Nurturing a Partner’s Entrepreneurial Dream: A Guide for Supportive Sponsors

When your partner starts a new small business, like building custom guitars, it can be a thrilling and rewarding experience. Here are some tips to support and encourage your partner while keeping your relationship balanced and healthy.

Encouraging and Edifying Your Partner

The best way to support a partner who has started a new custom guitar-building business is to encourage them moderately. Pass business cards selectively, especially if you have knowledge about their skill level or the skill level of their mentors. Before you can truly help them, you need to understand the market and their capabilities. This might involve checking the market for guitars and custom guitars through reliable sources like Robert Morris Assoc. Even if you can find valuable information, it is wiser not to share it immediately with your partner to maintain a sense of confidentiality and humility.

Maintaining Balance in the Relationship

Maintaining a balanced relationship is crucial. It’s important to recognize that this is your partner’s business, and they need the freedom to make their own decisions and learn from their mistakes. As much as you may suspect that they are making mistakes, it’s best to allow them to figure it out on their own. This means staying out of their business and not discussing it in private, such as during family dinners, road trips, or off-days. While it might be affectionately called a partnership, treating their business as such would be overstepping your boundaries.

Strategically Supporting the Business

If you wish to provide more substantial support, consider the following strategies:

Create a content series showcasing the guitar-building process. This can engage an audience and educate them about the craftsmanship involved. You could shoot photos and videos from wood selection to the final product. If you can find the right mentor, such as the father of modern advertising Claude Hopkins, you can captivate a wide audience. This transparency can help create a deep connection with potential customers who value the authenticity behind the process.

Highlight your customers on social media. This not only promotes the business but also establishes a community around the custom guitars. Sharing positive feedback and showcasing satisfied customers can significantly boost the brand’s reputation.

Reach out to prominent musicians who could become valuable brand ambassadors. Not all will be receptive, some may want big placement fees, while others might be willing to negotiate and support the business. Even if some are not interested, engaging in a dialogue can potentially lead to future partnerships.

Contribute a couple of guitars to charities that have relevant supporters. This can help build a positive image and possibly attract new customers who share the same values.

Connect with local professionals such as VCs, lawyers, and CEOs, who are also musicians and play gigs. They can provide valuable insights and potentially become customers or even advocates for the business. Custom instruments are unique expressions of individuality, and you can tap into a niche of customers who are supportive of new businesses.

Encourage friends to promote the business. The novelty and uniqueness of custom guitars might make people excited to share and associate with the brand. Cross-promotional opportunities can also expand the reach of the business.

In most cases, simply standing back and letting your partner lead the way is the best form of support. Maintain a positive attitude and refrain from being overly subservient or submissive. If they need encouragement or are going through tough times, be there to support them non-monetarily but don’t overwhelm them with advice or involvement. Encourage them to “buck up” when needed, showing that you trust and believe in their abilities.

Conclusion

Supporting a partner who has started a custom guitar-building business means balancing encouragement, respect, and space. By following these strategies and maintaining a healthy relationship dynamic, you can contribute to the success of their business while preserving your relationship's integrity.