As we wrap up Season 7 of the Boutique Chat Podcast, I wanted to pause—right where you're listening—and take an honest look at where the retail industry stands today and where it's headed next.

Based on 1,000's of conversations with boutique owners over the past year, this episode breaks down 13 key focus areas that are truly working right now and will matter most in 2026. These aren't trends for trends' sake—these are strategic shifts, mindset changes, and operational priorities that will help you grow with clarity, confidence, and profitability.

We'll talk about how consumer behavior shifted in 2025, why trust and community matter more than ever, how to use AI without losing your voice, and what successful retailers are doing differently as we move into the next season.

• How 2025 reshaped consumer spending and buying behavior

• Why value and trust now matter more than impulse and volume

• The impact of tariffs, de minimis changes, and the shift back toward small business support

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- Which of the 13 stood out most?

- What you loved (or didn't) in Season 7

- Who you want to hear from in Season 8

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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What if the fastest way to grow your boutique… isn't more products, but a better experience?

In this episode, Ashley sits down with Hannah Carlson of Mulberry Market Co. Hannah shares her story of how she went from selling jam at a veggie stand on her parents' farm to building a booming, curated retail brand—then she moved across the country and essentially started over. We get into the real play-by-play: switching systems, barcoding, syncing Shopify + Lightspeed, adding apparel, leaning into local makers, and building a workshop/event machine that brings new customers through the door (and actually converts them).

You'll learn:

• How Hannah accidentally built a business from a mulberry tree… and why it worked

• The "local makers" strategy that filled a bigger space and fueled word-of-mouth growth

• Why apparel became a growth lever—and the buying/turn differences vs. home + gift

• Margin realities: women's apparel vs. kids, plus pricing pressure in home + gift

• Workshops as a funnel: paid events that create community, drive traffic, and trigger purchases

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Retail Bootcamp

Hannah Carlson & Mulberry Market Co.

Website: mulberrymarketco.com Instagram: @mulberrymarketco

Facebook: @mulberrymarketco

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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Burnout is one of the most common struggles for boutique owners, retailers, and small business owners—and it's rarely caused by laziness or lack of passion. More often, it comes from trying to do too much, growing too fast, and drifting away from the very reason you started your business in the first place.

In this episode, Sara Burks breaks down why burnout happens, how over expansion drains your energy, and why "more" isn't always better.

You'll learn:

• The #1 reason small business owners experience burnout

• A simple exercise to identify what energizes vs. drains you

• Why burnout impacts not just your business—but your family too

• How learning to say "no" can be one of your most powerful tools

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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In this episode, Ashley sits down with Kristi Briceno (Mom Buns and Ruffles) for a conversation that's equal parts deeply personal and highly tactical.

Kristi shares her journey from nursing to photography to direct sales, the moment her company shut down with almost no notice. But the story doesn't stop there. Kristi breaks down how she pivoted into owning her own boutique, how she finally got clear on who her customer is, and what it looks like to keep showing up when life feels heavy.

You'll learn:

• The moment she realized: "My customer is me."

• How Kristi rebuilt income quickly after her company closed without warning

• The mindset shift that helps you move when life feels heavy

• How community + accountability accelerate growth

• Simple photo/posing rules that instantly make you look better on camera (angles, triangles, weight shift, light, and merchandising the full look)

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Retail Bootcamp

Kristi Briceno & Mom Buns and Ruffles

Website: mombunsandruffles.com Instagram: @mombunsandruffles

Facebook: @MomBunsandRuffles

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1800-799-7233

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube

Retail Bootcamp didn't come from a textbook or a perfectly mapped business plan — it was built in the middle of failure, fear, and figuring things out the hard way.

In this Five Minute Friday (okay… a little longer than five minutes 😉), Ashley Alderson shares the behind-the-scenes story of how The Boutique Hub was almost lost before it ever really began — from imposter syndrome and trusting the wrong people, to rebuilding from nothing and discovering the power of guidance, belief, and systems.

You'll learn:

• Why Retail Bootcamp was created — and the real story behind it

• How imposter syndrome shows up for boutique owners

• The danger of trying to build a business without systems

• The 6 Layers of Retail and why order matters

• Why coaching, support, and community can change everything

If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, undervaluing yourself, or unsure what to focus on next in your boutique, this episode will remind you:

✅ You're not behind.

✅ You're not incapable.

✅ And there is a simpler, more sustainable way forward.

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Retail Bootcamp

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube

Welcome to the new year! On the first episode of 2026 Ashley Alderson is joined by Sara Burks for a big-picture retail conversation that every boutique owner needs right now!

Retail is changing fast — and 2025 proved that "business as usual" isn't enough anymore. With reports showing 15,000+ store closures, Ashley & Sara unpack what really happened, what retailers got wrong, and how small businesses can build a stronger, more profitable plan for 2026.

In this episode, Ashley and Sara walk through the six layers of retail (the proven Retail Bootcamp framework) and share what to double down on in each one — from customer clarity and CEO focus, to product profitability, team leadership, sales strategy, content planning, and modern marketing that actually works today.

You'll learn:

• How consumer behavior is shifting: time, trust, and emotional connection

• How the six-layer Retail Bootcamp framework creates a strong, sustainable business from the inside out

• Why trying to be "something for everyone" is a losing strategy

• Why 2025 saw 15,000+ stores close (including major big-box brands)

• What successful retailers are doubling down on in 2026

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Retail Bootcamp

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube

In today's Five Minute Friday, I'm officially inviting you to join me for The Best Year Yet Challenge—our biggest free training of the year.

Planning a new year shouldn't feel overwhelming or leave you burned out by March. Instead of chasing perfection or setting goals that fade fast, this challenge is all about creating a clear, realistic, and actionable plan for 2026—one you can actually stick to.

Over three powerful days (January 6–8), we'll review the past year, map out what truly moves the needle, build profitable systems, and create a marketing plan that works now—not six months ago. This is about small, imperfect, consistent action—and doing it together, in community.

Today's Episode:

• Why most New Year goals fail by March—and how to avoid that trap

• How to focus on the 20% of actions that drive 80% of your results

• What to expect from each day of the Best Year Yet Challenge

• How to turn big goals into clear, measurable, team-supported action plans

• Why planning beats perfection every single time

📅 Join the Best Year Yet Challenge

Best Year Yet

Join thousands of retailers who've transformed their business with The Boutique Hub.

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube

As we close out 2025 and step into a brand-new year, this episode isn't about pretty planners or lofty resolutions — it's about the behind-the-scenes work that actually sets your business up for success.

In this solo episode, Ashley Alderson walks you through the five critical areas every retailer must review before the year ends so you're compliant, organized, profitable, and positioned to lead — not just hustle — in 2026.

From money and inventory to operations, goal-setting, and leadership, this is your practical, no-fluff checklist for finishing the year strong and starting the next one with clarity, confidence, and peace.

You'll learn:

• How to close out your money & accounting properly (and why your accountant should be a strategic partner, not a once-a-year contact)

• Why year-end inventory counts are non-negotiable — and how they impact taxes, markdowns, and open-to-buy planning

• Where hidden costs live inside your apps, subscriptions, and operational expenses

• The importance of systems, processes, and community — and who you should (and shouldn't) be surrounding yourself with in the new year

• How to set better goals using leading vs. lagging indicators so your plans actually turn into results

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Best Year Yet

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube

As we head into 2026, one thing is clear - the gap between average retailers and top performers is widening — and it has nothing to do with effort.

In this Five Minute Friday, Ashley Alderson breaks down what the top 10% of retailers do differently right now, and why those decisions are positioning them to grow and scale while others feel stuck. Hard work isn't the issue. Strategy is.

Ashley shares the four key differences separating high-performing retailers from those struggling to gain traction — and how you can start applying these shifts immediately as you plan for the year ahead.

You'll learn:

• How building systems before you need them changes everything

• Why top retailers operate like CEOs — not reactive entrepreneurs

• What it really means to use AI as a strategic partner (not a shortcut)

• Why customer retention is outperforming reach and visibility

• The retailers winning in 2026 aren't guessing. They're operating with clarity, data, and intention — and you can too.

🛍️ Join thousands of retailers who've transformed their business with The Boutique Hub.

Join The Boutique Hub

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube

If you're getting ready to plan 2026 and want clarity—not chaos, this episode is for you.

Today, we're planning your entire year in 26 minutes. This is not a to-do list episode. This is a guided planning session designed for you to pause, reflect, write things down, and make intentional CEO-level decisions about what stays, what goes, and what actually moves your business forward.

Grab your planner, notebook, or favorite gel pens — this episode is meant to be paused, rewound, and revisited as you work through it.

You'll learn:

• How to define what you want your business to feel like by the end of 2026

• The exact reflection questions to review 2025 before planning forward

• How to identify the ONE thing that could change everything next year

• How to reverse-engineer your revenue goals using leading indicators

• How to reclaim time through systems, automation, and delegation

Links & Resources:

Best Year Yet

Retail Bootcamp

Traffic Calculator

2026 Retail Planner

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube