Summer is all about vacations and family time, but for business owners, it can also be a great time to generate new ideas. Sometimes a new location and a change of scenery can be just the thing to trigger a new solution to a problem. Other times, you might find inspiration from a novel experience or adventure. If you will approach every outing with an observer’s curiosity, you might be pleasantly surprised at the ideas that appear. Your next vacation could lead to new opportunities for your business.

Here are five places you might find new ideas if you pay attention:

1. Customer Service. Every vacation dining and shopping experience can give you new insights into how to treat a customer. Did you have a stellar experience that made you want to sing the praises of a particular clerk or waiter? Did you encounter sub-par service at the airport? At the rental car company? Look for lessons that you might apply to your own business.

2. Processes. If you spend your vacation at a Disney resort or another theme park you will have lots of opportunities to see great processes at work. You might experience Disney’s Fastpass system which has drastically reduced the frustration of waiting in line. Or you might buy movie tickets from Fandango - isn't it a great time saver when you purchase those $15 movie tickets online?How might your processes be restructured to eliminate customer frustrations? Maybe you can find a way to improve your checkout or billing process. 

3. Promotional offers. Pay attention to your own buying habits. Which promotional offers get your attention? What other offers do you observe as you shop in your vacation destination? Are there “buy one get one free offers” or “two for the price of one”?  You can bet retailers are testing different offers to see which ones are most effective. What new offers can you craft for your business? Decide how to measure results and then try different approaches to pricing your products or services.

4. Clubs/VIPs/Cards.  If you stay in a hotel, notice the benefits that are offered to special customers. Starwood guests get free night stays after a number of visits and can check in via a special line. Frequent travelers get special perks on most airlines – and business class passengers can go to the shorter security line for clearance. Isn’t it nice to be able to move to a special VIP line? How can you create an elite status for your customers or clients? 

5. Culture/Brand. Take note of the details that separate say a Denny’s restaurant from an Applebee’s or a Sonic from a Wendy’s. Then compare a Denny’s with a Westin hotel. Notice how each focus on the needs of their target market. For Denny’s it’s all about portion size and value pricing while the Westin focuses on high end comfort and exclusivity. You won’t see Denny’s investing in high end upholstery; neither will you see the Westin serving “Rooty Tooties” in their dining room. Look for brand ideas that you can apply to your business. 

If you have time left to sit by the pool, rather than reading another mystery novel, try reading a book on a subject that is new to you. Consider reading books on Improvisation, Writing, Psychology, Art, Mythology, Astronomy, Music or any other subject that sounds interesting. Stretch your brain. Ideas can come from anywhere when you have time to listen.