National Spouses Day happens on January 26th each year. It celebrates the bond between two people and sets aside time for couples to show each other just how much they are appreciated.

But what happens when your spouse is also your business partner? It’s estimated that around 1.4 million businesses in the US are run by a husband-and-wife team. Co-owners of Top of the Hill Quality Produce & Meats, and marriage partners Damu and Jackie Maples, share the ups and downs of owning a small business together.

One thing you’ll notice right away when watching their video is how they are not afraid to be their authentic selves: hey, that was Merriam-Webster’s 2023 Word of the Year. In a world of artificial intelligence, influencers, and questionable news, it’s refreshing to see a couple modeling authenticity.

Damu brings up another important aspect of running a business with your spouse: teamwork. “Without the teamwork between both of us, it would almost be impossible”. Sometimes, this means working opposite shifts and having different days off, but they always try their very best to balance that with special outings and family time. 

As a result, there are both touching moments and humorous moments as they talk about teamwork, family, and the blood sweat, and tears of business operations. All it takes is to walk through the doors of their store in Renton, Washington, and you'll sense the dedication to their loyal customers and employees, as well as to each other. 

So as their way of celebrating National Spouses Day, they’ve taken the time to give you a little behind-the-scenes peak of their partnership together, both in running their store and in their marriage. 

They hope that it inspires you to show appreciation to your spouse, not in gift-giving, but in spending quality time together.