According to this post: https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/we_lose_money_on_every_sale_but_make_it_up_on_volume https://www.barrypopik.com

According to this post: https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/we_lose_money_on_every_sale_but_make_it_up_on_volume https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/we_... the original use of the joke/phrase goes back to at least 1933 and likely further.