"We're closing - I'm having surgery" How unprofessional is this? They're customers, not friends. Although I assume that her only customers are friends who take pity on her so maybe not such a big deal. If I need to have surgery I wouldn't call all my clients and tell them about it. I'd tell them I'll be unavailable for a little while. That's all they need, or want, to know. Unless I were a professional victim who is dealing in sympathy first and my products are only incidental to that.