Boutique Chat

Do you know where Black Friday got its name? Well traditionally, retailers were in the red financially all year, but when the holiday shopping season hit they moved into the black. Hopefully, that's not the case for you but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take advantage of this powerful season. This week we are diving into 5 critical tips to help you maximize the busiest season in retail and push...

That's right, Ashley chatted with FashionGo's CEO Daniel Lee. They breakdown where the wholesale industry has been, what it's doing now, and what's on the horizon. FashionGo and other online wholesalers make it possible for boutique owners to shift their buying strategy on a weekly basis rather than yearly or quarterly, and that is changing the game. Pssst. If you aren't analyzing your POS data to...

Pinterest isn't for short-term strategy, it's for dreamers. Dreaming what outfit they'll wear to the rehearsal dinner at their wedding, what house they'll live in when they have four perfect kids someday, and what cookie recipe they'll bake for Santa. They are dreaming about what's to come next in their life. Pinterest is a long-term strategy that builds your brand and continually puts you in fron...

Early on in Bob's retail career, he realized that making the customer happy is the most important thing in sales. Not just accepting returns with no receipt or sending thank you cards after a big purchase. Every. Single. Second. Matters. From the moment your customers come in contact with your staff everything matters. This episode breaks down key points of how to train your staff, how to manage y...

Finding new, fresh, and trendy pieces for your store is one of the key priorities as a boutique owner. Going to market is necessary and the sales reps you'll find there can help you make it big, but as more and more wholesale shopping moves online, you need to know all of the resources available to retailers, like Fashion Domino.  Meet this new online fashion marketplace for wholesale, and enjoy p...

Buying smarter means understanding your product lifecycle and getting the best quality and pricing for what you're bringing in. Going to LA on a regular basis isn't ideal, because well… life. That's where a buyer like Jacqueline comes in. Jacqueline has been on both sides of the aisle as a boutique owner and buyer. In this episode, we talk misconceptions buying in LA, how to build partnerships wit...

These two sisters are creating waves in the shop small movement carrying the title of fashion influencer and boutique owner. Tracy and Stefanie's love of fashion and beauty led them to start a YouTube channel in 2009. Fast Forward 9 years, they've just been named the 2018 Global Boutique of the Year. This podcast dives into their journey, balancing working with family, transitioning back and forth...

If you are not using Pinterest in your business you are missing a huge opportunity. Did you know women's fashion is the number one most pinned category? We chatted with Partner Manager at Pinterest for this episode, she also joined us at The Boutique Summit this past June and let us tell you now… you'll want to grab a pen. Pssst. Pinterest is contributing exclusive trainings for The Boutique Hub's...

You don't own your Facebook page, Instagram, or Snapchat. So what will you do the next time an algorithm takes a nosedive?  How will you reach your customers? That's where your own list comes in, your email list, and in today's world of marketing to overfull inboxes, a new list. Text Message Lists. With 98% of text messages read in the first 5 minutes, it's time to re-think your marketing strategy...

Brand Assembly was created with one purpose in mind: to help emerging fashion brands grow their business by creating a community that leverages resources and provides a platform for brands to support one another. By creating a nurturing and collaborative atmosphere, Brand Assembly removes the barriers of entering a highly competitive contemporary market and assists in building a successful busines...

One of the most important missions to Missy Robertson and her family has been to work selflessly to help others find faith and inner joy through charity. Missy has established Laminin House to provide jobs for women in the West Monroe area with a desire for community in a supportive work environment. Each piece of jewelry is inspired by southern femininity and a love for the outdoors. It is indivi...

Women's Wear in Nevada has been a premiere show in Las Vegas for decades and Des is on the forefront of changing the experience this show offers. From educational events to recognizing the trends in retailer and consumer buying, get ready for a fresh WWIN. For show notes & resources visit the episode webpage below or click here. Want more information on #BoutiqueChat? Visit www.theboutiquehub.com/...

Girl, grab a pen. This podcast answers questions you've been searching for and we go in-depth on what technology is most important for your boutique. Point of sale systems helps you better manage your inventory for e-commerce and brick and mortar stores. >> EPISODE 27- LISTEN NOW ON iTunes < < Don't Have iTunes? Listen on Libsyn here See the Full Boutique Chat Podcast Website here #BOUTIQUEBOSS BR...

Hang with us in this episode we had some technical difficulties, don't worry you'll get a good laugh! If you didn't listen to part 1, The Boutique Hub turns 5 years-old this month and to celebrate we're asking Ashley, the founder, anything and everything from business tips, to how she built the Hub, and the dirty secrets about her obsession with tacos and Will Ferrell.  This is part 2 of a 2 part...

Viva Las Vegas! Before we attend one of the season's biggest apparel markets, we are getting you ready to maximize your trip to Las Vegas. WWD Magic Brand Director, Kelly Helfman is breaking down everything you need to know from the shows all week, trend analysis of what's coming for spring, and sharing insider business tips for boutiques. Kelly is a total mom meets fashionista and takes us inside...

The Boutique Hub turns 5 years-old this month and to celebrate we're asking Ashley, the founder, anything and everything from business tips, to how she built the Hub, and the dirty secrets about her obsession with tacos and Will Ferrell.  This is part 1 of a 2 part series, so come back next week for more! Our followers on social media and member's in our groups submitted these questions, and Ashle...

We know, we're a day late, but.. *que the bells and whistles* The Hub team was launching The 2018 Boutique Awards!! And holy cow, our boutique members rallied their customers. We've had 100,000+ votes in less than 24 hours. The timing couldn't be better this week, then to have on the show the reining 2017 Global Boutique of the Year - The Lace Cactus, and founder Kelsey Darby of Hico, Texas. This...

In a four-month span, Camey can work with up to 800+ vendors and travel across 6 states by hosting the boutique specific, Ruffles and Rust Expo. She's seen the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly booths, marketing, and customer service. In this episode, she's sharing the tips she's learned along the way to help you step up your game at your next pop up or vendor event! For show notes & resource...

How can you maximize Facebook Live for your boutique AND successfully sell plus sizes? Mindy's truthful, real personality shines in this episode like it does in her successful live videos. From markup strategy, Facebook algorithms, hiring a team, working with family, and organic growth, this episode is chalked full of golden nuggets that can change your business.   But more than that, we love how...

Let's cut through the noise of those Google and YouTube searches and get down to 5 tips that will actually help you start your business off right. While the boutique industry is glamorous, we want you to be prepared for the not so glamorous  times too, so prepare yourself for some real talk. From buy-in groups, to hustle and being original, these top tips can't be missed in your business!   For sh...

How does someone get into manufacturing their own line? How can you stay creative and on top of the game?  And better yet, what denim trends are coming for fall? This week, we visit with Christina Choi, the Creative Director at Judy Blue denim, and daughter of Judy, to hear what it took to build a denim line that so many boutiques love today, and how those same boutiques can be prepared for trends...

This episode covers almost everything because our guest Ali Dee dabbles in a little bit of everything. From fashion influencers, Instagram, and working for Mark Cuban to attending market, the flooding of graphic tees, and dealing with copycats to customer service, pricing, and why brands and boutiques need to work together. Oh, and the fabulousness that is Reba McEntire. Get your pencil ready whet...

MaCandis Boutique was open for more than 67 years, where Sara Burks, Director of Partnerships & Education at The Boutique Hub, started working in high school. Skip forward a few years, with a Masters in Business Administration Sara Burks purchased and operated the store for 20+ years.   From managing your team, inventory and reporting key metrics, and mastering customer service, Sara is sharing wi...

Creating your own clothing line isn't for the faint of heart. BuddyLove founder Grayson DiFonzo has worked in fashion for years and even owned her own showroom repping other brands at Dallas Market Center before she ventured into designing. Developed out of a need to bring a unique taste to the boutique industry, she saw a need and filled it. It takes an eye for fashion, style, fit, and body types...

Repeat after me, "I NEED to analyze data for my boutique."  There is a huge difference today in tracking data and analyzing the right data. Today, without having access to the quality information a robust POS system provides, you are operating in the dark. Today, we are diving into the top 5 reports you need to analyze weekly in your business, helping you better analyze sales, categories, brands,...