Recently, nearly 300 of our technicians took a survey to share some of their favorite things about summer. At FlexTrades, one of our core values is to “Enjoy the Journey,” which encourages us to appreciate the moments during those warmer months. We believe that celebrating successes is essential, and celebrations usually involve great food and beverages.

Let’s explore some of the most popular summer foods and beverages based on that survey. We apologize in advance if this article triggers cravings for a backyard BBQ!

Favorite Summer Foods

We asked, “What are your favorite summer foods?”

Grilling, a timeless tradition, was the resounding favorite among our respondents, with 88% expressing their love for it. This comes as no surprise, as in a previous blog, I highlighted some of our technicians’ favorite summer activities, where grilling took the top spot. Grilling is incredibly versatile; you can have hot dogs ready to eat in under 10 minutes or slow-cook ribs all day until the meat falls off the bone. Personally, I enjoy grilling most of my sides as well. Have you ever tried grilling corn in the husk or large portobello mushrooms? It’s a culinary delight!

Fruits ranked second, with 44% of respondents savoring them during summer. Enjoying a cool, sweet fruit on a hot day can be incredibly refreshing. One favorite trick is freezing grapes for that extra chill and a touch of crunch.

Speaking of chill, frozen treats like ice cream and popsicles brought out a wave of nostalgia for almost 40% of our respondents. It’s great to have an excuse as a parent to chase down the ice cream truck again. I admit, I still go for the Ninja Turtle popsicle every time. Did you know there’s a National Ice Cream Day each year in July?

No summer barbeque is complete without potato salad and corn on the cob, each having about 29% of respondents’ votes. To this day, I have yet to find a better potato salad than the one my grandma makes during the summer.

Finally, an honorable mention goes to seafood, which had the most write-in responses. Some of the responses included fried fish, crab legs, and seafood boils. The most unique seafood dish mentioned was Banku with Tilapia, a traditional Ghanaian dish. I found this recipe. I think I need to give that a try.

Favorite Summer Beverages

We inquired, “On a hot summer day, after work or on a day off, what are your favorite things to drink?”

Water was the clear favorite, with almost 74% of respondents choosing it. Water is essential, and our technicians, being some of the top skilled tradespeople in America, understand the importance of staying hydrated. According to the Mayo Clinic, men should drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluid, while women should drink 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluid daily.

Iced tea secured the second spot with 38% of respondents. Considering many of our technicians come from southern states, I was somewhat surprised that this number wasn’t higher! Nonetheless, one of my favorite written responses was, “My famous summer tea.”

Beer came in third, with 31% of respondents enjoying it. A cold brew after a long day at work or on a warm summer evening just feels right. If you’re into craft breweries, our traveling work can take you all over the country where you might find your new favorite pint!

Sodas, referred to as “pop” by some and “coke” by others, had about 23% of respondents’ preferences. These sugary drinks count towards your daily fluid intake, but they aren’t as healthy as water, tea, or coffee.

Conclusion

So, here’s to the joys of grilling, the sweetness of fruits, the coolness of frozen treats, and the myriad of beverages that quench our thirst. Our technicians have spoken, and their rankings encompass the essence of what they love about summer.

Keep an eye out for at least one more blog based on this survey in the coming weeks. Enjoy your summer to the fullest! 

Core Value: Enjoy the Journey – Favorite Summer Activities

At FlexTrades, we hold our Core Values dear. We strive to embody these values in our daily lives, both during work hours and off the clock. One of our cherished core values is “embrace the journey,” a reminder to pause and appreciate our roots and the remarkable progress we’ve made on our journey. We welcome any reason to celebrate, and we’re committed to having a great time throughout.

We recently reached out to our skilled technicians, seeking insights into how they “embrace the journey” during the hot summer months. We received nearly 300 responses to the question: “What are your favorite summer activities on your day off or during vacations?” Here’s a glimpse into the summer pastimes that our FlexTrades technicians hold close to their hearts.

Favorite Summer Activities

Grilling was the top response with 61% of respondents. That makes sense, we all need to eat! I love hearing the grill sizzle with a cool drink in one hand, and my trusty tongs in the other. It’s even better when I’m cooking for a group of friends or family, and I can fill every square inch of that grill with meats and veggies!

Road trips were a close second with 57% of respondents saying this is one of their favorite activities. There’s something special about driving across the country. Visiting new towns, taking a detour for an attraction, and meeting new people along the way can make a lot of great memories. In fact, many FlexTrades technicians see our project-based work as a bonus; it gives them a chance to take a road trip to a new place on our dime.

Fishing came in third place with nearly 50% of respondents. I know we have at least one technician who is a serious fisherman. He’ll pick and choose his next project based on what bodies of water are nearby. On at least one occasion he turned down a higher paying project to be closer to a body of water he just had to cast into. Now that’s dedication!

About one-third of our technicians called hiking, camping, or concerts one of their favorite summer activities. As with fishing above, many of our techs choose to work at FlexTrades because they can travel on our dime and enjoy their favorite pastime in places they’ve never been.

We also had 20% of respondents write in answers. Here are some of the most common answers:

  • Motorsports, which isn’t surprising since most technicians have a much higher mechanical aptitude than the average person! This included off-roading with rock crawlers and ATVs, drag racing, demolition derbies, riding motorcycles, and working on project cars.
  • Playing outdoor sports, specifically golf, and indoor sports like billiards, poker, or video games.
  • Spending time with family, friends, and beloved pets.
  • Being on or in the water including boating, beach days, and even scuba diving.

Conclusion

The summer activities our technicians cherish are incredibly diverse, and this blog post only scratches the surface. Stay tuned because our survey explored additional questions and gathered responses that we’re eager to delve into in future blogs.

No matter what you’re up to or where your summer journey takes you, always make room to “embrace the journey” along the way.

FlexTrades recently assigned one of our skilled Tool/Mold Repair Technicians, Kelly, to assist a steel processing client. At the beginning of the assignment, the client was facing a significant issue with a 39% downtime in their production due to mold repair inefficiencies. Over a span of 4 months, Kelly made remarkable progress by reducing this downtime to 19%. During the remainder of his 8-month tenure, Kelly continued to make impressive improvements, ultimately achieving a remarkable reduction in downtime to just 13%. This substantial enhancement in productivity can be attributed to Kelly’s multi-faceted abilities, including efficient mold repair, as well as his capacity to train and oversee eight less-experienced mold technicians within the client’s workforce.

Learn more about how FlexTrades Tradespeople can help your downtime.