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Competition

10/29/15       
Pat Member

One of my workers just told me that he is giving his son money to buy a share of a company that has just started making the same product we do. Two things here. First, I run a woodshop for a non-profit company. It seems shifty to compete with a nonprofit, especially in a small town. Second, it feels like I am funding the competition.

10/29/15       #2: Competition ...
TBSS

Sounds like you have some control issues.

It's, nominally, a free country, and if a "non-profit" can't compete with a for-profit, well, those are the breaks.

You are funding a competitor - so what?

10/29/15       #3: Competition ...
Pat Member

Yeah I guess it does sound like I have control issues. Thanks for pointing that out. It was really helpful

10/29/15       #4: Competition ...
rich c.

Are you personally paying his salary with your money? Do you own the non-profit? Does the business you have a non compete with employees and their families? Is the new business for profit? From this side of the table I don't see the problem.

10/29/15       #5: Competition ...
Mitch Suber  Member

Website: subercustomshutters.com

"Funding the competition" sounds like you are contributing a pretty large amount of money to the other company. Are we talking $20.00 or a lot of money. Since the money has gone thru your hands, to the employee to the son, I would guess not a huge amount. I have wonder why the employee is even saying this to you. Could he be trying to mess with you? Another thing that might help is to remember, that money is no longer yours. You made an exchange with the employee, and where that money goes is no longer your concern. I agree with you being bothered with where it goes, but you do have to let it go.

10/29/15       #6: Competition ...
cabmaker

Companies are a lot more than just working capital. They are also repositories for intellectual property.

I agree with those who say you have no votes over where your employee's money goes. He earned it and he can do what he wants with it.

I would give him his last paycheck and tell him just that. He should go to work for your new competition. It would be to your advantage if they acquired someone like him.

10/30/15       #7: Competition ...
Rich Kuban Member

how would you view the employee if you learned this a different way?
What can this other company offer to your market that yours does not?

10/31/15       #8: Competition ...
Puzzleman Member

Why doesn't the employee work for the other company? Is your employee going to be talking shop with the other company? How valuable is this employee? How committed are they to you? What can this company do that you don't? Can you do what they are doing differently? Will this employee talk shop with you about what the other company is doing?

Lots of questions come to my mind. I am sure there are more that need to answered but that is up to you.

10/31/15       #9: Competition ...
cabmaker


He's batting for the other team.

How complicated is this?

10/31/15       #10: Competition ...
cabinetmaker

Concentrate with the work and ideas in your four walls, the contact with your customers, procedures and the job sites you go, get incredibly organized and clean your facility of all non-essential production items. You would be shocked that you could care less about the competition.

Heck, you might even get to know them and start sharing ideas

10/31/15       #11: Competition ...
cabmaker

Cabinetmaker,

I agree that your only real competition should be yourself. Strive to make your own company better and you won't need to worry about the competition.

My town is so small and sometimes the projects so large that several cabinetshops will work on the same job. It definitely behooves us to get along with each other.

That being said one really great way to improve your own company is to get rid of the guys who are working for your competition.

10/31/15       #12: Competition ...
Larry

Don't waste your time worrying about things that are beyond your control.

11/2/15       #13: Competition ...
Bill

I would not have an employee who had a financial interest in my companies demise.
It is a clear conflict. I would part company with that employee.

11/7/15       #14: Competition ...
Jesse James

Aren't all woodshops "non-profit"....


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