Friendly competition can be just that!

I just returned from a 14-hour trip to Chicago and back with one of my best friends, Betty Hill, and her husband Ron. We went to a trade show to buy for our stores. I say "our" stores, because Betty also owns a consignment shop in the area.

Yes, she's a competitor. Yes, she's one of my very best friends. Isn't that neat? We share some customers and occasionally we even share consignors. But we mainly share stories. Boy, do we have stories. We often say we could write a book and maybe we should.

We don't know how unusual it is for local competitors to be so close, but it works so well for us. For one thing, we refer people to each other all the time. She doesn't sell maternity clothes, so she refers all that business my way. If a customer can't find a specific item at my store, I send her to Betty's. (One time, I referred someone to Betty's for a dress to wear in a wedding and the woman ended up buying a dress of mine that I had consigned there! Too funny.)

Do you have any good stories about a friend who does the same thing you do?