Lauren Lyons has her dream job.She owns The Patent Bow Boutique in Dunedin and Safety Harbor.WATCH: Local businesses look for community support to make it through the summer months Local businesses look for community support to make it through the summer monthsMy dad always wondered why I wanted to be in fashion. And its not only because I love clothes, and putting different pieces together, but its the psychology of it and making a woman feel beautiful and confident Its my most favorite thing to do, said Lauren Lyons.However, its getting harder."During the tourist season here where we live, we only have February, March and April. Thats really it, said Lyons. While summers are always slow for most local businesses, Lyons told Tampa Bay 28, it has been difficult all year.This year has been really hard, even during season a lot of us did not make our numbers, said Lyons.With rising costs on everyday expenses and people tightening up their budgets, this summer has been a struggle.I hate to even admit this on the news but we did $18 on Sunday and that didnt even pay for the woman I have working here, it didnt pay for the product I have. It doesnt pay for the air, the lights, said Lyons.Shes had to reduce hours this summer.Because no one comes to shop, said Lyons.Allison Bernardi, owner of Hazel + Dot gift shop in Tampa, has also had to cut back some on hours and staffing recently.I work a lot in the summer because Im free labor, said Bernardi.In the years since Bernardi opened her businesses, its not unusual for things to slow down in the summer months.Summer months are always very slow in general for retail. In Tampa in particular, I think everyone wants to escape the heat and kind of go out of town, so people are busy traveling, and it really becomes kind of a ghost town around here, said Bernardi.However, she has noticed a trend.I would say definitely were seeing a consistent slowdown over the last couple of years, said Bernardi.While shopping local may not be top of mind for most people right now, business owners are relying on us to keep the lights on.I always tell people if you want to be here at Christmas buying all the fun things that you are used to buying at that time of year, you really do have to support in the summer because we cant do both, said Bernardi.People still have birthdays and you know there are still occasions and its definitely important to support small businesses. I know it can be easy to think to go on Amazon at the last second but your small businesses are here, she added.We really do depend on our locals. Our locals are our bread and butter. Our tourists are just anything thats on top, said Lyons.Local businesses across Tampa Bay are hoping the community will show up this summer, so small shops dont have to shut down.We do really, really, really, pray and hope that our local community will support us, said Lyons.Business owners encourage people to consider shopping local throughout the summer months, even if its just buying something small or telling a friend about your favorite local shop.Every purchase helps us. Even if you think I dont want to just go in and buy a card, youre still making that decision to come into our store and purchase something. We appreciate everything. Even if you just come in to look and maybe next time you remember that you saw something here. We just want you in our stores, said Bernardi.The Patent Bow also has a website so people can shop online this summer. ...read more read less