Reader,

I always thought the idea of a summer vacation was genius. Not too long ago, I was telling my husband how I think every working person needs to have a 3 month break every year, we could just rotate which industries take their breaks when.

He poked holes in my plan pretty quickly 😂 What do you do when it's time for all the plumbers to be on break and your toilet backs up?

Solid point.

But despite his logic, the idea of an extended period of rest and recovery from work is an idea I cling too, even as someone who doesn't get an official "summer vacation."

I thought I would share some thoughts on how to "do business" in the summer, a few things that have helped me over the years.

How to "Summer Smart" as a Business Owner

👉 Give yourself a “summer version” of your routine.​
Your normal schedule may not work right now, and that’s okay. Instead of trying to operate exactly like you do in January, build a lighter version that focuses only on keeping the most important things moving so you don't lose momentum for the fall. Let the rest take a break.

👉 Use summer for behind-the-scenes work.​
Some of the most valuable business work can happen when your days are longer and less full. Summer can be a great time to organize inventory, clean up systems, update a few listings, or finally attack that doom pile.

👉 Plan ahead for fall while things are slower.​
Fall gets busy fast. If you can use slower summer weeks to think through promotions, inventory needs, email ideas, or upcoming projects, your future self will be very thankful.

👉 Let your kids be part of the process sometimes.​
Small businesses and family life naturally overlap. When my kids were little, they came along with me to the booth when I restocked and refreshed, then we would stop for ice cream on the way home. Or they would play in the yard while I painted in the garage. Those are still memories you are building, even if they aren't the "perfect" summer days.

👉 Pay attention to what feels unnecessarily hard.​
Summer creates space to notice things you’ve been tolerating during busier seasons. Maybe a revenue stream isn't producing the profit you need. Maybe a product line isn’t worth the effort anymore. Maybe you’re overdue for a shift. Use the slower summer to evaluate and cut out what needs to go.

Tips for Tagging Booth Inventory

If you're looking for a summer focus project, or maybe you are just starting out with your first antique booth, over on the blog I'm sharing all my tips for tagging your booth inventory.

From tag options to best practices, this post is full of helpful info.

Weekly Online Shop Restocks are Back

With the in-person Found Collection Sale in the books, my weekly website restocks are now up and running again.

This week, I added more finds from my England trip to TheFoundCollection.com, including some beautiful French oyster plates, a carved bread knife, and some beautiful vintage books.

As always, I appreciate you being here with me today. Everyone have a great start your summer or last week of school, wherever you may find yourself on the calendar. And I'll be back next week with more :)

Melanie Alexander Owner Lost & Found ​LostandFoundDecor.com​ Let's Stay Connected! ​​​​ ​