A Serendipitous Collaboration: How a Competitor Helped Me Land My Biggest Sale Yet

As a husband-and-wife team that started our phone and computer repair business toward the end of 2022, we’ve experienced our fair share of challenges and triumphs. With a growing reputation—41 glowing Google reviews, all five stars—we’ve been steadily building our client base, averaging 2-3 customers each week alongside my full-time job that helps cover the bills. However, I recently had an eye-opening experience that made me realize the power of collaboration in business.

A few months back, I discovered that a local competitor specialized in microsoldering, a skill that I have yet to master. Despite my limited expertise in soldering, I recognized the importance of building a relationship with him, especially since having someone of his caliber in our small town was extremely fortunate. Thankfully, he was open to connecting, and we quickly established a professional rapport. He expressed enthusiasm about having a reliable counterpart in the area and even offered to refer some work my way when his schedule became too busy.

Fast forward to this week, I received a text from him regarding a new project involving the installation of network equipment for a client looking to set up cameras in a large detached garage. Eager to seize this opportunity, I conducted a site survey on Tuesday. After thoroughly assessing the requirements, I submitted what I believed to be an ambitious quote of $3,000—far exceeding any previous estimate I had made in my business journey.

To my astonishment, the quote was accepted almost immediately, and payment arrived within an hour—a surreal experience that left me elated.

Given my background in similar work, I am confident in my ability to execute this project successfully. This significant sale not only feels exhilarating but is also a tremendous step forward for our company’s growth. I plan to document the entire process with photographs and assemble a gallery on our website to showcase the quality of our work.

These are truly exciting times for our venture, and I am grateful for the unexpected ways in which collaboration can lead to success. Here’s to more opportunities ahead!