If you’ve been around for a while, you no doubt remember when the separation between apparel boutiques and home and gift boutiques was much wider than it is now. Since the pandemic, we have been on a fast track to see a lot more crossover between these two categories. In this episode, I’m excited to dive into this growing trend with Angela Schmook, VP of Sales and Marketing at Road Runners LLC, a company that represents numerous wholesale brands in every category from home decor to jewelry collections and gifts of all types.
Listen in as we delve into what apparel and home and gift boutiques can learn from each other, the common misconceptions between home and gift and apparel, current trends, and the different business practices that work for each. Angela also explains the difference between wholesale representatives and agencies, the advantages of working with a rep agency, and she shares her advice for retailers and insights on where she sees the overall industry heading.
We also talk about the upcoming home and gift show at Dallas Market Center, where you can find Angela next week!
Resources Featured In This Episode:
- Angela Schmook: Website
- Hubventory Home and Gift Week
- The Boutique Hub: Facebook | Instagram | Website
- Ashley Alderson: Instagram
- Summer School
- The Boutique Hub Membership
- Boutique Hub Black
- Retail Bootcamp
- Hubventory.com
>>Uniting Apparel and Home & Gift Boutiques– LISTEN NOW ON iTunes <<
>>Uniting Apparel and Home & Gift Boutiques– LISTEN NOW ON Spotify <<
See the Full Boutique Chat Podcast Website here
Watch the episode on YouTube:
Uniting Apparel and Home & Gift Boutiques
- Angela’s advice for retailers.
- What the current trends are in the industry.
- The different timelines between apparel and home and gift.
- The advantages to working with a sales rep.
- The opportunities for apparel and home and gift boutiques to work together.
- The difference in profit margins.
- What the most successful stores have in common.
- Angela’s journey in the industry.
Favorite Quotes from Angela Schmook
“We are right in the middle of a very interesting moment.” – Angela Schmook [7:30]
“We’re in this moment of caution.” – Angela Schmook [8:25]
“The larger your order, the larger your perks.” – Angela Schmook [16:15]
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: June 13th, 2023
Do you love the details of Uniting Apparel and Home & Gift Boutiques? Let us know what you think about our show and help spread the word about the #BoutiqueChat Podcast.
Recent Posts:
- Holiday Retail Tip: USPS Shipping Cutoff
The holiday season is the busiest time of year for retailers, and getting your marketing strategy in place is essential to make the most of it. A significant date to focus on this season? The USPS shipping cutoff. Here’s a guide to leveraging this deadline to boost profits, keep customers happy, and make sure every sale counts. - Designing with Purpose: Crafting Products that Spark Joy and ConnectionToday I am joined by Taylor Elliott, a shining light of positive energy and the woman behind the colorful, cheerful, and fabulous products on Taylor Elliot Designs. She’s here today to give us a glimpse into her life, her business, and how she creates products that spark joy and connection. Listen in to learn how Taylor made her way into the product design space, how her designs and products changed (or stayed the same) over time, and more.
- How Small Business Owners Can Use ChatGPT to Create Engaging Product Descriptions & Content
Managing a small business involves wearing a lot of hats, and creating fresh, engaging content is just one of them. From product descriptions to social media posts, quality content can drive sales and customer loyalty. But it’s time-consuming—and that’s where ChatGPT can be a game-changer.
