What happens when a teenage entrepreneur grows up to become the voice of a beloved boutique brand? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Haley Klockenga, Podcast & Marketing Coordinator at Glamour Farms, as she opens up about the realities of working in a fast-paced small business—juggling multiple roles, growing a team, and navigating the joys (and chaos) of motherhood. We talk candidly about faith, family, and the unexpected lessons that come from building a brand rooted in community.

Resources: 

• Haley Klockenga: Instagram
• Glamour Farms: Website | Podcast  
• Glamour Farms first order: FIRSTORDER30
• Join The Boutique Hub    
• Ashley Alderson: Instagram    
• The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube 

In this episode of Five Minute Friday, we’re continuing our Know Your Numbers series by unpacking one of the most overlooked but critical metrics in retail: Initial Markup (IMU).

Your IMU isn’t just a pricing formula—it’s your profit ceiling. And if you’re not tracking it monthly, you could be limiting your growth without even realizing it.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Understand the Role of IMU in Your Business

Learn how to calculate your current initial markup and why it determines your maximum potential profit before markdowns and discounts.

Discover how IMU directly impacts gross margin, operating expenses, and your end-of-year net profit.

Set Smarter Targets for Long-Term Profit

Use the formula: net profit goal + operating expenses + markdown % to determine your target IMU.

Compare your current markup against your ideal to identify the gap—and close it.

Price for Value, Not Just for Margin

Move beyond “cost x2” thinking and price based on what your customer is actually willing to pay.

Understand which product categories naturally carry higher markup—and lean into them.

Use IMU to Guide Buying and Vendor Strategy

Start conversations with vendors about MSRP and margin expectations.

Explore private label opportunities to maximize your profit ceiling and gain pricing control.

Bottom line: Pricing sets the stage for your success. When you understand and track your IMU, you don’t just protect your margins—you build a more profitable, sustainable business.

Tune in and raise your profit ceiling today.

Want more? Join the Boutique Hub: https://tbhub.co/podcastjoin

How do you transform an unexpected rhinestone t-shirt business into a thriving clothing brand with a loyal online following? In this episode, I’m joined by Alinda Hale to talk about how adaptability, authenticity, and deep customer understanding helped her scale—especially through the challenges of COVID-19. She also shares how she brought her family into the business, embraced live selling, and built strong community ties.

Resources: 

• Alinda Hale: Instagram
• Join The Boutique Hub    
• Ashley Alderson: Instagram    
• The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube 

In this episode of Five Minute Friday, we’re kicking off our Know Your Numbers series by diving into two of the most important numbers every boutique owner should track daily: Average Order Value (AOV) and Units Per Transaction (UPT).

These simple but powerful retail metrics offer a clear path to more revenue, better team training, and a stronger customer experience—without needing more foot traffic or major changes to your business.

Understand the Power of AOV & UPT

• Learn how to calculate these key metrics and what they reveal about your daily performance.

• Stop comparing your numbers to others—benchmark against your own best days.

Boost Your Sales with Smart Store Moves

• Use strategies like bundling, cross-selling, and impulse placement to drive additional purchases.

• Re-merchandise often and place high-converting products in high-traffic areas.

Train with Purpose

• Equip your staff with product knowledge and simple ways to increase units per sale.

• Reinforce small actions—like suggesting one more item—that lead to big results.

Treat Metrics Like an Insurance Policy

• Use daily tracking to protect your business during economic dips or slow seasons.

• A consistent focus on these numbers builds long-term resilience and growth.

Bottom line: Your numbers tell a story—and when you know how to read them, you can write a better one. Tune in and take back control of your retail growth.

Want more? Join the Boutique Hub: https://tbhub.co/podcastjoin 

Is golf the next big thing in fashion and lifestyle retail? Fresh off the PGA Show in Orlando—a major industry event that draws around 30,000 attendees—today's episode dives into how golf is transforming into a style-forward and inclusive lifestyle. Lisa Langas, Vice President of Business Development at PGA Golf Exhibitions, joins the show to highlight the growing demand for women’s and boutique golf apparel, the sport’s shift toward broader family participation, and how retailers can engage with these expanding markets. 

Resources: 

• Lisa Langas: Website | LinkedIn
• Join The Boutique Hub    
• Ashley Alderson: Instagram    
• The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube 

Where are my customers? It’s the #1 question retailers ask when business slows down and it’s not always about the economy or the weather.

In this episode of Five Minute Friday, Sara tackles what to do when sales stall. Whether it’s a seasonal dip or a concerning trend, you’ll learn how to step into your customer’s shoes, audit your business with fresh eyes, and get back to what made your boutique shine in the first place.

We’re diving into:

• The 3 core questions to ask when sales drop

• How your presence (or absence) impacts your customer’s loyalty

• Why inventory overwhelm could be pushing people away

• How to reset your experience both in-store and online

• What to revisit if your average order value is shrinking

Bottom line: Slow seasons happen but staying stuck isn’t the answer. Tune in and get the tools to investigate, adapt, and rebuild your momentum.

Join The Boutique Hub Community 

Ever wonder what it takes to turn a family passion into a thriving business? Join us as we chat with Kasey & Kaitlyn Widmyer, the dynamic duo behind Marmalade, a boutique inspired by their mother, Marie Widmeyer, and her fashion dreams. From childhood lessons to steering the business through the storms of the 2007-2008 recession, they share how these experiences crafted their resilience and work ethic. Get ready to be inspired as they recount their journey from playtime in the boutique aisles to orchestrating its expansion after college, proving that perseverance and adaptability can indeed breed success even in the most challenging economies.

Resources: 

•         Kasey & Kaitlyn Widmyer (Marmalade): Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Website
•         Join The Boutique Hub   
•         Ashley Alderson: Instagram   
•         The Boutique Hub: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | YouTube 

This week, Samrin Martin and Sarah Zeigler from the Atlanta Market gift & home team join us to share the latest news, events, and key buyer resources for the upcoming July Market happening in Atlanta, July 15-21.

Resources:

About Atlanta Market: https://www.atlantamarket.com/

Atlanta Market Events: https://www.atlantamarket.com/Attend/Events

What’s New in July: https://www.atlantamarket.com/Market-Info/Whats-New

Details for all upcoming Atlanta markets: https://www.americasmart.com/Markets/Market-Dates-and-Hours

What if sales didn’t have to be about being pushy or intimidating, but instead about solving problems and making life better? Join us as we explore this concept with our guest, Andee Hart, who transformed her corporate sales expertise into a flourishing candle business during the pandemic. Andee's inspiring journey is a masterclass in differentiation and tenacity, from how she successfully stood out in a crowded market to how she scaled her business to hundreds of boutiques.   Listen in as we cover effective pricing strategies, as well as the critical role of personalized retailer outreach for wholesale brands. We also examine how missteps in pricing can affect perceived quality, the importance of market research, and how assuming positive intent can turn customer service challenges into opportunities for creating brand loyalty. This episode is packed with practical advice and personal anecdotes that offer a roadmap for anyone looking to scale their product-based business.

Resources: 

• Andee Hart: Instagram | Pinterest | Podcast | LinkedIn 

• Hart Design Co  

• Join The Boutique Hub   

• Ashley Alderson: Instagram   

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

Is your cash flow feeling tight but you’re still not paying yourself? In this episode of Five Minute Friday, Sara breaks down one of the most common retail traps: tying up cash in things that don’t bring you a return. From unnecessary trips to market to unused apps, pretty packaging, and impulse inventory buys, these hidden money leaks could be holding your business (and paycheck!) back.

You’ll learn:

• How to spot dead cash in your business

• What purchases to re-think or cut

• How to create a more purposeful spending plan

• Why paying yourself first needs to be a priority

• What to do today to start freeing up money

Sara’s challenge for you? Take a look around, your cash is there, it just might not look like dollar bills yet.

Join The Boutique Hub Community