What Every Small Business Should Know Before Collaborating!

Running a small business is a constant act of courage. You take chances, invest in people, and trust that others will treat you fairly. But sometimes, what looks like an opportunity turns into a lesson you never expected.

Not long ago, we at Dana Fashion joined what was marketed as a luxury vendor showcase in Mississauga, organized by a well-known influencer who also owns an event company. We reached out ourselves, hopeful and excited. The event was presented with confidence, promises, and the kind of polish that makes you believe it will be worth the investment, And we invested.

In total, the event cost us around $1,000.
Later, we learned that most of the other vendors had paid $350 less than us — something we were never told. No mention of different plans, no clear breakdown, no transparency.

Still, we showed up ready to give it our all. The event was supposed to start at 12 p.m., but on the morning of the event, we received a last-minute message saying it would begin at 1 p.m. When we arrived, we struggled even to find the small studio where it was being held — it took us 15 minutes just to locate it.

The event itself was quiet. Over the entire day, maybe five to ten people walked in. Attendees paid $90 per ticket, receiving a cup of coffee and a flower. The atmosphere felt nothing like the “luxury experience” we were promised. Four out of the six vendors later expressed the same disappointment: low turnout, confusion, and absolutely no sales.

At the end, the organizer approached us, cheerful and smiling, asking for one of our dresses to create content for Dana Fashion. That’s when I opened up about my disappointment — not because turnout was low (these things happen), but because the pricing wasn’t transparent. She acknowledged it, apologized, and said, “I’ll refund you tomorrow.”

Tomorrow never came. Weeks passed. Messages were ignored. The promise disappeared.

This is no longer about the money; it’s about honesty. Small businesses like Dana Fashion put real effort, real hours, and real savings behind every opportunity. We can accept a slow event, but we shouldn’t have to accept being misled.

For too long, small business owners have been encouraged to stay quiet — especially when dealing with influencers who have large followings. But silence only protects the wrong people.

We’ve decided to share our experience openly. Not out of anger, but out of principle. We acted in good faith. We communicated politely. We waited patiently. She chose not to make things right. That isn’t professionalism — that’s avoidance.

So from now on, if someone asks who this influencer is, we’ll tell them the truth. Because transparency protects others. And small business owners should never feel intimidated or scared of someone just because they’re “influential.”

If you’ve ever felt powerless in a collaboration, let this be your reminder: your voice matters. Use it to protect yourself and others.

We’ll continue sharing our full experience publicly, because honesty shouldn’t be rare — and integrity shouldn’t be a luxury.

— Dana
Founder of Dana Fashion