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Recent Episodes from Boutique Chat

FTV: Boutique Owner Myths Debunked with Sara Burks

Sara Burks, our director of partnerships and education at The Boutique Hub, and I go over Boutique Owner Myths Debunked in this Season 2 episode — which was the topic of one of our breakout sessions at the 2019 Boutique Summit.

No matter where you’re at in your business journey, it's always good to go back to the play book. We cover loads of useful info, such as the importance of knowing your numbers, moving inventory, and so much more!

Join us at the 2024 Boutique Summit for sessions on topics such as productivity habits, leveraging organic marketing, live sales best practices, how to boost foot traffic, resiliency in any economy and so much more! Learn more and sign up HERE.

RSVP for our next Retail Bootcamp session HERE.

I so hope you enjoy this bonus episode From The Vault. It's one that is definitely worth hearing again — and taking notes!

For show notes & resources see below or click here.

First released June 2019.

Resources:

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

Retail Bootcamp

en-usFebruary 16, 2024

FTV: How to be more Productive as a Business Owner with Ashley Alderson

“It’s so common today to hear the word busy. Everybody is busy. But the question is, are you busy doing the right things?”

In this episode from Season 3, I talk about how I’ve learned to think like a CEO, prioritize my time and set necessary boundaries, and I outline my top tips for How to be More Productive. I cover the three questions you need to ask yourself every day, how to implement time blocking, and what daily habits can transform you into a more productive business owner. But that’s not all, tune in to hear the details!

I so hope you enjoy this bonus episode From The Vault. It's one that is definitely worth hearing again — and taking notes!

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

First released October 2020.

Resources:

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

en-usFebruary 09, 2024

6 Lessons Business Owners Can Learn from Taylor Swift

As I wrap up Season 5 of the podcast, I want to talk about where we are in the industry, where there’s opportunity right now, how to approach marketing your business in 2024 ... but mainly I want to talk about Taylor Swift!

Whether you like her music or not, you can’t deny that Taylor Swift has had a monumental economic impact. The Eras Tour alone had an estimated $5 billion impact. It’s also estimated that Taylor's added an additional $300 million to the Kansas City Chiefs franchise in terms of merch sales and media deals. So as our industry is changing and customer spending habits are shifting, we can look at how our customers are spending money, specifically around Taylor Swift, and ask ourselves, what can we learn from it and how can we apply it to marketing our businesses in 2024?

People don’t want to just buy products, they want to buy experiences, they want to be a part of something, they want to feel good. And that’s something Taylor has done such a great job at offering her fans. Looking at her success, we can see the importance of things like leveraging nostalgia, building a community, creating memes, collaborating with brands, storytelling, and using scarcity to drive sales.

We will back for Season 6 on March 19! I’m welcoming new guests, sharing new stories, and I’ll be throwing in some new bite-sized episodes to address trending topics and help you take action. So, I hope you’ll join me again in March for an all-new season of Boutique Chat! Until then, reach out to me on Instagram at @ajalderson. I would love to know what you think of the podcast, guests you’d like to see on the show, your wins throughout the year, issues you’re struggling with … I want to hear from you!

“People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions, and help them throw rocks at their enemies.”

― Blair Warren

Resources:

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

Your Guide to Vegas Apparel Markets February 2024

en-usFebruary 06, 2024

Discover more MAGIC in 2024 with Kelly Helfman, President of MAGIC

I’m so excited to welcome back to the show one of my favorite guests and BFFs, Kelly Helfman, President of MAGIC. And we have some BIG news to share with you!

Of course, I first get the inside scoop on emerging trends and what we can expect at the upcoming MAGIC events in Las Vegas, New York and Nashville. But Kelly and I spend most of the episode talking about our big announcement … a new partnership!

The Boutique Hub is partnering with MAGIC in a much bigger way than ever before to help you Discover More MAGIC in 2024! The Hub will have a booth on the show floor at every MAGIC event throughout the year, and our team will be there to greet you, provide resources, answer questions, and take new buyers on our BFF tour.

Join The Hub team at MAGIC to connect with the community, discover your next best-sellers, uncover exclusive trend forecasting, build business insights and so much more!

Additional Resources:

Kelly Helfman: Website | Instagram

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

en-usFebruary 02, 2024

A Masterclass on Building and Scaling a Brand with Sam Paik, State of Fashion / YZE Agency

This week I am talking to one of my favorite people in the industry who’s advised me, encouraged me, brainstormed with me … and pushed me to eat more than just meatballs! In addition to being a good friend and foodie, Sam has worked in every single corner of the fashion industry and has such amazing insight into how things work and where there’s opportunity.

Design, production, marketing, sales, customer service – you name it, he’s done it! Sam has launched multiple apparel lines, worked in the corporate sector, and now runs his own consulting firm, State of Fashion / YZE Agency.

In this episode, Sam and I cover it all, talking about the trials and tribulations of wholesale production, establishing a brand, marketing strategies and tradeshows, as well as the entrepreneurial mindset and how to persevere through hardship.

Resources:

Wholesale Marketing Handbook

State of Fashion: Website | info@stateoffashion.com | 213.514.5888

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

How to Register for Market

en-usJanuary 30, 2024

FTV: Legal Tips for Small Businesses with Andrea Sager, founder and CEO of The Legalpreneur

On this episode of the #BoutiqueChat Podcast, Andrea Sager joined me for Legal Tips for Small Businesses. As an attorney and former boutique owner, Andrea knows all the legal information small business owners may overlook. I chatted with her in season 3 about how to choose the right entity, how to avoid infringement, and trademarks. Bring a pencil and paper for this episode because Andrea addresses all the critical legal tips small business owners need to know about!

I so hope you enjoy this bonus episode From The Vault. It's one that is definitely worth hearing again — and taking notes!

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

First released November 2020.

Resources:

Andrea Sager: Instagram

The Legalpreneur: Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

en-usJanuary 26, 2024

How Regional Markets Can Benefit Your Business with Tara Thorn, Cedar and Cypress Designs

Today we’re talking all things market – what sets regional markets apart from national shows, the benefits of both, the importance of attending market, and tips for success while there.

In addition to being the owner and founder of Cedar and Cypress Designs, my friend Tara Thorn is also on the board at the Minneapolis Mart, which holds six annual shows and is considered the number one regional mart in the country. Tara shares how MPLS helped grow her business and the unique opportunities it provides for both buyers and brands.

Resources:

How to Register for Market

5 Tips for Attending Wholesale Markets as a Boutique Owner

Attending Apparel Markets: Tips from Boutique Owners

Cedar and Cypress Designs: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Minneapolis Mart: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

en-usJanuary 23, 2024

FTV: Scaling from Entrepreneur to CEO with host Ashley Alderson

I reflected on some of my personal experiences as a business owner in this solo episode on Season 3. When I started to look backward through the evolution of The Hub, I identified five steps that I think we took to grow our business and that I have seen mirrored in other businesses.

I call them the 5 Steps for Scaling from Entrepreneur to CEO, and in this episode, I talk through them in detail, focusing on growth mindset versus fixed mindset, setting hard boundaries, building systems, how to create a better culture within your team, and how to properly allocate your time as a CEO.

I so hope you enjoy this bonus episode From The Vault. It's one that is definitely worth hearing again — and taking notes!

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

First released July 2020.

Resources:

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

en-usJanuary 19, 2024

If You Don’t Adapt, It’s Not Going To Work with Taylor Jones McClellan, The Tiny Closet

Diversifying sources of revenue, building a personal brand, social media marketing and running a business through different seasons of life – Taylor and I talk about it all in this episode!

The founder of The Tiny Closet, Taylor Jones McClellan is back on the podcast to update us on her life and business. Since last being on the show in Season 2, Taylor has been busy! She’s gotten married, become a mom, moved storefronts and started several other businesses.

We talk about how The Tiny Closet has evolved throughout the last seven years, her evolution as a business owner and boss, adapting to a changing industry, how to find new channels of income, breaking into wholesale, and the ins and outs of social media , among other things!

Resources:

Taylor Jones McClellan: Instagram

The Tiny Closet: Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

Best Year Yet 3-Day FREE Virtual Event

en-usJanuary 16, 2024

FTV: 12 Crucial Tips for Boutique Owner Success with Sara Burks

In this episode, I was joined by our retail professor Sara Burks to talk about the 2020 Retail Bootcamp and go through our 12 Crucial Tips for Boutique Owner Success that were a key focus of the course.

Retail Bootcamp isn’t just for those who feel their business is failing; your business will always have areas to improve on and grow. Retail is shifting and expanding every day, it’s time to be prepared. After today's podcast, you will be astounded by all aspects of your business you may have overlooked. Let’s start transforming your business today!

Our biggest annual educational program at The Hub is Retail Bootcamp (think college for boutique owners!) Sara and I do live coaching sessions, plus we’re joined by more than 50 industry experts. Enrollment is now open for 2024! Click the link below to learn more about this year’s Retail Bootcamp and enroll today! Best of all, once you sign up, you have lifetime access to participate each semester.

I so hope you enjoy this bonus episode From The Vault. It's one that is definitely worth hearing again — and taking notes!

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

First released January 2020.

Resources:

Retail Bootcamp

Sara Burks: Instagram

Ashley Alderson: Instagram