I'm open 7 days a week because I don't feel closing down a week day is better than being open less hours per day. Often times I end up stealing my competitors customers because they are closed and we are open that day.
As for forums etc. I own the local forum
I'm active on the local facebook groups, local fish club etc. This has all been very worth it.
As for my labor costs. Assuming I'm not working the store myself. I have to turn $40 in product to break even. For the past couple of years I have been open the extra hours. And it always at least broke even. What it also does is break down the employees though. Staying till 8pm, closing up the shop at 8:20 to 8:30pm and then the drive home. I myself wasn't getting home till after 9pm. This was stressing myself and the employees. With the reduced hours it's like we're on vacation. Mood is better, employees are selling better etc.
What I can accomplish in 1.5 hours without standing in front of the public astounds me. Plus just because the retail store is only open limited hours. I answer emails 24/7. Also I'm at the airport etc a lot.
This week I went to the airport on Monday. About a 2 hour round trip. So I leave at 9am to be at the shop to start opening at 11am. I'm also going to the airport tonight. Midnight run. So Leave at 11pm, get the fish, go to the shop, put fish away for about 40 minutes. Then drive home. In bed at about 2am. I'll do this same run Sunday night as well.
Unfortunately with my business of live goods. It is demanding on time as everything is time sensitive. People say so is ice cream... Except you can put that in a refrigerated truck. I can't put fish in a heated truck. they'll eventually run out of oxygen. So it's always time sensitive.