You are correct, the store could not support the cost of a partner, or even a full-time employee. For many years I operated as a steep discounter, my margins were too thin. When my daughter came on board, I had to raise prices and margins to cover her salary, and I have no regrets doing so. My expertise is worth something, I didn't have to be the best price in the country on product. People would often ask "How come my local dealer is so much higher in price?" Well, they had higher margins and the owner probably wasn't out there in the parking lot unloading trucks.....

Covid changed things entirely, orders were pouring in and for the first time there was decent money in the bank. Sarah didn't want the business, a few months after she left i had a mini-stroke, and that's all she wrote!