Boutique Chat

In this Five Minute Friday, Ashley breaks down one of the biggest questions new listeners ask: How do I start my boutique? Forget the myth of needing everything perfect from the start. Instead, learn why action, testing, and failing forward are key to launching your dream. Ashley shares the exact first steps every boutique owner should take—from protecting your brand name and trademark to defining...

Want revenue you can count on—every month? In this episode, Ashley interviews Sarah Williams, the "queen of subscription boxes," on exactly how to launch and scale a profitable subscription box that funds your team, your rent, and your freedom. Sarah reveals the step-by-step from her first 44 subscribers to thousands—including pricing first (then product), margin targets, retention levers, tech st...

Looking for fresh October marketing ideas to keep your boutique top of mind?  It's time to kick off October with fresh marketing ideas!  In this Five Minute Friday episode, I'm sharing some of my favorite engagement questions that you can use on TikTok, Instagram Stories, Reels, or your Facebook group to keep your customers talking and connected. Because here's the truth: only 3% of your audience...

What if running your own Facebook ads could be the key to finally going full-time in your boutique? In this episode, I'm joined by Whitney Pope , founder of Lolo Viv and longtime Boutique Hub + Boutique Hub Black member. Whitney shares her inspiring journey from practicing law as a full-time attorney to building her boutique into a thriving career. She opens up about the challenges of balancing wo...

Too many boutique owners risk their entire business without realizing it — by selling dupes, knockoffs, or unlicensed products. The consequences can be devastating, from confiscated inventory to losing everything they've worked so hard to build. In this episode of Five Minute Friday , Ashley Alderson shares the truth about trademark infringement and licensing agreements. Drawing from real-life exa...

What does it take to turn a creative outlet into a thriving brand? Today I'm joined by Laci Hewett of Saltwater Boys, who shares her journey from nurse to entrepreneur and how printing t-shirts in her closet quickly grew into a national wholesale business. Laci talks about building strong partnerships with retailers, the importance of photography and merchandising in children's apparel, and the le...

In this episode of Five Minute Friday, we're answering another frequently asked question from retailers and small business owners: How much inventory should I really have on hand? It's one of the biggest challenges boutique owners face—and getting it wrong can tie up your cash flow, leave you with dead stock, or cost you sales when you don't have enough on the floor. In this episode, Sarah from Th...

Are you struggling to keep up with marketing while running your boutique? What if you didn't have to do it all alone? Today I sit down with Kinsey Harris, a former boutique owner who transformed her burnout into a thriving marketing agency, Boutique Bestie Solutions. Kinsey shares her journey from running a boutique to helping retailers master email, SMS, and Pinterest marketing, as well as practi...

In this episode of Five Minute Friday, we're answering another frequently asked question from retailers and small business owners: What's the difference between a sale and a promotion? It's one of the most common points of confusion in retail—and getting it wrong could be costing your business profit. In this episode, Sarah from The Boutique Hub explains how to tell the difference, when to use eac...

What if live selling could transform not just your sales, but the way you connect with customers? In this episode, I'm joined by Ciera Elledge of CommentSold to explore how boutiques can harness the power of social commerce. Ciera shares what sets the most successful live sellers apart, as well as how features like CommentChat, AI Clip Hero, and custom mobile apps give boutique owners the tools to...

We're shifting our focus to your online presence by highlighting one of the most overlooked parts of running a retail business: your website health check. Your website isn't "set it and forget it." Just like your inventory or sales floor, it needs regular maintenance to keep customers engaged, build trust, and avoid costly mistakes like broken links or checkout issues. A simple monthly checklist c...

What makes shoes a powerful addition to your boutique? Today, I'm joined by Michael Strauss of MIA Shoes, who shares how the family-owned brand evolved into a comfort-driven, fashion-forward line. Michael reveals how MIA's signature cushioned footbed and iconic white-bottom sandals reshaped the brand, why trust and merchandising are key to selling footwear, and what trends are set to define Fall a...

In this episode of Five Minute Friday, we're answering one of the most asked questions inside the Boutique Hub: How do I go live and sell? If you've been nervous about starting live selling, or you're not sure where to begin, this episode gives you the confidence and tools to just start. Live selling is one of the fastest ways to grow your boutique sales, engage your customers, and create urgency...

What would life look like without small businesses? Today, we're diving into why they're the heartbeat of our local economies—and why their role matters more than ever during the holiday rush. I'm joined by Sara Burks, who reveals how small businesses do far more than ring up sales: they create jobs, fund community events, pay taxes, and more. Listen in as we explore how to shift attention from bi...

In this episode of Five Minute Friday , we're continuing our Know Your Numbers series by breaking down another retail metrics— your turn —and how it directly impacts your cash flow and profit. If you've ever had great margins on paper but no cash in the bank, this episode will show you how to calculate your turn, understand how quickly your inventory "spoils," and apply strategies to move product...

What makes a gift feel truly unforgettable? Today I'm joined by Holly Hachman of Little Red Bird Gifts, who joins the show to share her journey of building a joyful, story-driven retail space. Inspired by her mother's love for shopping, Holly chose to focus on meaningful gifts over apparel, creating a warm, inviting shop. She opens up about the power of storytelling in retail, how it shapes custom...

In this episode of Five Minute Friday , we're continuing our Know Your Numbers series by showing you how to find the most important retail metrics inside your POS, financial reports, and analytics tools. Before you can improve your numbers, you need to know where to find them. This episode gives you the step-by-step to locate data like inventory, markdowns, traffic, and sales—so you can confidentl...

Get ready to meet Dane Cohen, the newest member of The Boutique Hub team, whose retail roots run deep! Growing up in his family's store, Lester's, a Brooklyn-based business that blossomed from a 500-square-foot shop into a specialty department store, Dane shares how those early experiences shaped his perspective on community, business, and what it really takes to succeed in retail. In this episode...

In this episode of Five Minute Friday , we're continuing our Know Your Numbers series by highlighting one of the most powerful tools in your retail business: conversion rate . Your conversion rate isn't just a performance stat—it's your daily truth teller. When you track it consistently, it helps you identify whether you need more traffic or better in-store or online performance to grow your sales...

What happens when a teenage entrepreneur grows up to become the voice of a beloved boutique brand? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Haley Klockenga, Podcast & Marketing Coordinator at Glamour Farms, as she opens up about the realities of working in a fast-paced small business—juggling multiple roles, growing a team, and navigating the joys (and chaos) of motherhood. We talk candidly abou...

In this episode of Five Minute Friday , we're continuing our Know Your Numbers series by unpacking one of the most overlooked but critical metrics in retail: Initial Markup (IMU) . Your IMU isn't just a pricing formula—it's your profit ceiling . And if you're not tracking it monthly, you could be limiting your growth without even realizing it. 🔑 Key Takeaways: Understand the Role of IMU in Your B...

How do you transform an unexpected rhinestone t-shirt business into a thriving clothing brand with a loyal online following? In this episode, I'm joined by Alinda Hale to talk about how adaptability, authenticity, and deep customer understanding helped her scale—especially through the challenges of COVID-19. She also shares how she brought her family into the business, embraced live selling, and b...

In this episode of  Five Minute Friday , we're kicking off our Know Your Numbers series by diving into two of the most important numbers every boutique owner should track daily:  Average Order Value (AOV) and Units Per Transaction (UPT) . These simple but powerful retail metrics offer a clear path to more revenue, better team training, and a stronger customer experience—without needing more foot t...

Is golf the next big thing in fashion and lifestyle retail? Fresh off the PGA Show in Orlando—a major industry event that draws around 30,000 attendees—today's episode dives into how golf is transforming into a style-forward and inclusive lifestyle. Lisa Langas, Vice President of Business Development at PGA Golf Exhibitions, joins the show to highlight the growing demand for women's and boutique g...

Where are my customers? It's the #1 question retailers ask when business slows down and it's not always about the economy or the weather. In this episode of Five Minute Friday, Sara tackles what to do when sales stall. Whether it's a seasonal dip or a concerning trend, you'll learn how to step into your customer's shoes, audit your business with fresh eyes, and get back to what made your boutique...