Boutique Chat

The Boutique Hub with Ashley Alderson
  • 4.9 (854)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Boutique Chat

Explore real-life strategies, growth hacks, and proven marketing advice through powerful interviews with top leaders and retailers in the retail industry. Join Ashley Alderson, the Founder of The Boutique Hub, as she talks with retailers, boutiques, wholesale brands, vendors, and industry insiders. Discover the invaluable secrets that have propelled companies to success while maintaining a healthy balance between life and business. Embrace the spirit of Community over Competition, and uncover the next great idea or connection for your small business.

  1. 1D AGO

    Five Minute Friday: The #1 Way to Attract Customers Who Actually Buy

    Are you feeling like you're working double-time trying to find more customers... but still not making the sales you want? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, Sara, Director of Education at The Boutique Hub breaks down the #1 thing you need to focus on to attract customers who actually buy (and come back for more). Spoiler alert: it’s not about doing more, it’s about narrowing your focus and getting crystal clear on who you’re trying to serve. Sara walks you through a few quick questions you can answer today that will help you build a loyal customer base, buy smarter at market, and stop wasting money on inventory that doesn’t sell. If you’re ready to attract the right customers, this episode is a must-listen! What You'll Learn: Why “trying to reach everyone” is hurting your boutique The 5 key questions to define your ideal customer How to use your customer profile to shop smarter at market What happens when you stay true to your niche Simple steps to build customer loyalty (without burning out) Bonus Tip: Before your next buying trip or wholesale order, walk through this simple exercise to make sure you’re buying for your real customer, not just for yourself. Your future sales (and bank account) will thank you!   Want more education like this?  JOIN THE BOUTIQUE HUB RETAIL BOOTCAMP

    6 min

  2. 5D AGO

    #708: What No One Tells You About Opening a Second Store

    What’s the secret to growing a successful business while staying true to your roots? Join me as I chat with Kimmy Almon, founder of Kimmy’s Boutique, about her journey from side hustler to boutique owner. Starting in 2014 with online and pop-up shops—while juggling a full-time teaching career—Kimmy took a bold leap into brick-and-mortar retail. With deep ties to Waxahachie and Galveston, she reveals how her community connections and personal values fueled an unexpected yet rewarding expansion.  Resources:  ·       Kimmy Almon: Website | Facebook | Instagram  ·       Boutique Summit 2025   ·       Retail Bootcamp   ·       2025 Boutique Boss Planner    ·       Join The Boutique Hub    ·       Ashley Alderson: Instagram    ·       The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube

    32 min

  3. APR 4

    Five Minute Friday: Wholesale Buying Isn’t Shopping, It’s Investing

    In today’s episode, Sara Burks, Director of Education at The Boutique Hub, breaks down one of the most important concepts every boutique owner must understand: Wholesale buying isn’t shopping — it’s investing. Buying inventory is about making smart, intentional decisions to meet your customers’ needs and create profit, not just picking what you personally like. Sara walks through six essential tips to help you buy wholesale with confidence and strategy. Key Takeaways: Wholesale Buying = Investing: It's not about filling your cart with cute things — it’s about solving your customers’ problems and maximizing your return on investment. Tip 1: Know Your Customer You’re not buying for yourself — you're investing for them. Conduct customer interviews to find out their true needs, fit preferences, colors they love, and the problems they need solved. Tip 2: Understand Your Buying Options Explore both online marketplaces (like Hubventory, Faire, FashionGo, LA Showroom) and in-person markets (Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, LA, Las Vegas, New York). In-person shopping sparks creativity and allows you to touch, feel, and truly experience products. Tip 3: Learn Vendor Sizing Vendor sizing can vary dramatically. Knowing how different vendors size their items ensures a better experience for your customers and fewer returns. Tip 4: Understand Prepacks Most wholesalers sell items in prepacks (e.g., 2 smalls, 2 mediums, 2 larges). Choose vendors whose prepack options align with the sizes your customers actually need. Tip 5: Be Aware of Minimums Every vendor has minimum order requirements — in dollars or quantity. Be smart: don’t bust your budget for a single sweater you love if it doesn’t make sense for your store overall. Tip 6: Price With Profit in Mind Always decide what your customer would pay before you look at the wholesale price. Avoid limiting your potential profit by focusing too soon on wholesale costs. Biggest Tip: Don’t trap yourself in a pricing bubble. Think like an investor first: What will your customer happily pay, and does the wholesale cost give you the profit margin you need?   Shop Wholesale on Hubventory Join The Boutique Hub Community

    10 min

  4. APR 1

    #707: Retail with Soul: The Business of Crystals, Wellness, and Events

    What does it take to turn a small astrology bookstore into a thriving retail destination? Joining the show today is Denise Welling, owner of Body Mind & Soul in Houston, who shares how she did just that. Offering insights on adapting to market trends and evolving consumer interests, Denise discusses how cultural shifts have influenced retail success and how she has created a holistic customer experience that fosters community engagement and long-term business growth. Resources:  Denise Welling: Website | Facebook  Boutique Summit 2025   Retail Bootcamp   2025 Boutique Boss Planner    Join The Boutique Hub    Ashley Alderson: Instagram    The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube

    35 min

  5. MAR 28

    Five Minute Friday: The Secret to Merchandising Like a Pro

    Do your in-store displays actually help you sell more? Or are they just taking up space? In this Five Minute Friday guest episode with JR Visual, they're diving into the exact visual merchandising strategies you need to create beautiful, high-converting displays in your boutique. Whether you’re struggling to style mannequins, organize product flow, or just make your store look cohesive, this episode gives you clear, actionable advice that will help boost your sales and elevate your customer experience. Visual merchandising doesn’t have to be overwhelming and you don’t need a design degree to get it right. Tune in as Joelle from JR Visual Design breaks down her top 3 methods: color blocking, outfitting, and styling. You'll walk away with a plan you can implement this week.   JR Visual: Instagram https://www.jrvisualdesign.com/  ---- Join The Boutique Hub Community

    8 min

  6. MAR 25

    #706: Mastering the Art of Buying: Trends, Mindset & Selling Success

    What does it take to become an entrepreneurial powerhouse in the retail world? Tony Chinn, a seasoned retail expert, joins us today to share his incredible journey from starting as a greeter at Guess to launching his own successful entrepreneurial venture. With experience at iconic brands like BB, Kitson, Forever 21, Agassi, and Akira, Tony's story is a testament to the power of intention and vision boards when it comes to achieving lasting success. Listen in to hear practical advice for retailers and insights into maximizing retail success. Resources: Tony Chinn: Website | Instagram Boutique Summit 2025  Retail Bootcamp  2025 Boutique Boss Planner   Join The Boutique Hub   Ashley Alderson: Instagram   The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube

    40 min

  7. MAR 21

    Five Minute Friday: The Three Pillars of Exceptional Customer Service

    In this episode, Emily from Supermoon dives into the key strategies for delivering exceptional customer service. With insights gathered from interviewing hundreds of support agents, she shares three game-changing ways to streamline support, reduce friction for customers, and leverage AI to improve efficiency. Whether you're a small business owner, a customer support professional, or just looking for ways to enhance your customer experience, these tips will help you provide faster, smarter, and more effective support. Key Takeaways: Make Information Easily Accessible Don’t make customers search for crucial details like contact info or FAQs. Display key information in multiple places: website footer, homepage, emails, and social media. Reduce frustration by proactively answering common questions. Use a Shared Inbox for Better Efficiency If you receive a high volume of customer inquiries, centralizing them in one place saves time. Shared inbox tools allow for better team collaboration and quicker response times. Keeping all messages organized improves workflow and ensures no customer is left waiting. Leverage AI to Enhance Customer Support AI can assist with repetitive tasks like rephrasing emails, tagging messages, and automating responses. Even if you don’t use a chatbot, AI can help behind the scenes with workflow automation. Implement AI tools to improve response speed and allow your team to focus on more personalized interactions. Resources Mentioned: 🔹 Supermoon – Customer Support Platform   Want more? Join the Boutique Hub: https://tbhub.co/podcastjoin

    5 min

  8. MAR 18

    #705: Serving First, Selling Second: The Secret to Retail Growth

    From feeling out of place as a young girl to becoming a beacon of inspiration for women nationwide, DeAnna Maynard-Goodman (also known as “FabD”) has embarked on a journey that’s nothing short of extraordinary. Today, she joins the show to share how her experiences in the beauty industry shaped her path and inspired her to launch a boutique with just a modest $300 investment. DeAnna also opens up about navigating her career through the challenges of COVID-19 and reveals how focusing on meeting her community’s needs became the key to both fulfillment and success. Resources: DeAnna Maynard-Goodman: Website | Facebook | Instagram Boutique Summit 2025  Retail Bootcamp  2025 Boutique Boss Planner   Join The Boutique Hub   Ashley Alderson: Instagram   The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube

    35 min
See All (411)

    4.9
    out of 5
    854 Ratings

    About

    Explore real-life strategies, growth hacks, and proven marketing advice through powerful interviews with top leaders and retailers in the retail industry. Join Ashley Alderson, the Founder of The Boutique Hub, as she talks with retailers, boutiques, wholesale brands, vendors, and industry insiders. Discover the invaluable secrets that have propelled companies to success while maintaining a healthy balance between life and business. Embrace the spirit of Community over Competition, and uncover the next great idea or connection for your small business.

    Information

    • Creator
      The Boutique Hub with Ashley Alderson
    • Years Active
      2018 - 2025
    • Episodes
      411
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © The Boutique Hub, Inc 2018
    • Show Website
      Boutique Chat

    You Might Also Like

    Content Restricted

    This episode can’t be played on the web in your country or region.

    To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

    Stay up to date with this show

    Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
    Select a country or region

    Africa, Middle East, and India

    Asia Pacific

    Europe

    Latin America and the Caribbean

    The United States and Canada