Partner meetings don’t have to be boring.
They also don’t have to feel like a pitch.
In fact, the best partner meetings don’t feel like “business development” at all.
They feel like two people building something together — exchanging ideas, solving problems, and looking for ways to support each other long-term.
That’s what a real partnership is.
The Best Partners Don’t Ask You to Sell
Recently, I had a partner meeting that reminded me what strong collaboration looks like.
Rob Howes said something I’ll remember:
“We don’t want you to sell our product. Just keep us in mind when something good happens.”
That line says everything.
It’s not transactional.
It’s relationship-based.
And it’s how the best partnerships are built — on trust, communication, and mutual respect.
Why Shiptheory Has Been So Useful
Partnerships matter most when the product actually delivers.
And Shiptheory has been a great example of that.
They help streamline order fulfilment, simplify systems, and remove operational friction — which makes a real difference for ecommerce brands trying to scale efficiently.
We’ve seen the impact directly, including through clients like The Cabin Luggage Company, where Shiptheory has been used as part of a smoother fulfilment process.
When fulfilment runs cleanly, everything else improves:
- fewer manual steps
- fewer errors
- faster dispatch
- better customer experience
- more time for the team to focus on growth
Efficiency makes ecommerce easier.
And when things run smoothly, everyone wins.
What a Good Partner Meeting Actually Looks Like
Here’s the reality:
A partner meeting doesn’t need a formal agenda and a slide deck.
Sometimes it’s as simple as:
- grabbing a coffee
- sharing what’s working
- swapping ideas around ecommerce
- talking through a couple of challenges
- even chatting about personal topics like travel plans
That’s what partnership is.
It’s not about selling.
It’s about keeping the relationship strong so that when something relevant comes up, the connection is already there.
Relationships Scale Better Than Transactions
In ecommerce, there’s always something new to chase.
A new channel. A new tool. A new playbook.
But the strongest businesses are usually built through long-term relationships:
- partners who respond quickly
- teams who support each other
- people who share knowledge without expecting an immediate return
Those relationships create opportunities that a cold sales approach never will.
Next Stop: Chester in 2026
Looking forward to the next catch-up in Chester next year.
Because partnerships like this are worth building properly.