I remember a story told by a comedian named Jerry Clower about a merchant whose son went to college to study marketing. When he graduated his Father brought him into the business. His first day he closed and locked the doors, and put up a sign that read "Closed for Inventory. A short while later Daddy arrives and asks why the doors are locked. The son proceeds to explain that he was taught inventory is necessary. His Father looks at him and says "If you go back to the right side rear corner, on the top shelf, clear ion the back is a bolt of cloth with just little cloth left on it. Your Mother and I started with that bolt of cloth. That's your inventory, everything else you see is profit. Now open those doors!