Boutique Chat

Latest Episodes:

Five Minute Friday (Couch Conversations): The Ins & Outs of Business Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

What if you could sit down on the couch with other boutique owners and just talk about what's really working right now? Welcome to a brand new Five Minute Friday series —Couch Conversations!

In this first episode, Ashley Alderson and Sara Burks break down the IN vs OUT shifts for 2026, from content creation to customer experience to how you're running your day-to-day business. If you're still doing everything manually, chasing perfection, or trying to keep up the old way… this episode is your wake-up call.

Ashley & Sara unpack what boutique owners need to let go of immediately—and what to lean into if you want to grow in today's fast-moving, AI-powered retail landscape.

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

#804: The Ultimate Market Buying Tool Every Boutique Owner Needs Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

What if the biggest inventory mistakes in your business are happening before the product ever arrives?

Ashley Alderson is joined by Ulla Hald, founder of FAVES, to talk about how boutique retailers can buy smarter by planning ahead, tracking purchases in real time, and staying on top of what's ordered, what's arriving, and what still needs attention. They unpack why buying without a system leads to confusion, overbuying, missed categories, and cash flow problems, and why the most successful retailers approach market with intention instead of impulse.

You'll learn:

Why so many retailers still buy without a real plan
How Faves helps track products, pricing, delivery dates, and categories
The importance of knowing what you bought before you leave market
How better buying leads to better cash flow and fewer inventory mistakes
How successful stores use planning, team communication, and vendor follow-up to win

Ulla Hald & FAVES:

Website: thefavesapp.com Instagram: @theFAVESapp

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

Five Minute Friday: Sales Are Down... Now What? Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

Sales are down… so what should you actually do next?

If you've ever had a slow day (or week) where your stomach drops, your heart starts racing, and you're refreshing Shopify every 10 seconds… this episode is for you.

Ashley breaks down exactly how to respond when sales dip — and why panic is the fastest way to hurt your business long-term. Retail is cyclical. The difference between struggling boutiques and thriving CEOs is how they respond in the slow seasons.

You'll learn:

The 4-step CEO reset to regain control when sales drop
Why panic leads to bad decisions (and what to do instead)
Simple, actionable ways to create momentum immediately

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

#803: How to Navigate Cash Flow, Inventory, and Survival Seasons Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

Sponsored by Color Guru This episode is sponsored by Color Guru. Boutique Chat listeners receive $350 off Color Guru Academy with code: BOUTIQUE350. Learn more at: https://www.colorguruacademy.com/

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What do you do when your boutique hits one hard month… and then another… and another?

In this episode, Ashley sits down with Jessica Brown of Pink on Pickens Boutique in Abbeville, South Carolina, for a real and honest conversation about rebranding, financial stress, faith, community, and what it looks like to keep going when business feels heavier than ever.

Jessica shares how she transitioned from teaching into retail, why she rebranded from Jessica's Closet to Pink on Pickens, and how one of the hardest seasons in business forced her to ask for help, lean into community, and get crystal clear on her purpose.

You'll learn:

How Jessica successfully rebranded her business without losing customer trust
What happened when one bad month turned into a much bigger financial struggle
The importance of reserves, trusted advisors, and local banking relationships
How faith, handwritten notes, Bible study, and community helped strengthen her business

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Jessica Brown & Pink on Pickens Boutique:

Facebook: @PinkOnPickens Instagram: @PinkOnPickens

Website: pinkonpickens.com

Mary Landgrebe:

Website: retailinventorysolutions.com

Instagram:@wellretailed

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

Five Minute Friday: 3 CEO Shifts for Working Moms Mar 13, 2026

Show notes

How do you build a business while raising a family without feeling like you're failing at one or the other?

For many working moms and boutique owners, the pressure to balance motherhood and entrepreneurship can feel overwhelming. The truth is, the idea of perfect "balance" doesn't really exist. Instead, it's about understanding the season you're in and making intentional choices about where your energy goes.

In this Five Minute Friday episode, Ashley shares her personal journey —and the lessons she's learned while building a business and raising three kids along the way.

You'll learn:

Why the idea of "balance" in motherhood and business is often unrealistic
The powerful mindset shift that helps eliminate working-mom guilt
How to stop comparing your life to other moms or entrepreneurs online
Why integrating your kids into your entrepreneurial journey matters
How redefining "presence" can transform both your business and family life

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

#802: The Financial Foundations Every Retailer Needs to Get Right Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

Numbers do not have to be the part of business you avoid.

Ashley is joined by Christyne Gray of She Profits Now, for a practical & helpful conversation on the money side of running a Boutique - bookkeeping, cash flow, inventory planning, and tax preparation for boutique owners.

They unpack the financial basics every retailer needs to understand, from setting up the right bank accounts and using QuickBooks effectively to protecting inventory dollars, planning for taxes year-round, and avoiding common mistakes with debt and discounting. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the money side of your business, this episode will help you feel more confident, prepared, and in control.

You'll learn:

Why boutique owners often fear numbers — how to make financials simple and empowering
The basic bookkeeping systems every boutique should have
How to protect your cash flow with smarter inventory and spending guardrails
Why debt like Shopify Capital can quietly destroy a retail business
How to prepare for taxes year-round and avoid the most common tax mistakes

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Make sure to save the date 👇

2026 Retail Summit

Christyne Gray & She Profits Now:

Website: sheprofitsnow.com Instagram: @ChristyneGray

Facebook: @ChristyneGray

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

Five Minute Friday: 5 Biggest Misconceptions About Being a Boutique Owner Mar 06, 2026

Show notes

In this Five Minute Friday, Ashley Alderson breaks down the FIVE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS about owning a boutique—the myths that often surprise new business owners once they're actually in the trenches of running a retail business.

While starting a boutique has never been easier, building a profitable and sustainable one requires far more than great products and a beautiful Instagram feed. Ashley shares the realities behind inventory management, customer support, time commitment, profitability, and what it really takes to succeed in the retail industry.

If you're currently running a boutique or thinking about starting one, this episode will help you reset expectations and focus on the strategies that truly drive success.

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

#801: The 2026 Retail Reset: Retail Is Changing. Are You? Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

We are officially back! Season 8 kicks off with a powerful conversation about the 2026 Retail Summit and why this next season of retail will require new tools, new strategies, and a new level of connection.

Ashley Alderson and Samantha Conner pull back the curtain on what's coming August 16–17 in Dallas… and why being in the room matters more than ever. This isn't just another conference. It's two packed days of hands-on training, retail strategy, vendor connection, immersive learning, and real community — all happening at a brand-new luxury location.

And yes… there are some major reveals inside this episode.

You'll learn:

Why retail success requires more than just listening to podcasts — it requires proximity
The big location announcement: moving to the Hilton Anatole in Dallas
Why this season of business requires tools we've never used before
VIP experience details and early bird member access
A secret new tool launching LIVE at Summit

Make sure to save the date 👇

2026 Retail Summit

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

Five Minute Friday: The 13 Strategies Boutique Owners Need for 2026 Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

As we wrap up Season 7 of the Boutique Chat Podcast, I wanted to pause—right where you're listening—and take an honest look at where the retail industry stands today and where it's headed next.

Based on 1,000's of conversations with boutique owners over the past year, this episode breaks down 13 key focus areas that are truly working right now and will matter most in 2026. These aren't trends for trends' sake—these are strategic shifts, mindset changes, and operational priorities that will help you grow with clarity, confidence, and profitability.

We'll talk about how consumer behavior shifted in 2025, why trust and community matter more than ever, how to use AI without losing your voice, and what successful retailers are doing differently as we move into the next season.

Industry Reset: Where Retail Stands Now

How 2025 reshaped consumer spending and buying behavior
Why value and trust now matter more than impulse and volume
The impact of tariffs, de minimis changes, and the shift back toward small business support

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- Which of the 13 stood out most?

- What you loved (or didn't) in Season 7

- Who you want to hear from in Season 8

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

#747: Blending Home, Gift, Apparel, and Events into One Profitable Business Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

What if the fastest way to grow your boutique… isn't more products, but a better experience?

In this episode, Ashley sits down with Hannah Carlson of Mulberry Market Co. Hannah shares her story of how she went from selling jam at a veggie stand on her parents' farm to building a booming, curated retail brand—then she moved across the country and essentially started over. We get into the real play-by-play: switching systems, barcoding, syncing Shopify + Lightspeed, adding apparel, leaning into local makers, and building a workshop/event machine that brings new customers through the door (and actually converts them).

You'll learn:

How Hannah accidentally built a business from a mulberry tree… and why it worked
The "local makers" strategy that filled a bigger space and fueled word-of-mouth growth
Why apparel became a growth lever—and the buying/turn differences vs. home + gift
Margin realities: women's apparel vs. kids, plus pricing pressure in home + gift
Workshops as a funnel: paid events that create community, drive traffic, and trigger purchases

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Retail Bootcamp

Hannah Carlson & Mulberry Market Co.

Website: mulberrymarketco.com Instagram: @mulberrymarketco

Facebook: @mulberrymarketco

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram