Retail buying doesn't have to be overwhelming—or lonely.

This week, Ashley sits down with Angela Schmook (Roadrunners, Reps Are Local Too) and Kelly Bristol (Just Gotta Have It, GHTA leader) to reveal why your local sales reps might be the most powerful, underused resource in your business.

Fresh from the GHTA Conference in Park City, they break down how reps support retailers far beyond taking orders: helping with events, securing promos and exclusives, spotting local trends, and giving you insider knowledge you'll never get from ordering online. They also unpack the shift toward lifestyle retail—where home, gift, and apparel collide—and how to approach markets with confidence, even if you've never stepped inside a showroom before.

You'll learn:

• What reps really do and why working with one is free

• How reps help you buy smarter, plan better, and spot trends early

• How showrooms actually work (and why you shouldn't feel intimidated)

• Why home, gift, and apparel are merging into lifestyle retail

• How to prepare for January markets and build stronger vendor relationships

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

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Angela Schmook & Kelly Bristol

Website: repsarelocaltoo.com Instagram: @repsarelocaltoo

Facebook: repsarelocaltoo

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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Today, Samantha Conner kicks off a two-part Five Minute Friday series breaking down the lifeblood of every retail business: inventory. And to understand inventory, we're taking it all the way back to where it begins — trade shows and markets.

In Part 1, Samantha uncovers the biggest 2026 trade show trends every retailer needs to know, whether you're selling apparel, home and gift, children's, western, or anything in between. With over 25 shows attended last year, The Boutique Hub team has a front-row seat to what's changing — and how you can plan smarter.

You'll learn:

• Why there are more trade shows than ever and what that means for you

• The rise of niche markets and how they can serve your business

• How major shows are leveling up with education, activations, and immersive experiences

• What retailers should consider when deciding which shows to attend

• Why inspiration at market is becoming just as important as the product itself

🗓️ Download the 2026 Tradeshow Calendar: 2026 Tradeshow Calendar

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

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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What if 2026 could be the year you finally stop spinning your wheels and actually run your boutique like a CEO?

In this episode, Ashley sits down with "Retail Professor" and denim twin, Sara Burks, to unpack their biggest retail predictions for 2026—from AI and Meta's new Andromeda algorithm to niching down, live selling, and building a content engine that actually works.

Ashley and Sara share what they're seeing across thousands of boutiques, what's changing fast, and how the most successful store owners are planning now for a more profitable, peaceful year ahead. They'll also walk you through what to expect inside the Best Year Yet Challenge, happening January 6–8.

You'll learn:

• Why AI is no longer optional—and how smart retailers are using it in every part of their business

• What Meta's new Andromeda algorithm means for your content, reach, and ad strategy

• How live selling and video can humanize your brand and deepen customer loyalty in 2026

• How the Best Year Yet Challenge helps you map real strategy (not just wishful goals) for profit and peace all year long

• Why niching down is the only way to stand out, charge more, and build true brand authority

Join the Best Year Yet Challenge - January 6–8 — three days of live Zoom sessions with Ashley, Sara, Jeff, and the Boutique Hub team

Best Year Yet

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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Great visual merchandising doesn't just look pretty — it sells.

In today's episode, Director of Partnerships & Education, Sara Burks shares how great merchandising goes far beyond pretty displays. It creates emotion, inspires discovery, increases average order value, and helps customers see themselves in your products. She breaks down how to design purpose-driven zones in your store, use lighting and height to influence buying behavior, and create an environment that keeps customers coming back again and again.

You'll learn:

• How storytelling transforms the merchandising experience

• Simple in-store mistakes that lower your product's perceived value

• How to design purpose-driven zones that guide customers naturally

• Why lighting, height, textures & mirrors dramatically increase engagement

• How to create a store layout that reduces confusion and increases confidence

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

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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Today, Western fashion designer and Rodeo Quincy founder, Quincy Eldridge joins the podcast to share how she turned her unique, hand-painted rodeo style into a nationally recognized fashion brand. From designing boots with Ariat at 18 to running four sales channels, four NFR booths, and now her first Las Vegas fashion show, Quincy opens up about grit, growth, family, and building a business with heart.

Now preparing for her biggest year yet with four NFR booths, three semi-loads of inventory, a full team, and her first-ever fashion show in Las Vegas, Quincy opens up about what it really takes to grow a purpose-driven brand that stands out.

You'll learn:

• How Quincy went from hand-painting tack in high school to collaborating with Ariat

• How she manages four business models: online retail, wholesale, live selling, and NFR trade shows

• How rodeo, grit, and "getting back on the horse" shaped her leadership and resilience

• Her merchandising playbook for building a booth people can't walk past

• How she balances business growth, motherhood, and family

Join The Boutique Hub

Quincy Eldridge & Rodeo Quincy

Website: rodeoquincy.com Instagram: @rodeoquincy

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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Why is live selling exploding — and why does every retailer need to be doing it?

In this Five Minute Friday, Sara Burks dives into one of the biggest shifts happening in retail right now — live selling. Live selling is becoming one of the most powerful ways to build trust, increase conversions, and reach more customers without adding more hours to your day.

So, whether you're nervous to be on camera, unsure where to start, or convinced no one will watch — this episode will show you why going live is no longer optional for small retailers who want to grow.

You'll learn:

• Common fears (camera, time, confidence) and how to get past them

• A simple, no-fuss Live Selling Starter Plan

• How to create themes customers actually care about

• How platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and CommentSold prioritize live content

• The long-term benefits: authority, loyalty, engagement, and repeat buyers

🛍️ If today's episode sparked something in you—your next step is membership. Join thousands of retailers who've transformed their business with The Boutique Hub. Click the link below and join today!

🩷 Join The Boutique Hub

Pink Friday Week is finally here — and Ashley is diving deep into how to make this the most profitable and peaceful kickoff to your holiday season.

Ashley shares the heart behind Pink Friday, why it began, and how retailers all over the world can use this week to tell their story before big-box media announces theirs. You'll learn how to prepare your store, communicate with your local community, calculate your 7X local economic impact, and create a Pink Friday experience that brings in customers and strengthens loyalty.

You'll learn:

• How Pink Friday started — and why it changed the industry

• Why community over competition matters more than ever

• The meaning and power of your economic impact number

• How to calculate your 7X local impact (simple formula inside)

• Strategies to keep profit and peace through holiday chaos

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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On this Five Minute Friday, Amanda Fairley and Nikki Bogardus of PrismXI join us to unpack one of the most transformative tools in personal style: color analysis.

Nikki has spent sixteen years studying the science of color, and together, Amanda and Nikki break down how the right colors impact confidence, first impressions, shopping habits, and the way you show up in life and business. They explain why traditional four-season color analysis often falls short — and how the 12-season method creates a more accurate, inclusive, and empowering approach for every individual.

You'll learn:

• Why color creates the very first impression before anything else

• The three dimensions of color you must understand for an accurate result

• How knowing your colors saves money and simplifies your wardrobe

• The science behind why some colors flatter us and others distract

• How PrismXII's 12-season method is 3x more precise than traditional color analysis

💬 Connect with Prism Twelve

Website: prismxii.com

Instagram: @prismxii.color_style

Facebook: PrismXII

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Today Bekah Turner, owner of Pink Possum, joins Ashley to unpack her business journey— from growing up in a salvage-store family—and how that shaped a boutique brand that wins with relatable content, smart buying, and customer trust.

We dive into her weekly content rhythm, live selling, email/SMS/app strategy, vendor red flags, how she handles photo theft/dupes, and the storefront decision she regretted (then fixed).

You'll learn:

• A repeatable weekly content plan (markdowns → sneak peeks → launch → follow-up)

• How to segment email, SMS, and app notifications without spamming

• Vendor due diligence (manufacturer vs. distributor, reviews, model tells)

• How to address photo theft, educate customers, and avoid dupe/legal pitfalls

• Why "bigger isn't always better" and the storefront mistake Becca reversed fast

Join The Boutique Hub

Retail Bootcamp

Bekah Turner & Pink Possum Boutique

Website: Pinkpossumboutique.com Instagram: @shoppinkpossum @bekturner

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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Today Ashley dives into one of her favorite phrases — "Only a tracked number grows." If you've ever felt like you're posting on social media without seeing results, this episode breaks down exactly what numbers to track, how to measure them, and how to get your team on the same page heading into the new year.

Ashley shares how The Boutique Hub tracks every post, follower, engagement, and conversion across all channels, and how you can do the same using your Retail Planner's tracking sheets. Whether you're managing your own social media or leading a team, you'll learn how to stop guessing and start growing.

You'll learn:

• The key social media numbers that drive growth

• How to use your planner to track engagement, traffic, and sales

• Why "posting" isn't a goal — but conversions are

• How tracking leads to smarter marketing and stronger sales

🛍️ Grab your planner today!

2026 Retail Planner

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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