Five Minute Friday: Wholesale Buying Isn’t Shopping, It’s Investing
Release Date: 04/04/2025
Five Minute Friday: Your Insider Guide to Atlanta Market: July 2025 Prep Tips
Boutique Chat
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: Atlanta Market Events: What’s New in July: Details for all upcoming Atlanta markets:
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#718: What to Do When No One Buys: Pricing, Pitching & Pivoting
Boutique Chat
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...
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Five Minute Friday: It’s Not a Sales Problem, It’s a Spending Problem
Boutique Chat
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...
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#717: Retail Bootcamp 101: What It Is, Why It Works, and Who It's For
Boutique Chat
What does it take to grow your boutique into a thriving, sustainable business? In this episode, we sit down with retail expert Sara Burks to walk through the heart of the Retail Bootcamp program, which is all about helping entrepreneurs step into the CEO role with clarity and confidence. You’ll hear practical tips on finding and serving your ideal customer, using time-blocking to stay focused, and building a clear, realistic plan to expand your business. Whether you're just starting out or ready to level up, this episode is packed with real-world strategies and inspiration to help you lead...
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Five Minute Friday: "Mom, You're Always Working" What to Do When Family Life and Business Collide
Boutique Chat
This Five Minute Friday hits close to home. Ashley shares the raw, real side of what it feels like to hear those words: “Mom, you're always working.” Whether it’s coming from your kids, your spouse, or even extended family, that statement can carry a heavy dose of guilt, frustration, and burnout. Ashley opens up about her own experience building The Boutique Hub while navigating the pressures of being a present wife, mom, and leader. If you're feeling stretched too thin, this episode offers both comfort and strategy. You’ll walk away with a new mindset—and tools—to create better...
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#716: Buying a Boutique with Zero Experience and Zero Regrets
Boutique Chat
What’s it like to run a thriving boutique side by side with your partner? In this episode, Serena and Java Patterson share the inspiring story of how they transformed The Farmhouse from a local vendor space into a successful boutique rooted in community. They walk through the key moves that fueled their growth, from switching their POS system from Clover to Shopify to streamline inventory and cut fees, to using smart merchandising to create an inviting shopping experience. Listen in to hear how they balanced tourist and local customer needs, embraced Retail Bootcamp strategies to...
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Five Minute Friday: The Retail Metrics You Can’t Afford to Ignore
Boutique Chat
In this Five Minute Friday, Ashley is getting real about the numbers that actually drive growth in your business. It’s not just about sales—because sales are a lagging indicator. If you want to grow, you need to start tracking the leading metrics that influence your results before they show up in your bank account. Ashley shares what she’s learned from implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and how having a weekly company scorecard has been a game changer for The Boutique Hub. If you're ready to lead your business like a true CEO, this episode is your starting point....
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#715: Why Dead Inventory Is Costing You and How to Fix It
Boutique Chat
Struggling with excess inventory? In this episode, we sit down with Melodie van der Baan, founder of Max Retail, to explore how boutique owners can turn unsold merchandise into serious revenue. Listen in as Melodie shares her journey from sales rep to tech entrepreneur and reveals how Max Retail helps over 2,000 retailers move past-season inventory through top third-party marketplaces like eBay and Poshmark—all while staying anonymous and skipping returns. If cash flow, profit margins, and smart inventory management are on your radar, this episode is for you! Resources: Melodie van der...
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Five Minute Friday: Busy or Effective? The Question That Can Change Everything
Boutique Chat
In this Five Minute Friday, Ashley is bringing the heat with a powerful reality check: Are you truly being effective in your life and business or just keeping yourself busy? If your to-do list is never-ending, your calendar is overflowing, and you're constantly wondering where the day went... this episode is for you. Ashley unpacks what it really means to move the needle in your business, show up with intention for your family, and make time for your health, without burning out. This episode will challenge how you think about your time and inspire you to create more space for what...
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#714: Hiring Gen Z: Challenges, Opportunities & What Comes Next
Boutique Chat
What does it take to future-proof the next generation in a world that’s changing faster than ever? In this episode, educational consultant and award-winning innovator Britni Walz joins the show for a powerful conversation about the intersection of education, business, and technology. Britni shares her journey from high school educator to nonprofit consultant, helping young people thrive in a workforce shaped by rapid technological change. Listen in as we explore how AI is transforming education and discuss why workforce development is more critical than ever. Resources: ...
info_outlineIn today’s episode, Sara Burks, Director of Education at The Boutique Hub, breaks down one of the most important concepts every boutique owner must understand: Wholesale buying isn’t shopping — it’s investing. Buying inventory is about making smart, intentional decisions to meet your customers’ needs and create profit, not just picking what you personally like. Sara walks through six essential tips to help you buy wholesale with confidence and strategy.
Key Takeaways:
-
Wholesale Buying = Investing:
It's not about filling your cart with cute things — it’s about solving your customers’ problems and maximizing your return on investment. -
Tip 1: Know Your Customer
You’re not buying for yourself — you're investing for them. Conduct customer interviews to find out their true needs, fit preferences, colors they love, and the problems they need solved. -
Tip 2: Understand Your Buying Options
Explore both online marketplaces (like Hubventory, Faire, FashionGo, LA Showroom) and in-person markets (Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, LA, Las Vegas, New York). In-person shopping sparks creativity and allows you to touch, feel, and truly experience products. -
Tip 3: Learn Vendor Sizing
Vendor sizing can vary dramatically. Knowing how different vendors size their items ensures a better experience for your customers and fewer returns. -
Tip 4: Understand Prepacks
Most wholesalers sell items in prepacks (e.g., 2 smalls, 2 mediums, 2 larges). Choose vendors whose prepack options align with the sizes your customers actually need. -
Tip 5: Be Aware of Minimums
Every vendor has minimum order requirements — in dollars or quantity. Be smart: don’t bust your budget for a single sweater you love if it doesn’t make sense for your store overall. -
Tip 6: Price With Profit in Mind
Always decide what your customer would pay before you look at the wholesale price. Avoid limiting your potential profit by focusing too soon on wholesale costs.
Biggest Tip:
Don’t trap yourself in a pricing bubble. Think like an investor first: What will your customer happily pay, and does the wholesale cost give you the profit margin you need?