like to add bath salts and fizzies to our line.”
I nodded. “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
“Benjamin, I didn’t see your hand,” Mom said, though I could tell that she approved of my statements.
“Look closer, Mom, they’re both right here,” I said as I waved them in the air.
That got a chuckle from most of my family, but not my mother. “Are you finished with your tomfoolery? Kate has more to tell us.”
“I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try,” I said.
Kate grinned at me, but she cut it short as our mother returned her attention to the front.
She continued, “Making these products is in many ways similar to what we do now. We’ll go over the processes later, but initially, I’d like you all to approve a Spa Indulgence corner of the sales floor. I think a six-month test would be fair, and I’d like to get started on it immediately.”
She sat down in a nearby chair, and I could see the presentation had been a strain for her. Kate was wonderful one-on-one, but she was uncomfortable speaking in front of groups, even if she happened to be related to the entire audience.
I raised my hand. “I have some questions about profit margins on small runs in back and sales up here. Have you done any kind of financial breakdown on your proposal?”
Kate nodded. “I’ve done cost-benefit analyses on everything, and we can actually make more money on these new items than we do on soap.”
That got a few nods from the crowd. We all kept a careful watch on our business bottom line, and if anything could add to it, most of us would be in favor of it.
“How about the materials? What are we going to have to carry that we don’t already have?”
“We can get our needed supplies from John Labott,” Kate said as she nodded toward Louisa. “He’s giving us a very good deal on our materials.”
And why shouldn’t he, since he’d been dating Louisa for some time?
“Are there any other questions?” Kate asked.
“Where would you like to put it?” Mom asked sternly. She guarded the store’s layout with a vengeance, and I knew that would be the hardest part of Kate’s sale.
She stood and walked to the corner between the break room and the outer wall. It was the least desirable floor space in the shop. “We could put it right here.”
“Nonsense,” Mom said. “That would never work. It’s where I have the clearance section. Do you have any other ideas?”
“Not just yet,” Kate asked. “I wanted to see what you all thought of the basic idea first.”
“Very well,” Mom said. “If there are no other questions, we will vote. In order of your ages, come into the break room and fill out a ballot. Yes means you approve of the idea, no means the opposite. Any questions?”
I started to say something sarcastic, but I buried it when I saw the tension on Kate’s face.
No one else said anything either. “Let’s vote.”
The second Mom walked into the break room, my siblings gathered around Kate to congratulate her on her presentation.
Mom popped out a second later. “Benjamin? It’s your turn.”
I went into the break room and wrote yes in bold letters.
Five minutes later, we’d all voted, and Mom said, “I’ll be right back.”
She was as good as her word, but when she rejoined us, there was a stern look on her face. Kate’s expression died the second she saw it.
Mom announced, “We have a decision. Congratulations, Kate. You’ve got your space.”
We all celebrated with her until Mom held up one hand. “There’s just one problem, as I see it.”
“What’s that?” Kate asked, her enthusiasm tempered for a moment.
“Since the back area clearly won’t do, I’d like to propose we give your idea a fair trial and make room toward the front of the shop. Do you have any objections?”
For a second Kate was nine years old. She hugged Mom and said, “Thank you. Thank you all.”
We applauded, and Mom said, “I expect to see your layout before you touch a single
I nodded. “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
“Benjamin, I didn’t see your hand,” Mom said, though I could tell that she approved of my statements.
“Look closer, Mom, they’re both right here,” I said as I waved them in the air.
That got a chuckle from most of my family, but not my mother. “Are you finished with your tomfoolery? Kate has more to tell us.”
“I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try,” I said.
Kate grinned at me, but she cut it short as our mother returned her attention to the front.
She continued, “Making these products is in many ways similar to what we do now. We’ll go over the processes later, but initially, I’d like you all to approve a Spa Indulgence corner of the sales floor. I think a six-month test would be fair, and I’d like to get started on it immediately.”
She sat down in a nearby chair, and I could see the presentation had been a strain for her. Kate was wonderful one-on-one, but she was uncomfortable speaking in front of groups, even if she happened to be related to the entire audience.
I raised my hand. “I have some questions about profit margins on small runs in back and sales up here. Have you done any kind of financial breakdown on your proposal?”
Kate nodded. “I’ve done cost-benefit analyses on everything, and we can actually make more money on these new items than we do on soap.”
That got a few nods from the crowd. We all kept a careful watch on our business bottom line, and if anything could add to it, most of us would be in favor of it.
“How about the materials? What are we going to have to carry that we don’t already have?”
“We can get our needed supplies from John Labott,” Kate said as she nodded toward Louisa. “He’s giving us a very good deal on our materials.”
And why shouldn’t he, since he’d been dating Louisa for some time?
“Are there any other questions?” Kate asked.
“Where would you like to put it?” Mom asked sternly. She guarded the store’s layout with a vengeance, and I knew that would be the hardest part of Kate’s sale.
She stood and walked to the corner between the break room and the outer wall. It was the least desirable floor space in the shop. “We could put it right here.”
“Nonsense,” Mom said. “That would never work. It’s where I have the clearance section. Do you have any other ideas?”
“Not just yet,” Kate asked. “I wanted to see what you all thought of the basic idea first.”
“Very well,” Mom said. “If there are no other questions, we will vote. In order of your ages, come into the break room and fill out a ballot. Yes means you approve of the idea, no means the opposite. Any questions?”
I started to say something sarcastic, but I buried it when I saw the tension on Kate’s face.
No one else said anything either. “Let’s vote.”
The second Mom walked into the break room, my siblings gathered around Kate to congratulate her on her presentation.
Mom popped out a second later. “Benjamin? It’s your turn.”
I went into the break room and wrote yes in bold letters.
Five minutes later, we’d all voted, and Mom said, “I’ll be right back.”
She was as good as her word, but when she rejoined us, there was a stern look on her face. Kate’s expression died the second she saw it.
Mom announced, “We have a decision. Congratulations, Kate. You’ve got your space.”
We all celebrated with her until Mom held up one hand. “There’s just one problem, as I see it.”
“What’s that?” Kate asked, her enthusiasm tempered for a moment.
“Since the back area clearly won’t do, I’d like to propose we give your idea a fair trial and make room toward the front of the shop. Do you have any objections?”
For a second Kate was nine years old. She hugged Mom and said, “Thank you. Thank you all.”
We applauded, and Mom said, “I expect to see your layout before you touch a single
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