Boutique Chat

Last week, you heard me talk about the perfect process to follow for in-person sales. Today, I'm breaking down how to make the perfect online sale. Listen in to hear the key steps to follow to give online customers a memorable sales experience. Resources:   Facebook Ads Masterclass 

Today we’re joined by April Rector, owner of The Light House Boutique. In this episode, she shares her entrepreneurial journey, from the challenges of launching her business amidst the pandemic to its eventual success. She also offers practical insights into running a boutique during uncertain times, including the importance of perseverance, strategic planning with SOPs, and effective email marketing for customer engagement.  Resources:   Boutique Summit 2024  ------  April Rector: Instagram  The Light House Boutique: Website | Facebook | Instagram  -----  Ashley Alderson: Instagram  The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube  Small Business Marketing Handbook  Hubventory | Wholesale 

How often have you gone into a store and heard someone immediately ask: "Can I help you with anything?" Asking this question right off the bat is the kiss of death—and a common mistake you should make sure your staff avoids at all costs. Listen in to learn what they should be doing instead to close the perfect sale in your brick-and-mortar store.

Curious about Facebook ads and eager to harness their potential for your business? Look no further! In this episode, we're diving into the dynamic world of Facebook advertising with our expert, Jeff Fenn, Director of Marketing. Whether you're new to Facebook ads or hoping to level up, Jeff unpacks the ins and outs of Facebook ads, from debunking common misconceptions to tackling budget concerns.  Resources:   Facebook Ads Masterclass  Boutique Hub Black  ----  Ashley Alderson: Instagram  The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube  Boutique Summit 2024  Small Business Marketing Handbook  Hubventory | Wholesale  

We've all heard people say "cash is king." But more important than cash—and what leads to more cash—is culture. Listen in to learn why figuring out your company's culture is the key to long-term success. Ashley Alderson: Instagram The Boutique Hub: Instagram

In the intricate process of garment production, there is a lot of complexity that often goes unnoticed. Joining us today is Philippa Comfort from Creative Culture Consulting, sharing her journey into the industry and revealing the nuances of garment production that many overlook. Philippa explains the behind-the-scenes realities of production, the crucial decisions influencers face when starting a brand, and the importance of careful sourcing to ensure quality and specialization. Resources:   Wholesale Courses: Brand Owner Basics | Apparel Manufacturing Masterclass | Tradeshow Marketing Handbook | Wholesale Marketing Handbook  Ashley Alderson: Instagram  The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube  Boutique Summit 2024  Small Business Marketing Handbook  Boutique Hub Black  Hubventory.com  Join the Community  

Welcome to another Five Minute Friday episode! Today we're talking about the key things to measure in your business. Download the Retail Acronyms Sheet

Jincy Wallace, the dynamic Boutique Boss and Owner of Jincy’s Southern Change, joins the show to offer a fresh perspective on boutique ownership. In this episode, Jincy shares the lessons she learned about understanding her ideal customer's demographics, personality, and style preferences, as well as the importance of personalized customer experiences and effective feedback loops in refining her boutique's offerings. Listen in to learn about her approach to identifying emerging trends, how she translates data into actionable decisions, and how to determine optimal launch timings for sustained success in the industry. Resources:   Jincy Wallace: Instagram  Jincy’s Southern Exchange: Instagram | Website |  Facebook | TikTok    Ashley Alderson: Instagram  The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube  Boutique Summit 2024  Small Business Marketing Handbook  Boutique Hub Black  Hubventory.com 

Welcome to our new Five Minute Friday series, where I'll be sharing bite-sized actionable tips to help you grow your business! In this inaugural episode, I'm breaking down the major retail acronyms every retailer should know—no matter what kind of business you're in. Download the Retail Acronyms Sheet

Welcome to Season 6! This season, we're shaking things up. It's time to get real and authentic because life is too short for anything less. We're diving deep into the world of boutique ownership, exploring the challenges, triumphs, and everything in between.  I'm here to listen to your stories, your questions, and your struggles, and together, we'll find solutions that can transform not just your business, but your life. From seasoned boutique owners to newcomers in the industry, we'll be featuring a diverse range of guests who will share their insights, experiences, and strategies for success.  Get ready for interviews, mastermind sessions, and expert advice that will inspire and empower you to take your boutique to new heights. Resources:  Ashley Alderson: Instagram The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube Boutique Summit 2024 2024 Boutique Boss Planner Small Business Marketing Handbook Boutique Hub Black Hubventory.com

 Sara Burks, our director of partnerships and education at The Boutique Hub, and I go over Boutique Owner Myths Debunked in this Season 2 episode — which was the topic of one of our breakout sessions at the 2019 Boutique Summit. No matter where you’re at in your business journey, it's always good to go back to the play book. We cover loads of useful info, such as the importance of knowing your numbers, moving inventory, and so much more! Join us at the 2024 Boutique Summit for sessions on topics such as productivity habits, leveraging organic marketing, live sales best practices, how to boost foot traffic, resiliency in any economy and so much more! Learn more and sign up HERE. RSVP for our next Retail Bootcamp session HERE. I so hope you enjoy this bonus episode From The Vault. It's one that is definitely worth hearing again — and taking notes! For show notes & resources see below or click here. First released June 2019.  Resources: Ashley Alderson: Instagram The Boutique Hub:  Website | Fa

“It’s so common today to hear the word busy. Everybody is busy. But the question is, are you busy doing the right things?” In this episode from Season 3, I talk about how I’ve learned to think like a CEO, prioritize my time and set necessary boundaries, and I outline my top tips for How to be More Productive. I cover the three questions you need to ask yourself every day, how to implement time blocking, and what daily habits can transform you into a more productive business owner. But that’s not all, tune in to hear the details! I so hope you enjoy this bonus episode From The Vault. It's one that is definitely worth hearing again — and taking notes! For show notes & resources visit the episode webpage below or click here. First released October 2020.  Resources: Ashley Alderson: Instagram The Boutique Hub:  Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube 2024 Boutique Boss Planner Boutique Summit 2024 Small Business Marketing Handbook Small Business Hiring Handbook  Brand O

As I wrap up Season 5 of the podcast, I want to talk about where we are in the industry, where there’s opportunity right now, how to approach marketing your business in 2024 ... but mainly I want to talk about Taylor Swift! Whether you like her music or not, you can’t deny that Taylor Swift has had a monumental economic impact. The Eras Tour alone had an estimated $5 billion impact. It’s also estimated that Taylor's added an additional $300 million to the Kansas City Chiefs franchise in terms of merch sales and media deals. So as our industry is changing and customer spending habits are shifting, we can look at how our customers are spending money, specifically around Taylor Swift, and ask ourselves, what can we learn from it and how can we apply it to marketing our businesses in 2024? People don’t want to just buy products, they want to buy experiences, they want to be a part of something, they want to feel good. And that’s something Taylor has done such a great job at offering her fans. Looking at her succe

I’m so excited to welcome back to the show one of my favorite guests and BFFs, Kelly Helfman, President of MAGIC. And we have some BIG news to share with you! Of course, I first get the inside scoop on emerging trends and what we can expect at the upcoming MAGIC events in Las Vegas, New York and Nashville. But Kelly and I spend most of the episode talking about our big announcement … a new partnership! The Boutique Hub is partnering with MAGIC in a much bigger way than ever before to help you Discover More MAGIC in 2024! The Hub will have a booth on the show floor at every MAGIC event throughout the year, and our team will be there to greet you, provide resources, answer questions, and take new buyers on our BFF tour. Join The Hub team at MAGIC to connect with the community, discover your next best-sellers, uncover exclusive trend forecasting, build business insights and so much more! MAGIC | Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn  Your Guide to Vegas Apparel Markets February 2024 Register for M

This week I am talking to one of my favorite people in the industry who’s advised me, encouraged me, brainstormed with me … and pushed me to eat more than just meatballs! In addition to being a good friend and foodie, Sam has worked in every single corner of the fashion industry and has such amazing insight into how things work and where there’s opportunity. Design, production, marketing, sales, customer service – you name it, he’s done it! Sam has launched multiple apparel lines, worked in the corporate sector, and now runs his own consulting firm, State of Fashion / YZE Agency.  In this episode, Sam and I cover it all, talking about the trials and tribulations of wholesale production, establishing a brand, marketing strategies and tradeshows, as well as the entrepreneurial mindset and how to persevere through hardship.   Resources: Brand Owner Basics Masterclass Tradeshow Marketing Handbook  Wholesale Marketing Handbook State of Fashion: Website | info@stateoffashion.com | 213.514.5888 Ashley Alderson: 

On this episode of the #BoutiqueChat Podcast, Andrea Sager joined me for Legal Tips for Small Businesses. As an attorney and former boutique owner, Andrea knows all the legal information small business owners may overlook. I chatted with her in season 3 about how to choose the right entity, how to avoid infringement, and trademarks. Bring a pencil and paper for this episode because Andrea addresses all the critical legal tips small business owners need to know about!  I so hope you enjoy this bonus episode From The Vault. It's one that is definitely worth hearing again — and taking notes! For show notes & resources visit the episode webpage below or click here. First released November 2020.  Resources: Andrea Sager: Instagram The Legalpreneur: Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube Ashley Alderson: Instagram The Boutique Hub:  Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube 2024 Boutique Boss Planner Boutique Summit 2024 Small Business Marketing Handbook Boutique Hub Black Hubventory.c

Today we’re talking all things market – what sets regional markets apart from national shows, the benefits of both, the importance of attending market, and tips for success while there. In addition to being the owner and founder of Cedar and Cypress Designs, my friend Tara Thorn is also on the board at the Minneapolis Mart, which holds six annual shows and is considered the number one regional mart in the country. Tara shares how MPLS helped grow her business and the unique opportunities it provides for both buyers and brands. Resources:  2024 Trade Show Calendar How to Register for Market 5 Tips for Attending Wholesale Markets as a Boutique Owner   Attending Apparel Markets: Tips from Boutique Owners  Cedar and Cypress Designs: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest  Minneapolis Mart: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter   Ashley Alderson: Instagram The Boutique Hub:  Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube Boutique Summit 2024 2024 Boutique Boss Planner Small Bu

I reflected on some of my personal experiences as a business owner in this solo episode on Season 3. When I started to look backward through the evolution of The Hub, I identified five steps that I think we took to grow our business and that I have seen mirrored in other businesses.  I call them the 5 Steps for Scaling from Entrepreneur to CEO, and in this episode, I talk through them in detail, focusing on growth mindset versus fixed mindset, setting hard boundaries, building systems, how to create a better culture within your team, and how to properly allocate your time as a CEO.  I so hope you enjoy this bonus episode From The Vault. It's one that is definitely worth hearing again — and taking notes! For show notes & resources visit the episode webpage below or click here. First released July 2020.  Resources: Ashley Alderson: Instagram The Boutique Hub:  Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube 2024 Boutique Boss Planner Boutique Summit 2024 Small Business Marketing Ha

Diversifying sources of revenue, building a personal brand, social media marketing and running a business through different seasons of life – Taylor and I talk about it all in this episode!  The founder of The Tiny Closet, Taylor Jones McClellan is back on the podcast to update us on her life and business. Since last being on the show in Season 2, Taylor has been busy! She’s gotten married, become a mom, moved storefronts and started several other businesses.   We talk about how The Tiny Closet has evolved throughout the last seven years, her evolution as a business owner and boss, adapting to a changing industry, how to find new channels of income, breaking into wholesale, and the ins and outs of social media , among other things! Resources:  Taylor Jones McClellan: Instagram The Tiny Closet: Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest Ashley Alderson: Instagram The Boutique Hub:  Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube Boutique Summit 2024 2024 Boutique Boss Planner

In this episode, I was joined by our retail professor Sara Burks to talk about the 2020 Retail Bootcamp and go through our 12 Crucial Tips for Boutique Owner Success that were a key focus of the course. Retail Bootcamp isn’t just for those who feel their business is failing; your business will always have areas to improve on and grow. Retail is shifting and expanding every day, it’s time to be prepared. After today's podcast, you will be astounded by all aspects of your business you may have overlooked. Let’s start transforming your business today!  Our biggest annual educational program at The Hub is Retail Bootcamp (think college for boutique owners!) Sara and I do live coaching sessions, plus we’re joined by more than 50 industry experts. Enrollment is now open for 2024! Click the link below to learn more about this year’s Retail Bootcamp and enroll today! Best of all, once you sign up, you have lifetime access to participate each semester. I so hope you enjoy this bonus episode From The Vault. It's