Why Collaboration Is Important In The Event Industry
There is an art to collaboration.
It’s a word that’s been thrown around a lot in the small business space the past few years, but to us here at The Stylist’s Guide, collaboration means more than just sharing content with other businesses to maximise exposure.
We sat down with Director of The Stylist’s Guide, Alyse Vozzo, to chat about what collaboration means to the business, especially in the event industry, and how we can all benefit from perceiving ‘community’ over ‘competition’.
Alyse, is there such a thing as the ‘power of collaboration’? What are your thoughts on that?
“I personally think it depends on the type of collaboration. I believe that if a group of suppliers get together to have a day filled with fun, networking and to show off their capabilities then it can be a powerful thing!
When the group of suppliers get together, just through listening to and learning experiences from each business, they can work together as a support network and really help each other reach their goals. If someone approaches another business purely for "exposure" then no, it’s not powerful or authentic.”
Why is collaborating with other businesses important in the event industry?
“Trends are constantly changing and sometimes we just want to showcase our full potential or we have an idea which we are bursting to try. Not only does it give us the resources to do so, sometimes we are able to showcase some of our best work. On occasion, I feel that it's really important for us to step away from the real-life events, the day-to-day office and onsite dates.
It gives us an opportunity to spend quality time with our suppliers, spend time understanding their products and what they can provide us with. It also allows everyone to spend a day together… we're normally in and out of events which means we really don't get an opportunity to chat about all our crazy ideas!”
Is there a mindset shift that needs to happen from ‘competition’ to ‘community’?
“The event industry is a community and a tight one at that. It's really important to step outside the square and sometimes take the opportunity to work with someone you wouldn't normally work with. You never know the value and opportunities which may arise just by stepping out of your comfort zone.”
Who do you love to collaborate with/who have you collaborated with in the past?
“I love collaborating with my suppliers because at the end of the day, once that styled shoot is over and we are able to be our own client in a sense. It gives us an opportunity to sit back and not only be proud of what we can produce as an event stylist but enjoy what our clients enjoy, the final product. We get to spend a day working with our favourite people, this collaborative and styled shoots hold some of the best memories for us.”
Check out some of the images from the past month of collaborations with Modern Party, Adelaide Flower House, and Puff and Pop, taken by Visual Domain