Summer Strategy: How I’m Adjusting My Microbakery for the Slower Season | Episode 84

mikalonte
2 days ago
3 min read

Summer brings a natural shift for many of us running microbakeries. Kids are home, markets feel different, the heat sets in, and our capacity—physically and mentally—changes too. If you’ve been feeling that shift, you’re not alone. In this post, I’m walking you through the exact adjustments I’m making this summer so I can continue to serve my customers while protecting my time and energy.

This isn’t about overhauling your entire business. It’s about small shifts that help you show up sustainably in a season that naturally invites us to slow down.

Products I’m Scaling Back (and Why)

First, I looked at what felt heavy or draining—and got honest about what could go.

Here’s what I’m scaling back on this summer:

No English muffins
No brownies
No cardamom buns
No sourdough cookies
No focaccia for porch pickups

These aren’t bad products. They’re just not essential for my summer rhythm. Removing them gives me more margin to focus on items that are efficient, freezer-friendly, or in high demand at the market.

My Go-To Summer Products

I’m leaning into products that feel easy, prep well in advance, and are popular this time of year.

Here’s what I’m keeping or emphasizing:

Classic sourdough loaves
Sandwich bread (for both markets and porch pickups)
Cinnamon rolls
Muffins (blueberry lemon and double chocolate chip)

These all freeze beautifully and can be made ahead of time. Muffins, for example, are simple to mix, scoop, and freeze unbaked—ready to bake fresh on market day without adding stress.

Shifting My Bake Rhythm

Instead of spreading myself thin, I’m planning to bake twice a month for porch pickups and commit to just two markets a month—probably the first and third Saturdays. This allows me to plan ahead and batch as much as possible without giving up flexibility for family or travel.

Some weeks I’ll do a Tuesday bake for porch pickups, other times I might batch everything Thursday and bake Friday. Either way, I’m working with more intention and fewer moving parts.

Porch Pickups: Simplifying the Menu

For porch pickups, I’m focusing on:

Loaves
Sandwich bread
Cinnamon rolls
Muffins

I’m offering these items only if I can batch them in advance. That way, even if I’m out of town or need a lighter week, I can still fulfill orders from the freezer.

Freezer Prep That Works

The key to making this summer strategy work is prepping in advance.

Here’s what I’m freezing:

Cinnamon rolls: unbaked, parbaked, or baked and frosted
Muffins: scooped and frozen raw or fully baked and wrapped
Sandwich bread: baked, cooled, sliced, and frozen

This gives me flexibility to serve customers even if I’m not physically in the kitchen every week.

Market Planning

At markets, I’m keeping it simple:

Fewer products
Bigger batches of what sells
Clear signage with QR codes for preorders

This keeps the prep light and the booth easy to run, even in the summer heat.

Protecting My Energy

The most important piece of this plan is honoring what’s realistic. Just because I could bake every week doesn’t mean I should. Summer is a season where I want to show up for my family, recharge a bit, and protect the joy I find in baking and serving.

So if you're feeling the need to slow down, you're not alone—and you don't need to apologize for it.

Final Thoughts

Your business can be successful and spacious. Your customers will still come back. The bread will still rise. And sometimes, pulling back just a little gives you the clarity and energy to grow again—on your terms.

If you’re thinking about adjusting your summer rhythm, I hope this gives you some practical ideas and permission to simplify.

Let me know if you’d like this turned into an email or YouTube description next—I’m here for it!

Resources & Links

Enrollment The Bread Winner Inner Circle is opening again on May 29! It'll fill fast! Join the waitlist to be the first to know when it opens! www.carolinebower.com/innercirclewaitlist
Join the Bread Winner Network: www.carolinebower.com/bwnetwork
Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including packaging, pans, and more here!
Follow me on Instagram for more microbakery tips: @carolinebower_sourdough
Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery!