Ep. 17 The Confusion around Community Over Competition
With each election cycle, global crisis, and divisive policy change, our world feels increasingly vitriolic—both online and IRL. A phrase that resonates throughout the indie retail industry is “community over competition,” but it’s often misunderstood and sometimes intentionally misused as an excuse for entitled behavior.
So what does this common phrase mean when indie retailers are trying to thrive in an increasingly cutthroat world?
Read on to learn how Kathy defines it, how some retailers misuse it as an excuse for their pushy (and even catty!) behavior, and how we can intentionally build communities that support & celebrate the work of all indie shop owners.
How to Define “Community” and “Competition”
Before we dive into what “community over competition” means, let’s look at the keywords in the phrase.
Community is defined as “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.”
Or, “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.”
The Savvy Shopkeeper community has this part covered. We’re all shopkeepers! We might have different business models and be scattered across multiple states and countries, but our common vocation is our defining characteristic.
Competition is “an event or contest in which people compete.”
There’s no denying that retailers have always been competitive, especially the big box stores. Among independent retailers, it depends on who you ask! Some shopkeepers will say they don’t want to compete; they prefer to help and support each other. But some hold things very close to their chest because their business neighbors don’t collaborate, steal their ideas, or aren’t friendly.
The Secret Third Element of Community Over Competition: Relationships
An element that is often overlooked when talking about “community over competition” is relationships.
Relationships are “how two or more people or groups regard and behave toward each other.”
From the very beginning of the Savvy Shopkeeper community, I have stressed that being KIND and RESPECTFUL is required. Both giving and taking are equally important to the success and health of our community.
In free community groups, information and resources are abundant and available to everyone. And that’s why it’s crucial to GIVE to the community as well as take!
When members only take, it feels unfair and selfish. And on the flip side, only giving is extremely generous, but can lead to resentment and burnout.
How Entitlement Kills Community
As a community leader, I sometimes see entitlement, especially in free groups.
Entitlement is “the fact of having a right to something.” In many cases, it’s not so much a fact as a feeling of being owed something just because you’ve gotten other resources for free.
There are Savvy Shopkeeper community members who GIVE a lot. You might also have business neighbors or biz besties who give selflessly! However, we can’t mistake people’s generosity with some content as being owed everything for free.
Entitlement doesn’t just plague online communities, by the way. Several members of Master Shopkeepers have shared stories about aspiring shopkeepers coming into their stores and asking for a list of their vendors and other resources, all without so much as an introduction.
In these situations, we can easily take “community of competition” too far. Being a kind and helpful person doesn’t mean you have to give away all your hard work for free!
People hear “community over competition” and conveniently forget that true community is built on relationships, earned trust, mutual aid, and reciprocity. Real value, respect, and appreciation for one another develop in those relationships. When you forget (or ignore) what community means, you can so easily become entitled.
Choosing Community Over Competition is Crucial, Especially Now
I believe that most of us genuinely want to learn, encourage, and lift each other up. And with how divisive our world is, we NEED to—especially among women!
Sarah Nemecek of WE Profit Foundry recently posted in her Facebook group, saying, “Women own 40% of small businesses in the US. [BUT] Women earn 4% of the revenue generated by small businesses in the US. Not a typo….It gets me fired up for change.”
Me too, Sarah! By embracing community over competition, we can help close that huge revenue gap for ALL women business owners. We can also balance giving our valuable time, knowledge, and efforts with building relationships first, setting clear boundaries, and honoring our work.
How You Can Build Positive Communities with Other Retailers
Ready to embrace community over competition? Here are three ways you can contribute to a positive and mutually beneficial community culture:
1. Spend time building and nurturing relationships. This can be as simple as thoughtfully commenting on someone’s post with encouragement, support, or an answer to their question.
2. Don’t assume that you’re entitled to anything. Do the work and invest in yourself/your business! Not everything is free, nor should it be. You’ll have more skin in the game if you invest in yourself, your business, and your relationships with other retailers.
3. Use your manners. Be polite, respectful, and GRACIOUS. Gratitude can get you a very long way!
I can’t tell you how many emails and DMs I’ve received from people who have asked for something about a free piece of content I’ve shared. The tone of these messages can make all the difference, as it isn’t fun to help someone with even more free information when their message is curt, demanding, lacking a greeting, and missing even an inkling of graciousness.
While I have a thick skin, I refuse to allow our increasingly social media-driven world to change my core values and how my Mamita raised me.
A parting question for you: how do you interpret “community over competition,” and how do you want to apply it in the communities you’re a part of? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so send me a DM on Instagram (@savvyshopkeeper) or email me at hello@savvyshopkeeper.com.
Resources
- Shopkeeper Shoutout: Amy McCauley, owner of Scout Life + Style Co.
Timestamps
- [02:24] How to Define “Community” and “Competition”
- [04:13] The Secret Third Element of Community Over Competition: Relationships
- [05:33] How Entitlement Kills Community
- [10:11] Choosing Community Over Competition is Crucial, Especially Now
- [13:11] How You Can Build Positive Communities with Other Retailers
Connect With Kathy
Kathy Cruz is an Independent Retail Coach who helps store owners work smarter, profit more, and grow their brick and mortar businesses.
Connect with Kathy and learn more here:
Website: www.savvyshopkeeper.com
Instagram: @savvyshopkeeper
Mastermind Group: Master Shopkeepers
