Ministry of Supply SXSW V2V 2015 PanelPicker Submission

1. Building Your System:
How to Find Values-Driven Business Partners
Aman Advani
Co-founder and President, Ministry of Supply
SXSW V2V 2015

2. Great partnerships are crucial to your growth
• Working with strong external
companies expands capabilities
and growth potential.
• A good network builds your
reputation: for well-made
products, great customer
service, etc.
• And as a company grows, that
network includes hundreds of
people, places and passions
coming together to create a
single brand or service.
First Year of Partner Network Growth at
Ministry of Supply

3. But sometimes, the fit just isn’t right
• A quickly growing network of
partners can spiral out of control.
• Values and viewpoints can diverge,
creating conflicting incentives +
break-downs in process.
• And that can have negative
consequences on:
– Reputation
– Customer happiness and
retention
– Company culture
– Revenue
Steps to Creating a Strong Network
TEAM
1) BUILD the right
extended team
2) VALIDATE that your
system is meeting its
goals – market pull
SUPPLIERS INVESTORS
3) OPTIMIZE the system,
not the parts

4. Create a system for success
• It’s not about piecemeal transactional
successes – it’s about creating a system
for success. Each decision and partner
alters the system’s dynamics.
• With a solid framework for evaluating
and guiding partnerships, you’ll find
more natural (and lasting!) fits.
• It’s about relationships, not
transactions – focus on fewer, deeper
relationships and invest.
ETHICS: Will you welcome the
partner into your family?
SERVICE: Will they act as a
team member, sharing the
burden?
CAPABILITIES: Is your
partner prepared to scale
with you?
MINISTRY OF
SUPPLY
Partner Evaluation
Framework

5. Insights from a growing network
• Since launching in 2012, Ministry of Supply
has grown into a network with hundreds of
direct and indirect partners. We
manufacture in top facilities and partner
with sympathetic brands.
• We’ve had our ups and downs, and
learned a lot about working with the right
people – and we want to share those
practical insights with you.
• Vote for us for SXSW V2V 2015!

6. Thank you!