Small Business Blog

What happens when you take over a 48-year-old boutique—and realize the business has to change? In this episode, Megan Healey joins Ashley Alderson to share her journey from corporate retail to legacy boutique owner. After discovering The Boutique Hub through this very podcast, she went on to purchase Different Strokes for Little Folks. Megan shares how she had to learn how to stop treating the store like a hobby, trust

Should you open a second boutique location—or go bigger with your online store? Before you expand, there’s one thing you need to check first: are your business operations actually ready for growth? Sara Burks breaks down why boutique owners can get distracted by exciting new opportunities while overlooking the systems that keep the business running. A new storefront, new inventory, or bigger online presence can sound like the next step—but

What does it actually take to stay in business for 30 years? Ashley Alderson sits down with longtime boutique owner Anna Rodriguez, My Forever Cowgirl, for a full-circle conversation about building a business in Western fashion, surviving vendor shows, knowing your customer, and creating a brand people remember. Anna shares the lessons she learned from decades on the road — from trial-and-error at shows to building a powerful denim business,

What can a 43-year retail veteran teach us about the future of boutique retail? Lou Spagna, Chair of the Board of Advisors at DigitBridge, spent 43 years in retail running companies ranging from 20 stores to 1,000 stores. After experiencing the Boutique Hub Summit, he shares what surprised him about the boutique industry — and why he believes boutiques play an important role in the modern retail ecosystem. You’ll learn:

Are your systems actually helping your business grow—or are they quietly holding you back? As retailers add Shopify, brick-and-mortar, wholesale, live selling, TikTok, Etsy, marketplaces, and multiple fulfillment channels, the technology behind the business can quickly become a mess. Ashley Alderson sits down with Justin Low, Head Operator at DigitBridge, to talk about modern commerce, unified data, automation, AI, multi-channel selling, fulfillment, and the operational problems that can cost retailers

Should you open a second location—or go all-in on online? Before you expand, Sara Burks is here discuss four things every retailer needs to assess: your customer, your why, your time, and your passion. Too often, retailers expand because they overbought inventory, found an available building, or simply feel like they need to grow. But expansion without a plan can create bigger problems instead of bigger profits. You’ll learn: How