What No One Tells You About Opening a Second Store

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What’s the secret to growing a successful business while staying true to your roots? Join me as I chat with Kimmy Almon, founder of Kimmy’s Boutique, about her journey from side hustler to boutique owner. Starting in 2014 with online and pop-up shops—while juggling a full-time teaching career—Kimmy took a bold leap into brick-and-mortar retail. With deep ties to Waxahachie and Galveston, she reveals how her community connections and personal values fueled an unexpected yet rewarding expansion.

What No One Tells You About Opening a Second Store

The Balancing Act: Running a Business and Raising a Family

Kimmy Almon, a small business owner, is no stranger to the hustle of managing both a business and a growing family. After having her first child, Pierce, in January 2020, she found herself unexpectedly pregnant with twins just four months later. The twins, born on January 17, 2021, are only 12 months apart from Pierce, which has created a chaotic yet rewarding family dynamic.

Kimmy’s experience of juggling motherhood and business ownership has led her to a place of clarity and understanding. As she puts it, “I love my store and my business, but nothing is more important than family.” Over time, Kimmy has learned that when she picks up her children at 3 p.m., that’s when her work at Kimmy’s store stops. While it wasn’t always easy, with long hours that often stretched late into the night, Kimmy realized that setting boundaries helped her separate work from home life, allowing her to fully be present with her family.

“Kids taught me the priorities,” she shares. “Not balance—because I’m not balanced—but how to be where my feet are.” That lesson of presence has profoundly impacted her approach to business and life.

Her and her husband’s shared self-employment journey brings a unique kind of teamwork to their family life. “It’s like tag—you’re it, I’m in,” she laughs, acknowledging how essential their collaboration is in managing their business and home life.

But the real motivation behind all the work? Kimmy is building something meaningful for her children. Even on tough days, when the stress of business weighs heavily, she reminds herself that her efforts will pay off in the long run. “I’m proud of what I’m building for them. I think they’ll be proud of me someday,” she says, and that sense of purpose keeps her moving forward.

Fostering a Community at Kimmy’s Store

One of Kimmy’s core values is community, and she works hard to create a welcoming and supportive environment at her store. One of the ways she’s been doing this recently is through personal styling appointments. “Income generating now is just community, community, community,” she emphasizes. Helping clients feel good about themselves and teaching them how to style their clothes is more important than making sales for Kimmy.

“It’s not about how much they buy; it’s about making them feel good and educating them on how to wear their clothes. That’s where I see the real impact,” she explains. These personal interactions, she believes, go beyond just selling products. They build a sense of belonging and trust, which is crucial to the success of her business.

The Importance of Knowing Your Numbers

While connecting with customers is a huge part of Kimmy’s strategy, she also knows that understanding the financial side of her business is just as essential. “Digging into your numbers is definitely the least fun, but it is the most valuable thing you can do,” Kimmy shares. This means understanding everything from margins to cash flow to credit card balances—because, as she puts it, “Your business’s heartbeat is the cash coming in and out.”

This attention to detail in financials has helped her steer the ship, even when the waters get rough. She credits keeping a close eye on her bank account and sales metrics as one of the reasons her business stays afloat.

Setting Boundaries for a Healthier Work-Life Balance

Kimmy’s business has grown and evolved over the years, and so have her strategies for managing her time. One of the most significant changes she’s made is stepping back from working the floor every day. “I used to think I could save money by being on the floor four days a week, but I’ve learned that it’s not what fills my cup,” she admits. Instead, by freeing up time from the sales floor, she’s able to focus on the behind-the-scenes work that is essential for the store’s success—and more importantly, she has the time to be a mom at night.

This shift has allowed Kimmy to focus on high-impact tasks, like overseeing the store’s operations and managing her team, without losing sight of her family. “I’ve kind of saved those floor moments for special times,” she says, highlighting how she balances her time between business and personal life.

The Power of Metrics

As a brick-and-mortar store owner, Kimmy tracks some unconventional but incredibly useful metrics—like foot traffic. By using a clicker to track how many people come in and out of her store each day, she gains valuable insights into her business. Kimmy uses foot traffic data to decide on promotions, events, and staffing needs. By linking foot traffic with sales numbers, she has been able to improve her conversion rates, helping her team sell more while providing exceptional service to customers.

One of her goals is to ensure that the people who walk into her store feel valued and taken care of, which, in turn, improves her bottom line. She shares, “If I get 50 people through the door, I should get a certain number of orders. How can we improve that? How can we improve average order value? It’s all part of the strategy.”

The Best Business Advice Kimmy’s Received

Kimmy’s entrepreneurial journey has been shaped by many pieces of advice, but one sticks out as especially valuable: “When you try to serve everyone, you will serve no one.” She reflects on how, early on, she tried to cater to a broad customer base, selling products for everyone who walked through her door. However, she quickly realized that this approach was unsustainable. “If you’re trying to serve all of them, you’re really serving none of them,” she says. Now, by narrowing her focus, she’s able to cater to a specific customer base, allowing her to create a more cohesive and effective brand.

What It Means to Be a Good Boss

Kimmy’s perspective on leadership has evolved over time. “Being a good boss used to mean giving everyone everything they wanted. Now I’ve learned that it’s about being honest with my team and using teachable moments to help them grow,” she says. While it’s important to be generous and supportive, she’s realized that true leadership lies in guiding and mentoring her team rather than trying to please everyone all the time.

As a self-employed business owner, Kimmy has found that finding the right balance between work, family, and personal growth is key. She’s proud of what she’s built at Kimmy’s, and even on challenging days, she remains inspired by her family’s future and the community she’s created at her store.

Through the ups and downs of motherhood and entrepreneurship, Kimmy continues to grow and evolve, always striving to be present, purposeful, and dedicated to her business and her family.

In This Episode

Kimmy Almon: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Boutique Summit 2025
Retail Bootcamp
2025 Boutique Boss Planner
Join The Boutique Hub
Ashley Alderson: Instagram
The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube

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