Opening a line of communication to build solid partner and relationships with your competition is probably one of the smartest decisions you could make as a business owner/entrepreneur; especially during the current state of things in the business world.
Not looking at your counterparts as a threat and actually connecting with them to build larger networks will not only strengthen your business network, but it will also build a better sense of community with your customers. It's OK to shake hands with and become allies with others in your industry.
Once your customers find out they can get a number of products and services within a diverse business collective, they will feel even more comfortable shopping within your network.
Here are a few platforms were your can start finding businesses similar to yours; to begin networking with.