Boutique Chat

Planning Ahead for 2024 Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

We can all feel like a hamster on a wheel at times, and as we enter the fourth quarter, it's not only important to be ready for the busy holiday season but also take time to plan ahead for 2024 so that you can start the new year off strong — assessing business practices, refining operations and implementing new strategies to help scale and grow your business.

I am constantly driving home strategies like the four-part to-do list and time blocking that help me and my team stay organized (and sane!), but one of the best tools we have to offer is the Boutique Boss Planner, which we at The Hub created specifically to set you as a boutique owner up for success.

Every year, we look back at our planner from the year before and ask ourselves, how can we make it better? We also ask for feedback and input from Hub members and get the boutique owners on our team involved in the design process. It truly is the only planner built for boutique owners by boutique owners. And the 2024 Boutique Boss Planner is better than ever!

I am so excited to finally get to show off the 2024 Planner and tell you all about what's included. The biggest update: we incorporated the content creator, so now you can map out every aspect of your business in one place. This planner has strategies to help optimize your business, buying guides, social media and marketing ideas, checklists galore and all of the tracking tools you'll need for buying, inventory, and content. It's truly an essential for small business owners.

The 2024 Planner is on sale now! Learn more and order yours today at the link below.

Resources:

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

From the Vault: Growing a Mega Boutique with Facebook Ads & Authenticity with Laura Benson, Founder of Filly Flair Boutique Oct 06, 2023

Show notes

Every Friday I'm re-releasing one of my favorite episodes from seasons past to revisit my conversations with early guests and the business advice and practices they share! Up this week is my second ever episode with my dear friend Laura Benson, who founded and grew Filly Flair Boutique into a huge online retailer with national reach through strategic digital marketing and social media.

How do you know when to turn up your Facebook Ads? What does it mean for an e-commerce store to build an authentic connection? How can a business owner also find balance to be a wife and mother? Laura Benson, Founder and CEO of Filly Flair Boutique has grown her business from a rural South Dakota community to a multiple 7 figure business, and it's no secret why. Join us as we meet a woman leaving her mark on the industry.

For show notes & resources visit the episode webpage below or click here.

Resources:

Filly Flair: Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

"Start With Story: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Using Story to Grow Your Business" by Lyn Graft

Using Story to Grow Your Business with Lyn Graft, founder of Storytelling for Entrepreneurs Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

Every great story has the opportunity to not only help you build relationships and authenticity but also to sell your products. Which is why I am so excited to welcome Storytelling for Entrepreneurs founder Lyn Graft to the show to talk about how you can use story to help grow your business.

A serial entrepreneur and video producer, Lyn has worked with hundreds big brands, events and some of the most successful companies on the planet — including Starbucks, SXSW, Dell, Samsung, Whole Foods, Zappos, Crossfit and many, many more.

He shares his experiences working with high-profile entrepreneurs, the lessons he's learned as a producer, and his inside secrets to storytelling and mastering the art of video.

Resources:

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

From the Vault: 5 Critical Tips for Holiday Sales Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

Every Friday I'm re-releasing one of my favorite episodes from seasons past to revisit my conversations with early guests and the business advice and practices they share! Up this week is a Season 1 Solo intended to help you prep for the holidays and boost fourth quarter sales.

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 you into a powerful next season.

Want more tips, strategies, and sales boosters? Click here to watch our 6 Secrets to Double Your Holiday Sales video and to enroll in The Boutique Hub's Holiday Marketing Masterclass.

For show notes click here.

Original release date: Nov. 16, 2018

Resources:

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

The Power of Community and Collaboration with Anna Ledebuhr, Coulee Boutique Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

It's not often that I have local guests on the podcast, but today I'm so excited to welcome my friend Anna Ledebuhr, the owner and founder of one of my personal favorite boutiques, Coulee Boutique in Galesville, Wisconsin.

Five years ago, Anna took a big leap, leaving teaching for entrepreneurship, and since she's built her business from a Shopify site and pop-ups to a 3,500-square-foot brick-and-mortar. Anna has done an amazing job not only with her merchandising and marketing but also with building community and teaming up with other local small business owners. We talk about her involvement with the Downtown Galesville Business Alliance and putting yourself in big rooms even when its uncomfortable, fostering activity through collaboration, and some of her favorite annual events, including Pink Friday!

Resources:

Coulee Boutique: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

From the Vault: Back to the Basics of Pinterest with Kat Ahl, Simple Pin Media Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Now every Friday, I'm re-releasing one of my favorite episodes from seasons past to revisit my conversations with early guests and the business advice and practices they share! Up this week is Pinterest marketing expert Kate Ahl of Simple Pin Media.

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 front of potential customers. This amazing conversation will blow you away. Kate Ahl is one of the leading Pinterest experts in the world, get ready.

For show notes & resources visit the episode webpage below or click here.

Resources:

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

Retail Science and Systemization with Amy DeFauw, Katsch Boutique Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

I am so excited to be joined this week by my friend Amy DeFauw, who is a multi-state multi-storeowner and has a wealth of experience as the CEO of Katsch Boutique.

Today we're talking all about retail art vs retail science — retail art being the love of the product, customers and marketing as opposed to retail science, i.e. the numbers, inventory management, financing and metrics. And we dive into what it takes to make the retail science side of your business come to life, allowing those numbers and spreadsheets to really speak to you.

Amy shares her approach to growing and managing multiple locations and a successful team, the lessons she learned along the way and how she cut out the overwhelm by systemizing her business!

Resources:

Katsch Boutique: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

From the Vault: Top 5 Tips for New Boutique Owners Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

Now every Friday, I'm re-releasing one of my favorite episodes from seasons past to revisit the stories of our early guests and the business advice and practices they share! This week I chose a Season 1 episode that answers one of the questions I most often get asked: What tips would you offer a brand-new boutique owner?

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 show notes & resources click here.

First Released June 26, 2018

Resources:

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

HV Anniversary Special! Why to Shop and What's New on Hubventory.com Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

This week marks another big celebration for us at The Hub — the first anniversary of Hubventory!

For those of you who aren't familiar with it already, Hubventory is our very own wholesale marketplace, built by The Boutique Hub for the boutique industry. In developing HV, our team spent months and months getting feedback from both boutique owners and wholesalers to create a true grass-roots platform to best serve you and your business. I am so proud of how far Hubventory has come in just one year and so grateful to all of you who have supported us and helped us shape and improve it along the way.

So today I'm talking all things Hubventory — what sets it apart from other online wholesale marketplaces, how its tailored for small businesses, the highlights and new features, and what we have in the works for year two!

Resources:

Ashley Alderson: Instagram