06/09/2026
We are Matthew Robinson and Serena Kim. We have been married for almost five years on July 3. Here are some lessons that we learned about running a small husband-and-wife business.
1. We split our duties so that the division of our roles and responsibilities is clear. I (Serena) handle the marketing (a big amorphous task), supervise the four-acre gardens and anything botanical inside and out, and participate in human resources. Matthew handles everything financial, hires the tradesmen, designs the interiors of all the common areas and guest rooms, manages Jessica's at Swift House Inn, occasional sommelier and host, and serves as the 24-hour handyman. He is the heart of the human resources department. Wow, now that I see this list, I realize how hard Matthew works!!
2. We are forging a new story about the inn and who we are as a couple together. This has been a work in progress since we come from such different backgrounds. Matthew was born and raised in East Aurora, NY to English parents. He attended Harvard and went to business school in London, where he lived for ten years. He also has 30+ years of experience as a TV executive in L.A. It was in this role that he traveled the world and stayed at the finest hotels, learning what excellent hospitality is all about. Meanwhile, I was born and raised in California and hail from L.A.'s Koreatown. I have decades of experience as a music journalist, copywriter for Apple and Samsung, and made a great living as a NYC DJ for many years. I may not have stayed at the finest hotels in the world and eaten at the fanciest restaurants, but I know my way around a marketing brief and a social media caption. Together we make a pretty good team! Also, the story we are forging together is about being real about our together-story, putting our heart on the line in creating a business that respects the dignity and livelihoods of our employees, and in curating and crafting a beautiful space for our guests to celebrate important milestones or just enjoy the majesty of Vermont.
3. We have a day called Sanity Saturday. Even though I had to dash off a last-minute email about a glitch in Jessica's reservation system, and Matthew still had to work dinner service, we found a few hours on Saturday to drive to Dorset, poke around a consignment shop, eat a sandwich and come back to the Inn. Being intentional and committed to taking some time to ourselves means that we are also investing in our relationship, not just working around the clock to survive!
Well, that's our story. Please tell us yours! Or let us know any tips you might have for surviving as a mom-and-pop business.
