Boutique Chat

Latest Episodes:

Five Minute Friday: The CEO's Guide to Smarter Planning - Tracking the Right Numbers (Part 3) Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

Today Ashley dives into one of her favorite phrases — "Only a tracked number grows." If you've ever felt like you're posting on social media without seeing results, this episode breaks down exactly what numbers to track, how to measure them, and how to get your team on the same page heading into the new year.

Ashley shares how The Boutique Hub tracks every post, follower, engagement, and conversion across all channels, and how you can do the same using your Retail Planner's tracking sheets. Whether you're managing your own social media or leading a team, you'll learn how to stop guessing and start growing.

You'll learn:

The key social media numbers that drive growth
How to use your planner to track engagement, traffic, and sales
Why "posting" isn't a goal — but conversions are
How tracking leads to smarter marketing and stronger sales

🛍️ Grab your planner today!

2026 Retail Planner

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

#736: Merch Like You Mean It - The Road Tested Playbook for Pop Ups That Sell Out Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

Pop-Ups, Mobile Boutique Life & Merchandising That Sells

Today Brianna Williams, of Wildly Midwest, joins the podcast to share how she built a thriving mobile boutique business traveling to more than 45 markets a year across nine states.

Brianna opens up about pivoting from handmaking baby clothes on Etsy to running a successful women's boutique on the road, what it really takes to make markets profitable, and the merchandising secrets that make customers stop, shop, and say, "I'll take the whole outfit."

You'll learn:

How Brianna pivoted from handmade baby clothes to a full-time women's boutique
What 45+ markets a year really looks like — and how to plan them
How to vet events, spot red flags, and find your perfect customer base
Visual merchandising that sells: mannequins, layering, and storytelling through displays
The tools, packing systems, and safety gear every mobile boutique owner needs

Join The Boutique Hub

Retail Bootcamp

Brianna Williams & Wildly Midwest

Website: wildlymidwest.com Instagram: @wildlymidwest Facebook: @wildlymidwest

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

Five Minute Friday: The CEO's Guide to Smarter Planning (Part 2: Power of Checklists) Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

Do you love the satisfaction of checking things off a list? (Same!)

Today, Ashley dives into how checklists can completely transform the way you plan and lead your boutique. From annual business audits to monthly website cleanups, she shares the key systems that keep your business running smoothly—without letting the small stuff slip.

You'll learn:

Use annual, quarterly, and monthly checklists to stay on track
Avoid burnout with intentional time-off planning
Protect your digital assets and stop paying for unused subscriptions
Create simple systems your team can actually follow

Whether you're using the Boutique Boss Planner or your own notebook, you'll walk away ready to build a business that runs like clockwork.

🛍️ Grab your planner today!

2026 Retail Planner

Join The Boutique Hub

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

#735: Going Viral by Being Real: Building a Brand Women Believe In Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

Today Bette Bentley, founder of Skimpies, joins the podcast to talk about how she built a viral, one-product brand by solving a very real problem for women.

Bette shares about inventing a product that didn't exist, showing up online when people made fun of her, and building a community of women who feel seen, not sold to. Bette shares how she turned one core product into a movement on TikTok, why live selling changed everything, and how she protects her confidence in public as a founder, mom, and creator.

You'll learn:

The origin of Skimpies
Why no manufacturer wanted to touch her idea — until one woman said yes
The 8-second TikTok about a "front wedgie" that hit 6 million views
Live selling with 3 viewers… to making real daily revenue and community loyalty
How she chose Marshalls/TJ Maxx as her first retail partner on purpose

Join The Boutique Hub

2026 Retail Planner

Bette Bentley & Skimpies

Website:skimpies.com Instagram: @skimpiesbrand TikTok: @skimpiesbrand

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

5 Minute Friday: The CEO's Guide to Smarter Planning (Part 1: Month in Review) Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

Today, Ashley Alderson dives into her favorite tool inside the 2026 Retail Planner — the Month-in-Review feature — and why it's the single most powerful habit for boutique owners who want to plan smarter and grow faster. Whether you use the Retail Planner or your own notebook, this simple system helps you turn last month's lessons into next month's wins.

You'll learn:

How to use the Month-in-Review to plan smarter, not harder
What numbers and notes to track every single month
How to analyze sales, inventory, and marketing performance
The 3 pages that help you see what's really working
Why reflection is the key to future growth

✨Grab your planner today!

2026 Retail Planner

Join The Boutique Hub

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

#734 Consistency Wins: Brand, Photos, and Processes at Savannah Sevens Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

Today Ryley Wimer of Savannah 7s joins Ashley to share how she built a nationally recognized western-lifestyle brand—without a storefront. We cover her flatlay & hanging photo system, seasonal shoots, simple Pinterest strategy, smart collaborations, and the ops/delegation moves that gave her time back. Plus: branding that sticks, metrics that matter, and lessons learned while growing a business and a family.

You'll learn:

Website-first CX and automated ordering
A repeatable photo workflow that drives conversions
How to repurpose shoots across every channel
Collabs that deepen brand (not just hype)
Ops upgrades (barcodes/bins) and time-saving delegation

Join The Boutique Hub

2026 Retail Planner

Ryley Wimer & Savannah 7s

Website: savannahsevens.com Instagram: @savannah7s

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

Five Minute Friday: From Inbox to Checkout - How to Drive Sales with Email & SMS Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

If social media went quiet tomorrow, would your boutique keep selling?

In this Five Minute Friday, we're joined by Bri and RP from Bloomly Digital, the boutique marketing pros behind countless high-performing email and SMS campaigns. They share the exact strategy to keep your sales flowing no matter what happens on social.

Social media algorithms change every day, but your email list is yours. Learn how to set up automated flows, segment smartly, and finally build a marketing system that sells — even when you're off the clock.

Key Takeaways:

- The "3 Rs" of great emails: right reader, right reason, right now

- The six must-have automated flows that drive passive revenue

- How to segment smarter, not wider — and protect your deliverability

- Design and timing tips that increase open rates and conversions

Whether you're just starting your email list or optimizing for better results, this episode is a crash course in selling beyond social.

➡️ Learn more about Bloomly Digital at https://bloomlydigital.com/

📲 Let's stay connected:

👉 Join the Community: https://tbhub.co/joinpodcast

👉 DM us on Instagram: @theboutiquehub

#733 Boutique Website & Facebook Ads Strategies That Drive Sales Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

What does it actually take for a thriving brick-and-mortar to make eCommerce half the business in 12 months? Morgan Lancaster breaks it down—brand, photography, Shopify setup, and the paid traffic engine that flipped the switch.

🔑 What you'll learn

- How Morgan grew online sales from 5–10% to 50% of revenue in a year

- Why catalog ads are a top-of-funnel workhorse—and how to feed them

- The "website first, floor second" workflow that prevents stock conflicts

- Photography that converts: camera picks, natural light setup, and Lightroom basics

- Building trust online: clean brand, curated new arrivals, and onsite collections

- Inventory planning when eComm ramps (wider vs. deeper, cash-flow realities)

- Local love: simple Google traffic ads to lift foot traffic

Join The Boutique Hub

Learn more about Boutique Hub Black

Morgan Lancaster & Ivy House Boutique

Website: ivyhouseboutique.com Facebook: facebook.com/shopivyhouseboutique Instagram: @ivyhouseboutique

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

Five Minute Friday: Employee Reviews 101: The Simple System to Build Leaders Oct 10, 2025

Show notes

In this week's Five Minute Friday, Ashley Alderson reveals the missing link that might be holding your business back—employee reviews.

If you've ever said "kids these days don't work like they used to," this episode will challenge that mindset and give you tools to lead better. Learn how to coach your team like a basketball coach, set clear goals, and raise leaders—not leavers.

When your employees feel seen, heard, and supported, they become leaders in your business—not leavers. Employee reviews aren't just a formality—they're the key to building a confident, empowered, and high-performing team.

Key Takeaways:

The 3-question framework for stay interviews
Why your team needs to know "the score of the game"
How EOS and quarterly reviews bring focus and accountability
How feedback conversations can unlock growth and buy-in

Because when your team wins—you win.

📲 Let's stay connected:

👉 DM me on Instagram: @ajalderson or @theboutiquehub

👉 Join the Community: https://tbhub.co/joinpodcast

#732 Why Better Planning is the Secret to Scaling Your Business Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

Are you planning like a CEO or just staying busy?

In this solo episode, Ashley digs into how to plan like a CEO, not a busy entrepreneur. She breaks down the time vs. money mindset shift, her 4-part to-do list, and the weekly habits that make consistency inevitable. Ashley wraps things up with a guided tour through the 2026 Retail Planner (formerly the Boutique Boss Planner): sales and social tracking, checklists, monthly reviews, and how to use it with your manager or team.

You'll Learn

The CEO mindset that frees up time and scales revenue
The 4 lists that remove overwhelm and increase focus
How to pair paper + Trello + Google Calendar
Time-blocking/theme days that stick
What's inside the 2026 Retail Planner and why the monthly review pages drive smarter decisions

👉 Check out the 2026 Retail Planner for youself: 2026 Retail Planner

Bundles & Member Pricing Members receive $10 off the planner and access to member pricing across Hub products and events. Check your member emails/Facebook groups for the code.

Join The Boutique Hub

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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