Chapter 4 - THE LABEL
Claire eventually printed her own labels.
MORGAN ROADSIDE PANTRY.
Small.
Simple.
Yellow border.
Daniel’s handwriting inspired the font.
Margaret hated them.
“You’re commercializing his name.”
Claire stared.
“You sell products under Morgan House.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“I built Morgan House.”
“And Daniel helped build this.”
Margaret’s jaw tightened.
“My son did not build a roadside stand.”
“No.”
Claire nodded.
“He built recipes with me.”
That distinction mattered.
Claire never claimed Daniel founded a business.
She claimed history.
Margaret wanted history only when she controlled the packaging.
Then came the contract.
Morgan House offered Claire a three-year supply agreement.
Guaranteed minimum orders.
Better wholesale pricing.
Good opportunity.
Until Claire read the exclusivity clause.
She could not sell substantially similar:
jellies,
preserves,
seasoning blends,
or candied nuts
within sixty miles of any Morgan House retail partner.
That would effectively kill the roadside stall.
Claire refused.
Margaret called.
“You’re being emotional.”
“I’m being literate.”
“You’d make more money.”
“Maybe.”
“Then what is the problem?”
“I don’t want to disappear inside your brand.”
Silence.
Then Margaret said:
“You are making jars beside a highway.”
May you like
Claire answered:
“And you keep buying them.”
