Tag: summer

Selling Smarter, Not Harder: Why AI is Resellers’ Best Ally This Summer
Image credit: Unsplash

Summer can be a tough season for online sellers. Shoppers are outdoors, vacations disrupt buying patterns, and engagement dips across platforms. But for many resellers, tools powered by AI and automation are helping them weather the “summer slump” and stay profitable.

According to eBay’s 2024 Small Business Report, 42% of U.S.-based resellers see a dip in revenue between June and August. To maintain sales velocity, more sellers are leaning on tech solutions to keep listings active, competitive, and visible.

Combatting the Summer Slowdown

“Summer tends to be the most unpredictable quarter,” says Michael Chierchio, founder of Sidekick Tools. “Buyers get distracted, and sellers burn out from trying to manage every detail manually.”

Tools like Sidekick allow sellers to automate:
- Seasonal markdowns based on calendar triggers
- Cross-platform relisting of slow-moving inventory
- Optimized pricing adjustments tied to supply-and-demand patterns
These automated workflows are designed to help sellers stay visible without overextending themselves—a crucial balance during slower seasons.

How AI is Personalizing the Reselling Game

Generic, static listings don’t cut it anymore. Today’s buyers want tailored experiences and fast responses. AI helps resellers adapt by:
- Auto-generating descriptions with tone matching
- Analyzing buyer intent to suggest promotions
- Recommending bundle options based on past purchase data
A report from McKinsey found that businesses using AI to personalize content and pricing saw a 10–15% boost in customer satisfaction and a 20% increase in repeat purchases. This can be especially helpful for sellers juggling hundreds of listings across platforms.

“The smartest sellers aren’t just working harder—they’re building systems that work for them,” Chierchio explains. “AI helps you understand patterns that would take hours to track manually.”

Saving Time, Reducing Burnout

Many full-time and side-hustle resellers cite time management as their biggest challenge. According to a 2024 survey by Poshmark, over 60% of sellers spend more than 20 hours a week managing listings and logistics. That’s where automation tools become a lifeline.

Platforms like Sidekick Tools, which offer bulk listing edits, crosslisting with one click, and automated inventory syncing, can save users up to 10 hours per week on average.

“The more you automate, the more you can focus on high-value activities like sourcing better inventory, improving your photos, or creating content,” says Chierchio.

Looking Ahead: Technology as a Business Partner

Reselling is no longer just about finding a deal and flipping it. It’s become a data-driven industry where speed, presentation, and pricing matter more than ever. Sellers who embrace AI and automation aren’t just keeping up—they’re outpacing their competition.

As Chierchio sums up, “Success in this space comes down to consistency. If tech can help you stay visible and active—even when life gets busy or sales slow down—then you’re always moving forward.” For sellers aiming to make reselling a reliable income stream, the tools are there. The question is—will you let them work for you?

Written in partnership with Tom White
July 3, 2025
Sip Into Summer: The Rise of Wellness Teas for Warm-Weather Hydration

Image credit: Pexels

As the summer months roll around, they usher in a time for rest and relaxation. For many, summer is synonymous with days spent by the pool, relaxing at the beach, or taking leisurely strolls to soak up the sun. With all of these outdoor activities comes a distinct need: to stay hydrated. While water is good and fine, it doesn’t exactly scream “vacation,” does it? To this end, many people love to treat themselves to beverages like lemonade or iced coffee more frequently during the summer months. These months are also peak season for refreshing, wellness-driven teas. Tea is becoming a staple for health-conscious consumers, from herbal blends to iced adaptogens.

Why Tea Is a Summer Favorite

There are immense benefits to drinking tea in the summer. While other popular summer drink choices like lemonade or iced coffee could ultimately leave you feeling more parched, tea is both delicious and beneficial to your health. A good tea provides hydration, stress relief, digestion support, and cooling effects. Trends such as cold-brewing, caffeine-free blends, and the incorporation of functional ingredients such as mint, lemon balm, rooibos, and ginger have made tea even more customizable and healthy for each individual drinker.

The Versatility of Herbal Blends

Certain teas work exceptionally well over ice, such as rooibos-based stress-relief teas or bright lemony blends that cool the body and calm the mind. Teas can be easily turned into spritzers or infused waters, which are perfect for sipping when sitting out in the hot summer sun.

Full Leaf Tea Co. is one such company that offers a variety of summer-friendly teas. The brand offers numerous pleasing summer-suited drinking options from their caffeine-free Relief Stress Tea, which is rooibos-based, to cooling herbs like mint and lemon balm.

“I think Beauty and Stress would be my two go-tos for summer… they’re really pretty in the teas themselves, but also the fact that, you know, it’s stressful,” said Matthew Hammonds of Full Leaf Tea Co.

The brand’s key products include Beauty and Stress teas, Sampler Box, gift packs with two teas, and 30-count teabags. Fortunately, recent tariffs have had a minimal impact on the business, allowing them to continue to bring these refreshing drinks to consumers at affordable prices.

Ideas for Iced Tea Rituals

One of the true joys of tea in the summertime is making a tradition out of it. There are easy, efficient, and effective ways to turn the act of making summer iced tea into a regular ritual at your home. By simply purchasing a glass pitcher, adding your own choice of fresh herbs or fruit, and experimenting with blends that suit morning energy boosts or evening wind-downs, you can make delicious tea a part of your regular summer routine.

Staying Hydrated This Summer

Wellness teas are becoming a go-to beverage during the summer for hydration, relaxation, and seasonal health support, especially as consumers seek caffeine-free, natural alternatives to sugary drinks. Tea has long been thought of as a warm beverage for cold-weather months. However, it is so much more than that. Tea is a versatile, nourishing, and refreshing companion for summer, perfect for picnics, porch lounging, or post-workout hydration.

May 22, 2025
LA Grocery Chain Releases ‘Sunscreen Smoothie’ for Summer

Image credit: Unsplash

Erewhon, the upscale grocery chain known for steep prices, celebrity endorsements, and health-conscious smoothie collaborations, has recently launched its latest summer sensation, the Vacation “Sunscreen” Smoothie. Erewhon enjoys a widespread market presence for its high-profile concoctions like Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie, which became a permanent menu item. Now this supermarket chain has partnered with the viral sunscreen brand “Vacation” to bring this unique seasonal beverage this summer.

Inspired by Classic Sunscreen lotion by Vacation, which is renowned for its nostalgic aroma—a blend of coconut, banana, chlorine, and swimsuit lycra—this new smoothie is prepared with an array of tropical ingredients. The coconut-heavy base of the smoothie is created by a mix of coconut water, coconut milk, coconut soft serve, coconut meat, and coconut whipped cream. The flavor is further complemented by banana, aloe vera, Tahitian vanilla, blue spirulina, and a touch of sea salt. This made Erewhon’s Vacation Smoothie a drink that is both a tribute to coconut and a refreshing summer treat.

Compared to Erewhon standards like the famous Bieber’s 20-ounce drink at $19, this Sunscreen Smoothie is surprisingly affordable with a price tag of $9 for a 12-ounce pack. Earlier the pricing of Erewhon’s products has often sparked discussions among its patrons. One Redditor even hilariously suggested that the prices at Erewhon’s stores might be a result of Lucille Bluth’s fictional whims from Arrested Development. Such light-hearted speculations have often reflected the general curiosity and sometimes disbelief among people about the supermarket’s cost structure. However, the price of the Vacation Smoothie is likely to bring more positive attention to the brand as the drink is made affordable for the masses.

The Sunscreen Smoothie will be available at all 10 Erewhon locations throughout June. Meanwhile, the brand Vacation is promoting the smoothie as a beverage designed to elevate the relaxing experience of their Classic Lotion. Vacation took to Instagram to highlight the smoothie as a refreshing blend and playful version of their sunscreen’s beloved scent.

Initial reviews on TikTok have revealed mixed reactions among customers, with many saying that banana is the dominant flavor in the drink. Some even expressed skepticism about the palatability of a sunscreen-inspired drink. However, Vacation’s Founding Partner Lach Hall has embraced the curiosity among customers, stating, “People have been telling us that [Vacation] ‘smells good enough to eat.’ We had too much fun working with the smoothie kings themselves to create a drinkable and delicious iteration of Classic Lotion sunscreen.”

The launch of the Sunscreen Smoothie has marked a new chapter in Erewhon’s rich history of innovative and often quirky product range. The collaboration between Erewhon and Vacation highlights the knack of two giant supermarket brands to create new products that not only create a buzz in the market but also reflect their commitment to delivering unique, health-conscious options to the clientele.

As summer is in full swing, those near an Erewhon can enjoy the opportunity to experience the Vacation “Sunscreen” Smoothie firsthand until the end of June. Coupled with a bottle of Vacation’s Classic Lotion, this summer treat is spreading a quintessential summer vibe, perfect for social media snapshots.

Erewhon’s latest Vacation smoothies blend nostalgia and novelty in a beverage that is luring customers eager to soak in the essence of summer. As the month progresses, it will be interesting to see whether the Sunscreen Smoothie can successfully capture the market to enjoy the iconic status of its predecessors at Erewhon’s stores.

June 13, 2024