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Small Business Blog

Empowering Entrepreneurs, One Blog at a Time.

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MAGIC Nashville

The Boutique Hub at MAGIC Nashville

We are heading to Nashville and can’t wait! The Boutique Hub Team is excited to partner with MAGIC at their inaugural Nashville event. Here’s everything you need to know about attending…

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Inside the 2026 FGI Dallas Scholarship Competition

If you want to know what’s coming next in retail… watch the students.

The FGI Dallas 2026 Scholarship Competition is a real-time look at how the next generation is thinking about product, merchandising, sustainability, and technology.

Read More
Why Most Boutique Owners Never Finish What They Start

Five Minute Friday (Couch Conversations): Why Most Boutique Owners Never Finish What They Start

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by too many ideas, struggled to stay focused, or wondered why your business isn’t growing as fast as it should… this conversation is for you. Ashley Alderson and Sara Burks dive into the reality of being a visionary entrepreneur, why not every idea is meant for right now, and how understanding your role (and building the right support around you) can completely change your business.

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#806: The Messy Middle of Building a Business

What does it actually look like to grow a boutique from nothing… into multiple thriving businesses?

Ashley sits down with Alyssa Wagler, owner of Top Notch Boutique, who built her business from the ground up—beginning in a mini barn and growing into storefronts, wholesale, and custom manufacturing.

But growth didn’t come with a clear plan… and it definitely didn’t come easy. This is the real, unfiltered conversation about what happens when your business starts working—and you’re forced to figure out how to scale it in real time.

Read More
The Andromeda Algorithm: How Boutique Owners Can Get More Reach on Social Media in 2026

The Andromeda Algorithm: How Boutique Owners Can Get More Reach on Social Media in 2026

Social media reach isn’t what it used to be—and there’s a reason why. A new shift known as the Andromeda algorithm is changing how content gets seen, prioritizing watch time, engagement, and real, relatable video over polished sales posts. If you’re a boutique owner wondering why your clothing posts aren’t performing, this blog breaks down exactly what’s happening and how to create content that actually gets reach (and drives sales) in 2026.

Read More

Why the Success of Your Brick and Mortar Store isn’t Working Online (And the One Shift That Changes Everything)

Guest Blog by Capital Commerce. You built something real. Your store has that vibe where people walk in and immediately get all the feelings. Your regulars bring their friends (and most have become friends by now). Your product mix is dialed in. Your merchandising tells a story – one that changes with the seasons, with trends, with your own instincts about what your customer is about to fall in love with.

Read More
Why Community Is the Secret to Long-Term Success

#805: Why Community Is the Secret to Long-Term Success

In this episode, Ashley sits down with April Burks, owner of Love Ivy Boutique to unpack the real story behind longevity in retail. From starting at 24 years old with no roadmap to building a thriving store rooted in community, confidence, and customer relationships.

Read More

Five Minute Friday (Couch Conversations): The Ins & Outs of Business

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,

Read More
MAGIC Nashville

The Boutique Hub at MAGIC Nashville

We are heading to Nashville and can’t wait! The Boutique Hub Team is excited to partner with MAGIC at their inaugural Nashville event. Here’s everything you need to know about attending…

Read More

Inside the 2026 FGI Dallas Scholarship Competition

If you want to know what’s coming next in retail… watch the students.

The FGI Dallas 2026 Scholarship Competition is a real-time look at how the next generation is thinking about product, merchandising, sustainability, and technology.

Read More
Why Most Boutique Owners Never Finish What They Start

Five Minute Friday (Couch Conversations): Why Most Boutique Owners Never Finish What They Start

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by too many ideas, struggled to stay focused, or wondered why your business isn’t growing as fast as it should… this conversation is for you. Ashley Alderson and Sara Burks dive into the reality of being a visionary entrepreneur, why not every idea is meant for right now, and how understanding your role (and building the right support around you) can completely change your business.

Read More

#806: The Messy Middle of Building a Business

What does it actually look like to grow a boutique from nothing… into multiple thriving businesses?

Ashley sits down with Alyssa Wagler, owner of Top Notch Boutique, who built her business from the ground up—beginning in a mini barn and growing into storefronts, wholesale, and custom manufacturing.

But growth didn’t come with a clear plan… and it definitely didn’t come easy. This is the real, unfiltered conversation about what happens when your business starts working—and you’re forced to figure out how to scale it in real time.

Read More
The Andromeda Algorithm: How Boutique Owners Can Get More Reach on Social Media in 2026

The Andromeda Algorithm: How Boutique Owners Can Get More Reach on Social Media in 2026

Social media reach isn’t what it used to be—and there’s a reason why. A new shift known as the Andromeda algorithm is changing how content gets seen, prioritizing watch time, engagement, and real, relatable video over polished sales posts. If you’re a boutique owner wondering why your clothing posts aren’t performing, this blog breaks down exactly what’s happening and how to create content that actually gets reach (and drives sales) in 2026.

Read More

Why the Success of Your Brick and Mortar Store isn’t Working Online (And the One Shift That Changes Everything)

Guest Blog by Capital Commerce. You built something real. Your store has that vibe where people walk in and immediately get all the feelings. Your regulars bring their friends (and most have become friends by now). Your product mix is dialed in. Your merchandising tells a story – one that changes with the seasons, with trends, with your own instincts about what your customer is about to fall in love with.

Read More
Why Community Is the Secret to Long-Term Success

#805: Why Community Is the Secret to Long-Term Success

In this episode, Ashley sits down with April Burks, owner of Love Ivy Boutique to unpack the real story behind longevity in retail. From starting at 24 years old with no roadmap to building a thriving store rooted in community, confidence, and customer relationships.

Read More

Five Minute Friday (Couch Conversations): The Ins & Outs of Business

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,

Read More