Ang Castelli of Roman & Leo is another industry veteran celebrating a 10th anniversary this year! She’s also a longtime Hub member and her boutique is unlike any other at The Hub — it caters exclusively to boys and boy moms!
When pregnant with her first son back in 2010 and trying to prep his closet, Ang thought, “Why are there no clothes for little boys and why are the children’s clothing stores so dominated by girl’s apparel?” Three years and two sons later, she’d become an expert on boy brands and shopping online. So in 2013, she founded Roman & Leo, an all-boys clothing store that she named after her boys.
Ang says boy’s apparel can be a tough market, but it’s her passion as a boy mom (she now has three!) and she’s learned to lean into her niche, rely on her community, make the most of media and utilize data to continually adapt strategies and scale the business.
We chat on the podcast about the lessons she’s learned throughout the last decade, her approach to marketing, social media, inventory management and collection planning, as well as some of the unique obstacles posed by boy’s apparel, such as merchandising and photoshoots. Ang also shares what it means to be a part of The Hub and how she’s continuously learning from other boutique owners!
Resources Featured In This Episode:
- Roman & Leo: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
- The Boutique Hub:  Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube
- Ashley Alderson:Â Instagram
- Boutique Summit 2024
- 2024 Boutique Boss Planner
- The Boutique Hub Membership
- Boutique Hub Black
- Hubventory.com
>>Finding Traction and Fostering Growth in a Niche Market – LISTEN NOW ON iTunes <<
>>Finding Traction and Fostering Growth in a Niche Market– LISTEN NOW ON Spotify <<
See the Full Boutique Chat Podcast Website here
Watch the episode on YouTube:
What You’ll Learn About in Finding Traction and Fostering Growth in a Niche Market with Ang Castelli
- Identifying your niche and knowing your core customer
- The power of community support and local press
- Target marketing and digital strategies
- Utilizing data and assessing every aspect of your business
- Planning collections and seasonal buying
- Inventory management
- Photoshoots with customers as models
Join the Hub for more training, information, and connections.
www.theboutiquehub.com/join
Use the hashtag #AskAshley on Instagram, or tag her at @ajalderson or @theboutiquehub to suggest topics for the podcast and let us know what you thought about this episode!
Do you love the Boutique Chat Podcast?! Subscribe to our podcast and after that, leave us a review on iTunes Apple Podcasts here!
Original Air Date: August 29th, 2023
Do you love the details of Finding Traction and Fostering Growth in a Niche Market with Ang Castelli of Roman & Leo? Let us know what you think about our show and help spread the word about the #BoutiqueChat Podcast.
Recent Posts:
- The Boutique Hub at MAGIC New York
The Hub Team is heading to MAGIC New York again and we couldn’t be more excited! With over 320+ brands, you are sure to find more MAGIC in a (New York) minute! - Is Your Boutique Quiet, or Is Your Space Pushing Customers Away?January is slow. You already know that. But here’s the uncomfortable question most boutique owners avoid asking: Is it the season or is it your store? The start of a new year is the perfect time to take a hard look at your space. Not when you’re knee-deep in shipments, slammed on weekends, and wishing you had time to fix things, but now. During the quiet. During the downtime. During the moment when changes are actually possible.
- Five Minute Friday: The 13 Strategies Boutique Owners Need for 2026
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… Read more: Five Minute Friday: The 13 Strategies Boutique Owners Need for 2026
