Boutique Chat

This episode is all about the one of my favorite annual Boutique Hub events, The Boutique Summit! I talk about everything that’s happening at this year’s Boutique Summit and how you can be a part of it, as well as take you behind the scenes in terms of planning. Hopefully you’ll hear some helpful tips and tricks for putting on your next event! As the largest conference for boutique owners outside of trade shows, The Boutique Summit is all about helping you grow your business. The 2023 Summit, taking place March 19-20 at Dallas Market Center, will not only include more than 16 breakout sessions fostering education and community but also the best lineup of speakers that I think we’ve ever had! I am so excited to welcome headliner Jenna Kutcher, a New York Times bestselling author and host of the No. 1 business marketing podcast Goal Digger — as well as boutique owner Karli Harris of Everyday Chic Boutique, Demin & Velvet’s Janzen Tew, Olivia Hopkins from Digital Boutique Co., Management One’s Director of

Welcome to today's episode! Our guest is Michiko Seto, founder and owner of 11 boutiques in Delaware. Michiko is known for her infectious personality and super smart business savvy, and she's here to talk to us about events, leadership, growth, mindset, hiring, and so much more. Whether you're a brick-and-mortar business or an online boutique, there's something for everyone in this episode. So sit back, relax, and let's dive in! Listen in as Michiko shares what every boutique owner needs to know, including how to start, plan, and grow a business, what metrics really matter, and why taking the time to plan and establish a solid foundation can help ensure the longevity of your boutique. You'll hear the secrets she has learned in her boutique journey, how she leverages events in her boutiques to bring people in, and the importance of staying true to your brand. Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Michiko Seto: LinkedIn Blooming Boutique Treasures  The Bout

You can have the most successful business in the world, but if you’re not enjoying it, is it really worth it? One of the topics that I find the most joy in talking about with boutique owners is the topic of mindset because it’s one that can yield the biggest results and change in business. In today’s episode, I’m excited to be joined by Gretchen Hilley, owner of Rolling Ranch Boutique and OG Boutique Hub member, to talk all things mindset. Listen in as Gretchen shares her experience starting, launching, and growing her thriving business, the ups and downs she experienced with live selling and staffing, and what it was like adding her husband to the team. She also provides insight into the role her mindset has played in her success and shares practical tips on how to cultivate a growth mindset to reach new heights in your boutique journey. Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Gretchen Hilley: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok CommentSold

In this episode, we're tackling one of the most frequently asked questions from growing boutique owners: how do you work with your spouse? To help us answer this question, we've brought in two of our favorite people and an amazing couple, Anthony and Amy Ekren of Inherit Clothing Co. Not only will they share their experiences of working together, but they'll also dive into how they have successfully scaled their business by maximizing systems, processes, and the love languages of their team members. Join us as we learn how they've built a thriving business and a culture we can all admire.  Anthony and Amy take us through their non-traditional journey into the boutique world as they took the leap of purchasing and scaling an existing business. They give us a unique inside view of what it's like to work together as a husband and wife couple in the business world and share their experiences of growing this awesome business from the ground up. You'll also hear about the unglamorous side of it all, what systems an

I’m thrilled to be back for an all-new season of Boutique Chat, and to kick off Season 5, I’m revisiting some of my favorite episodes of the last year! In this highlight reel you’ll hear from Social Sales Girls founder Susan Bradley on digital advertising and metrics, Everyday Chic Boutique owner Karli Harris Pennington on launching collections, Simple Pin Media founder Kate Ahl on the power of Pinterest, influencer and boutique owner Jocelyn McClellan on the importance of community, The Taproom founder Kelly Vaughn on optimizing Shopify, The Good Babes Co. founder Shelby Lovelace on styling collections and creating an aesthetic, financial adviser and founder of Finances Demystified Dominique Broadway on making your money work for you through investments, Yellowstone costumer Megan Meadors on the resurgence of cowboy cool, and Hale House owner Bekah Hale Pollock on building a lifestyle brand. Did you miss any of these amazing guests? Click the links below to listen to the full episodes. And tune in next Tuesd

Welcome to the last episode of the season! Today, I am joined by Sara Burks, our Director of Partnerships and Education and my partner in crime for this podcast episode. We are discussing year-end tips and preparing for 2023, as well as addressing some of the common struggles faced by boutique owners and how to overcome them. Listen in as we dive into what happened in 2022 in the boutique industry and share our tips for making 2023 your year. We’ll be breaking down the six layers of any retail business, discussing how to sell less but make more, and sharing where many retailers fall down when it comes to sales strategy. We also talk about the exciting new changes coming to Retail Bootcamp that you won’t want to miss! Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Retail Bootcamp

This time of year is special for so many reasons. It’s a wonderful opportunity to spend time with loved ones, and experience the joys of the holidays and it is the perfect time to reflect and plan for the year ahead. In last week's episode, we went over some reflections for 2022. Today, I want to share 3 predictions and takeaways for 2023 as you start to map out your year ahead. Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Ashley Alderson: Instagram Boutique Summit 2023 Best Year Yet 2023

If you’re like me, there’s a different level of excitement that happens toward the end of the year. It’s a great time to gather and look back on the highs and lows of the past year, as well as reflect on the lessons that were learned along the way. I have been busting at the seams with all the things I have learned over the past year, so buckle up as I share the biggest lessons learned from 2022. Listen in as I look back and dive into the last year that we survived—or thrived in—and share some insights that we can take with us into the next year to make it great. I’ll also talk about what to expect in the coming year within the retail and boutique industry and give you some tidbits to get your 2023 started off right in your business! Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Ashley Alderson: Instagram Hubventory.com Boutique Boss Store

As we continue through the time of year when many of us are hustling to meet all of the sales goals we set out for ourselves, I wanted to remind you that finishing the year off strong in terms of your business is just as important. In this episode, I’m discussing the things you should be thinking about before the end of the year to make sure that your business and your financials are on the right track for 2023. Get comfortable, grab a notebook, and get ready to take notes on how to get yourself set for success in your business, at home, and internally! I’ll be sharing quick tips to finish the year off strong, including the things in your business you should be doing before the end of the year, how to prep for taxes, and how to create new revenue streams if you have extra income. Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/   Resources: Ready to grow your boutique or retail store? Join us on January 3rd for Best Year Yet! Retail Bootcamp Money: Master the Game: 7 Simp

Is there anyone listening who doesn’t find traditional social media completely exhausting (at least sometimes!) when it comes to trying to grow your brand and reach? In today’s episode, we’re getting the inside scoop on the power of traditional media with the owners of Top It Off Accessories, Elizabeth and Karena, and we’re finding out what it’s like to find yourself in one of the most coveted spots in the nation: on Oprah’s Favorite Things list. Listen in as Elizabeth and Karena walk us through their brand story, having been in business for 20 amazing years, how they have grown during that time, how they source products, and how they manage cash flow. We also dive into what it was like to be featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things, what they learned from the experience, and—more importantly—what they learned about the power of traditional marketing methods. You'll hear their thoughts on how boutiques can leverage traditional marketing themselves, as well as why it’s more important than ever to have powerful rela

Many members of The Boutique Hub are Shopify owners, so today we are digging into the details of enhancing your Shopify store with Josh Orr, the Founder and CEO of Streamline Retail—and a repeat guest on the podcast! We’ll be answering that burning question that all Shopify owners have: how do you make sure that your store has the highest possible conversion rate based on the traffic coming through? Listen in as we break down what makes stores convert at the highest rates, what apps you should be using in your Shopify store, and what it really means to value community over competition. We also discuss the importance of being customer-centric (and what that means), the most important elements of any Shopify store, and what metrics you should be measuring when it comes to your site’s overall health. Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Josh Orr: Website The eCommerce ToolKit PickyStory Power Tools Tabs by Station accessiBe

If there has ever been a boutique that does an amazing job not only understanding their customer but also building a truly amazing brand, it’s Bekah Pollock's Hale House. Bekah is a long-time member of the Boutique Hub and has a beautiful store in Fort Worth, Texas, along with a tremendous following on Instagram. In this episode, we’re diving into how she accomplished it all. Listen in as Bekah takes us through her journey celebrating her 11th anniversary of Hale House, what it was like transitioning from a brick-and-mortar store to online, and how she manages selling and inventory for both. We also dive into how Bekah juggles everything in life and business, including running a business, growing a team, and (maybe most importantly) being a mom! Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Bekah Pollock : Website | Facebook | Instagram Cotton Island Management One Streamline Retail

What if I told you that the “think rich to get rich” philosophy would only get you so far in your quest for financial freedom? My guest today is Candy Valentino, a speaker, coach, and long-time business owner. Also the author of Wealth Habits: Six Ordinary Steps to Achieve Extraordinary Financial Freedom, Candy joins the show today to break down the steps to creating life-long wealth that you can start doing today. Listen in as Candy shares her tips for getting rid of debt, how to live below your means, and where you should start with investing. We also discuss why it is so important to focus on having multiple revenue streams to build life-long wealth (instead of laser-focusing on building a business with one revenue stream) and how to be intentional with your efforts so you can up-level your wealth and finally be financially free. Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Candy Valentino: Website | Instagram | Facebook Wealth Habits: Six Ordinary Steps to

If you had to choose one person in the whole as your boutique crush, who would it be? Today I am excited to have my own personal boutique crush on the show, Megan DiVincenzo, the Founder of Sis Kiss and a repeat guest on the podcast. Megan is so incredibly smart and talented and has built an amazing brand that is so much more than a product or wholesale line, and I’m excited to get into how she did it and where she is today on her brand journey. Get comfortable and listen in as Megan shares how she has managed to build a true multi-channel brand, what’s going on behind the scenes at Sis Kiss, and what it’s like going viral. We also discuss the importance of rest and taking care of yourself as a business owner and get the lowdown on Megan’s new podcast, which you definitely won’t want to miss! Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Megan DiVincenzo: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest The Skinny Confidential Podcast

We build a great business, we have a consistent and solid revenue stream from our boutique, but then what? Is the plan to sell the business, or to generate enough revenue to feed into other investments—or something else entirely?  Dominique Broadway, personal finance expert, money therapist, entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Finances Demystified, joins me today to answer the question: what is the long-term plan for the business we are creating today? Get comfortable and listen in as we dive into some of the common misconceptions about investing and protecting yourself long-term with wills, trusts, and real estate. You'll also hear about how your investments fit into your long-term business and wealth goals, what we all need to know about our money mindset before we start investing, and how to start investing by growing what you already have. Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Dominique Broadway: Website Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their

There are two big challenges I hear from traditional brick-and-mortar stores all the time: How do I successfully transition my business online? And how do I capture my customer information so I can maintain long-lasting relationships with them once they leave the store? In this episode, I’m joined by Mamie Brown, co-owner of Tucker Brown, and we’re answering both of those questions for you today. Take a listen as we chat about what has made Tucker Brown successful, both in-person and online, including how they have made their online store an extension of their in-person shopping experience and created lasting, meaningful relationships with customers. We’re also deep diving into influencers, email marketing, the latest in social media, and so much more, so this is an episode you definitely won’t want to miss! Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/   Resources: Mamie Brown: Website Shopify Asana Sling Mailchimp

If I could bundle up this conversation and all its good vibes for you, I 1000% would! Today I’m excited to chat with Maghon Taylor, artist and owner of All She Wrote Notes, member of The Boutique Hub and Retail Bootcamp, and an absolute ray of sunshine. She has an incredible business that I am so excited to dive into today and get the lowdown on licensing and so much more! Get comfortable and listen in as we dissect how Maghon built her business as an artist, how she grew with licensing agreements as not only a retailer, but also with a showroom, a wholesale company, and an eCommerce site, and how she has scaled without accumulating debt along the way. She also shares what she has learned about scaling her brand, how video marketing has helped her exposure, and how she has leveraged the media to grow her brand - all without spending a dime. Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Maghon Taylor: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

I’m fresh off my recent trip from Los Angeles, and I’m answering a couple of quick questions that have been popping up in my Instagram DMs all week! If you’ve been following on Instagram, you’ll have seen some of the behind-the-scenes happenings at the LA Experience 2022 and Mastermind trips, and I’m giving you the lowdown on how to make the most of your trip to LA. Take a listen as I share everything from how to go direct to your vendors and build relationships with them to what to avoid when it comes to accommodations. I also give you the details on how YOU can join us in LA next year and get in on what is arguably the highlight of every year! Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Retail Bootcamp Hubventory.com

Many of you are getting ready for the holiday season and all of the promotional days that happen during the fourth quarter, and you’re probably starting to think about what kind of promotions you’ll be running for Pink and Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and all the other days that make up the holiday season. You’re probably also starting to think about what the big box stores will be doing this year with so much unsold inventory, which is why in this short and sweet episode, I’m giving you some quick tips that will leave you with cash in your pocket by the time 2023 rolls around. Listen in as I share why your sales numbers don't matter, the number that you should be putting your focus on, and the importance of planning ahead to get through the holiday season with money in your pocket. I also discuss the difference between sales and promotions, as well as how to use promotions as a means of lead generation that will pay off for (hopefully) years to come. Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://

I know this time of year is when most of us are starting to think ahead about planning for the new year, so today I’m giving you quick tips on planning that will help you be more successful, get more done, and feel like you actually did something at the end of the day. I’m also giving you an inside look at the Boutique Boss Planner, which is meant to be your retail bible full of checklists, a calendar, reflections for every month, and so much more! Listen in as I dive into why setting boundaries is critical for successful planning, how to set clear and measurable goals, and how to stop focusing on your never-ending to-do list. You'll learn how to focus on your “ta-done list” and how you can sprint to finish the 20% of tasks that will move 80% of the needle in your business—all while making sure you have balance between work, life, and family. Learn More About the Boutique Hub Here: https://theboutiquehub.com/join/boutique/ Resources: Ashley Alderson: Instagram Hubventory.com