disagreements with you? If you want your venture to be a success, you have to find someone who knows how to handle conflicts like a mature person. This means that they know how to talk about things and deal with different opinions. They might not have disputes with you, but they can also have this problem with other people in the business such as your employees.
The Bottom Line
Can’t wait to build your business with a trustworthy partner? It would take time before you can finally find the right person or team for your business. So if you fail to get one within the week, don’t give up, your ideal business partner is just around the corner. Take your time in evaluating your options and don’t be afraid to ask if you can do a test with them to find out if you are a perfect fit for each other. Use these questions to help you know more about them!
