Like all small businesses one of the challenges is keeping good help. I have been blessed for a few years that one of my employees has come in three days a week to help with shipping. But she is about to completely be an empty nester with her youngest son graduating from college in the Spring. Friday she gave me the news that in February she is going to hand in her key.

These things come in bunches as coming back from camp I also lost two 1/week helpers that would take pictures etc leave. At some point you can run a lean operation but that is not my goal. I'd like to have 3 part time folks to get more inventory through the pipeline and listed. Instead I'm doing almost all the work now and that leaves very little time for anything else (videos,social media, TORs).

I've had all kinda people work for me! My first employee was a recently emigrated Filipino woman who lived across the street. From there I had various teenage children of church members and college kids. One of the mom's in my Cub Scout den became a long time employee. One of the folks that just left was my postal carrier who was so intrigued by the operation that she moonlighted for me on her day off. So it's been an interesting run operating a very small business. So far I've only regretted two hires so I've got a pretty good batting average.

On eBay I have 220 live auctions with some great OA neckerchiefs ending tonight. My biggest run is of RWS and SAPs. I've also mixed in some interesting event patches that might have some interest. On my SanteeswapperStore account there area 61 auctions all focused on neckerchiefs. There you can find Philmont contingent, troop and Jamboree issues.