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What’s Trending in Gift & Home: A Holiday Buying Guide for Independent Retailers

What’s Trending in Gift & Home: A Holiday Buying Guide for Independent Retailers

Discover what’s trending in the gift and home industry with this Holiday Buying Guide for Home & Gift Retailers. In partnership with the Reps Are Local Too community, this guide highlights top holiday product trends, buying timelines, and merchandising ideas to help independent retailers plan inventory and maximize profits. Learn when to order, what to stock, and how to connect with local reps to keep your store ahead this season.

Read More

Why Dead Inventory Is Costing You and How to Fix It

When you think about building a profitable boutique, what comes to mind first? Marketing? Merchandising? Trend-spotting? All important, sure—but according to MaxRetail founder Melodie Van Der Baan and The Boutique Hub’s Ashley Alderson, if you’re not obsessing over turn rate and smart markdowns, you’re leaving money (and peace of mind) on the table.

Read More

More Profit, Less Work: AOV Strategies That Work

In this Five Minute Friday episode, Ashley shares powerful and practical tips to increase your Average Order Value (AOV) — without relying on more traffic or more hours. If you’re focused on growing sales, AOV is one of the most effective metrics to improve. Ashley breaks down the difference between lagging vs. leading indicators and how small shifts in your merchandising, marketing, and customer experience can lead to major gains.

Read More

Courses – 2025 update

The Tools to Build + Scale Your Dream Retail Business Every resource, handbook, and program you need to start your boutique, grow your audience, launch your offers, boost your sales, and succeed as a retailer. Explore Programs & Courses Now Ready to elevate your retail business to new heights? Our specialized training programs offer step-by-step guidance, mentorship, and one-on-one coaching tailored for boutique owners, independent retailers, e-commerce stores, and wholesale

Read More
Share your expertise

Join – Service Providers

Share your Expertise Connect with an engaged retail community that needs your solutions, without the endless hunt for qualified leads Join Now Lock arms with over 8,000 growth-minded retailers actively seeking trusted partners like you to transform their businesses, together. Daily, we meet retailers from around the world who run into roadblocks finding the right providers: They know they need to evolve their business but struggle to find trusted experts

Read More

The Power of Persistence: Navigating Failure and Finding Your Niche

What happens when your business fails, and you lose everything? Kelly Shiley, CEO of Mary Square, joins the show to share her raw and inspiring journey from launching her business in the kitchen with a baby by her side to losing her home after a business deal fell through. Learn how she bounced back from early failures, the importance of believing in yourself, and how to persist when everything seems to be falling apart. Kelly shares insights on finding traction, understanding market gaps, and why failure is often the first step to success.

Read More

The Power of Community in Retail

Do you wonder how to balance personal challenges with running a successful boutique? In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to have a conversation with Macie Kindler, the founder of The Flossy Peach. Macie’s journey is a testament to resilience and community-building, making her a standout in our industry.

Read More
The art of balance: Managing two careers, Embracing vulnerability, and market expansion

The Art of Balance: Managing Two Careers, Embracing Vulnerability, and Market Expansion

What does it take to transition from a stable career to pursuing your passion full-time? In this episode, we talk to Erica Eickhoff, owner of Styles By Erica, who went from being a hospice nurse to a successful boutique owner. Erica shares her journey from starting her business in her basement just for fun to holding Facebook live sessions that helped her build a dedicated community. She discusses what prompted her to quit her nursing career to open a brick-and-mortar store, how the pandemic affected her business, and the importance of vulnerability and authenticity in her success.

Read More
Inside Dallas Market Center: Retail Revelations and Trends

Inside Dallas Market Center: Retail Revelations and Trends

Hey guys, welcome back! This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with a dear friend and mentor, Cindy Morris, CEO of Dallas Market Center (DMC). Every time Cindy and I get together, our conversations are full of ideas and industry insights. Today, we’re bringing that energy to our community. Whether you’re a wholesale brand manufacturer, a retailer, or someone just curious about market dynamics, Cindy has a wealth of knowledge to share.

Read More
What’s Trending in Gift & Home: A Holiday Buying Guide for Independent Retailers

What’s Trending in Gift & Home: A Holiday Buying Guide for Independent Retailers

Discover what’s trending in the gift and home industry with this Holiday Buying Guide for Home & Gift Retailers. In partnership with the Reps Are Local Too community, this guide highlights top holiday product trends, buying timelines, and merchandising ideas to help independent retailers plan inventory and maximize profits. Learn when to order, what to stock, and how to connect with local reps to keep your store ahead this season.

Read More

Why Dead Inventory Is Costing You and How to Fix It

When you think about building a profitable boutique, what comes to mind first? Marketing? Merchandising? Trend-spotting? All important, sure—but according to MaxRetail founder Melodie Van Der Baan and The Boutique Hub’s Ashley Alderson, if you’re not obsessing over turn rate and smart markdowns, you’re leaving money (and peace of mind) on the table.

Read More

More Profit, Less Work: AOV Strategies That Work

In this Five Minute Friday episode, Ashley shares powerful and practical tips to increase your Average Order Value (AOV) — without relying on more traffic or more hours. If you’re focused on growing sales, AOV is one of the most effective metrics to improve. Ashley breaks down the difference between lagging vs. leading indicators and how small shifts in your merchandising, marketing, and customer experience can lead to major gains.

Read More

Courses – 2025 update

The Tools to Build + Scale Your Dream Retail Business Every resource, handbook, and program you need to start your boutique, grow your audience, launch your offers, boost your sales, and succeed as a retailer. Explore Programs & Courses Now Ready to elevate your retail business to new heights? Our specialized training programs offer step-by-step guidance, mentorship, and one-on-one coaching tailored for boutique owners, independent retailers, e-commerce stores, and wholesale

Read More
Share your expertise

Join – Service Providers

Share your Expertise Connect with an engaged retail community that needs your solutions, without the endless hunt for qualified leads Join Now Lock arms with over 8,000 growth-minded retailers actively seeking trusted partners like you to transform their businesses, together. Daily, we meet retailers from around the world who run into roadblocks finding the right providers: They know they need to evolve their business but struggle to find trusted experts

Read More

The Power of Persistence: Navigating Failure and Finding Your Niche

What happens when your business fails, and you lose everything? Kelly Shiley, CEO of Mary Square, joins the show to share her raw and inspiring journey from launching her business in the kitchen with a baby by her side to losing her home after a business deal fell through. Learn how she bounced back from early failures, the importance of believing in yourself, and how to persist when everything seems to be falling apart. Kelly shares insights on finding traction, understanding market gaps, and why failure is often the first step to success.

Read More

The Power of Community in Retail

Do you wonder how to balance personal challenges with running a successful boutique? In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to have a conversation with Macie Kindler, the founder of The Flossy Peach. Macie’s journey is a testament to resilience and community-building, making her a standout in our industry.

Read More
The art of balance: Managing two careers, Embracing vulnerability, and market expansion

The Art of Balance: Managing Two Careers, Embracing Vulnerability, and Market Expansion

What does it take to transition from a stable career to pursuing your passion full-time? In this episode, we talk to Erica Eickhoff, owner of Styles By Erica, who went from being a hospice nurse to a successful boutique owner. Erica shares her journey from starting her business in her basement just for fun to holding Facebook live sessions that helped her build a dedicated community. She discusses what prompted her to quit her nursing career to open a brick-and-mortar store, how the pandemic affected her business, and the importance of vulnerability and authenticity in her success.

Read More
Inside Dallas Market Center: Retail Revelations and Trends

Inside Dallas Market Center: Retail Revelations and Trends

Hey guys, welcome back! This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with a dear friend and mentor, Cindy Morris, CEO of Dallas Market Center (DMC). Every time Cindy and I get together, our conversations are full of ideas and industry insights. Today, we’re bringing that energy to our community. Whether you’re a wholesale brand manufacturer, a retailer, or someone just curious about market dynamics, Cindy has a wealth of knowledge to share.

Read More