Small Business Blog

Empowering Entrepreneurs, One Blog at a Time.

All Blogs

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

Are You Ready to Lose It All?

Are you ready to risk losing everything you’ve built? That might sound dramatic, but it’s a very real threat if you’re unknowingly selling trademarked, copyrighted, or unlicensed goods. In this Five Minute Friday, I want to shed light on a pervasive issue in our industry that could jeopardize your entire business.

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

To Be Interesting, You Have To Be Interested

Welcome to another edition of Five Minute Friday! Today, I want to explore a quote that sparked thought for me. The quote goes: “To be interesting, you have to be interesting. To be loved, you have to love. To be friends, you have to be friendly. And to be interesting, you’ve got to be interested.”

This simple yet profound statement holds valuable insights, especially for those of us navigating the realms of business and personal growth. Let’s unpack what it means and how it can transform our interactions and relationships.

Read More

Small Town Dreams to Big Time Success: Building a Business with Heart

Welcome back to the Boutique Chat podcast! Today’s conversation promises to be an enlightening one as we delve into the journey of Kari Patfield, a successful boutique owner hailing from small-town America. Join us as we uncover the insights and strategies that have fueled Kari business growth and positioned her as a standout entrepreneur in her community.

Read More

The Bus Rule

Welcome to another edition of Five Minute Friday! Today, I want to explore a rather unusual, albeit important, scenario — what if you suddenly couldn’t manage your business? It’s a scenario we seldom like to consider, dubbed the “Bus Rule,” but preparing for it is crucial for any entrepreneur aiming for long-term success and resilience.

Read More

Wholesale Buying Strategies and Trend Forecasting on Hubventory

Welcome back to the Boutique Chat podcast! This week, I’m thrilled to introduce a gem from our own team, Samantha Conner, who has been a radiant presence in our community and a familiar face across various fashion markets from Dallas to Vegas and Atlanta. Samantha has a robust understanding of the fashion industry from both the brand and boutique perspectives, making her insights invaluable. Her first-hand experience with Hubventory, our innovative online wholesale platform, adds a layer of depth to our discussion on the evolving dynamics of the fashion marketplace. We’re deep diving into all things wholesale buying and trend forecasting!

Read More

Boutique Summit 2024: What to Expect

Besides our SIX keynotes and SIXTEEN breakout sessions, we have so many things for you to enjoy at our 8th annual Boutique Summit. Here’s what you can expect at the 2024 Boutique Summit in Dallas Texas!

Read More

Three Questions to Add to Your Morning Routine

Welcome to another edition of Five Minute Friday! How you begin your day often sets the tone for the rest of it. Do you start your day actively engaging with what excites you, or do you find yourself defensively reacting to the external demands thrown at you from the moment you wake up? Today, I want to dive into a transformative approach to morning routines that has profoundly impacted my life and could change yours too.

Read More

The Impact of Attending The Boutique Summit

Welcome back to the Boutique Chat podcast! In this episode, I am to diving into a topic that hits close to home for many of us, especially those managing the juggle of family life and entrepreneurship. We all know running a business is demanding. It consumes your days and, before you know it, years have flown by. I’ve been at the helm of the Boutique Hub for nearly eleven years, and through this journey, the challenge has consistently been about not getting lost in the day-to-day operations and finding time to step back and work on the business, rather than just in it. The impact of attending Summit goes deeper than one might assume.

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

Are You Ready to Lose It All?

Are you ready to risk losing everything you’ve built? That might sound dramatic, but it’s a very real threat if you’re unknowingly selling trademarked, copyrighted, or unlicensed goods. In this Five Minute Friday, I want to shed light on a pervasive issue in our industry that could jeopardize your entire business.

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

To Be Interesting, You Have To Be Interested

Welcome to another edition of Five Minute Friday! Today, I want to explore a quote that sparked thought for me. The quote goes: “To be interesting, you have to be interesting. To be loved, you have to love. To be friends, you have to be friendly. And to be interesting, you’ve got to be interested.”

This simple yet profound statement holds valuable insights, especially for those of us navigating the realms of business and personal growth. Let’s unpack what it means and how it can transform our interactions and relationships.

Read More

Small Town Dreams to Big Time Success: Building a Business with Heart

Welcome back to the Boutique Chat podcast! Today’s conversation promises to be an enlightening one as we delve into the journey of Kari Patfield, a successful boutique owner hailing from small-town America. Join us as we uncover the insights and strategies that have fueled Kari business growth and positioned her as a standout entrepreneur in her community.

Read More

The Bus Rule

Welcome to another edition of Five Minute Friday! Today, I want to explore a rather unusual, albeit important, scenario — what if you suddenly couldn’t manage your business? It’s a scenario we seldom like to consider, dubbed the “Bus Rule,” but preparing for it is crucial for any entrepreneur aiming for long-term success and resilience.

Read More

Wholesale Buying Strategies and Trend Forecasting on Hubventory

Welcome back to the Boutique Chat podcast! This week, I’m thrilled to introduce a gem from our own team, Samantha Conner, who has been a radiant presence in our community and a familiar face across various fashion markets from Dallas to Vegas and Atlanta. Samantha has a robust understanding of the fashion industry from both the brand and boutique perspectives, making her insights invaluable. Her first-hand experience with Hubventory, our innovative online wholesale platform, adds a layer of depth to our discussion on the evolving dynamics of the fashion marketplace. We’re deep diving into all things wholesale buying and trend forecasting!

Read More

Boutique Summit 2024: What to Expect

Besides our SIX keynotes and SIXTEEN breakout sessions, we have so many things for you to enjoy at our 8th annual Boutique Summit. Here’s what you can expect at the 2024 Boutique Summit in Dallas Texas!

Read More

Three Questions to Add to Your Morning Routine

Welcome to another edition of Five Minute Friday! How you begin your day often sets the tone for the rest of it. Do you start your day actively engaging with what excites you, or do you find yourself defensively reacting to the external demands thrown at you from the moment you wake up? Today, I want to dive into a transformative approach to morning routines that has profoundly impacted my life and could change yours too.

Read More

The Impact of Attending The Boutique Summit

Welcome back to the Boutique Chat podcast! In this episode, I am to diving into a topic that hits close to home for many of us, especially those managing the juggle of family life and entrepreneurship. We all know running a business is demanding. It consumes your days and, before you know it, years have flown by. I’ve been at the helm of the Boutique Hub for nearly eleven years, and through this journey, the challenge has consistently been about not getting lost in the day-to-day operations and finding time to step back and work on the business, rather than just in it. The impact of attending Summit goes deeper than one might assume.

Read More
Skip to content