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Five Minute Friday: The Six Layers Behind Retail Bootcamp (And Why They Work)

Release Date: 01/09/2026

Five Minute Friday: The Six Layers Behind Retail Bootcamp (And Why They Work)

Boutique Chat

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...

#745: Why 15,000 Stores Closed in 2025 and What YOU Can Do About It

Boutique Chat

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...

Five Minute Friday: Why Most New Year Plans Fail And How to Do 2026 Differently

Boutique Chat

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...

#744: The End-of-Year Checklist Every Retailer Actually Needs

Boutique Chat

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...

Five Minute Friday: The Strategic Shifts Top Retailers Are Making for 2026

Boutique Chat

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....

#743: Plan 2026 in 26 Minutes

Boutique Chat

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...

Five Minute Friday: The 4 Mistakes Costing Retailers Profit Going Into 2026

Boutique Chat

As we close out the year and head into a new one, it’s time to get honest. Most businesses won’t fail in 2026 because of the economy — they’ll fail because they’re still operating like it’s 2019. In today’s Five Minute Friday, I’m breaking down the four biggest mistakes I saw retailers make over the last year — mistakes that are quietly costing you time, money, margin, and momentum. If your business feels busy but not profitable, chances are one (or more) of these is holding you back. You’ll learn: What winning retailers will do differently in 2026 The shift from...

#742: The Rise of Western Lifestyle Brands and What Retail Can Learn

Boutique Chat

In this episode, Ashley sits down with Allie Falcon to unpack what it really looks like to build a recognizable brand rooted in story, style, and grit. Allie shares her journey from ranch life and handmade leather goods to manufactured apparel, wholesale growth, and a showroom at Dallas Market Center. They talk wholesale growth, brand consistency, and what successful boutiques do differently when they market brands with a story. Plus: Round Top with Junk Gypsy stories, pricing strategy, learning to say “no,” and the legacy Allie hopes to leave. You’ll learn: Why cohesiveness...

Five Minute Friday: The Trends Taking Over Trade Shows Right Now (And Why It’s Working)

Boutique Chat

In this Five Minute Friday, Samantha Conner continues our market conversation by diving into the actual product trends hitting trade show floors right now — and more importantly, how they apply across every retail category. From apparel to home + gift, children’s, and even western, today’s trends are crossing categories faster than ever. You’ll learn: The bold color trends coming for 2026 The rise of faster trend cycles (every 8–10 weeks) and how to keep up without overbuying How cost-per-wear and cost-per-use are driving smarter buying decisions How pop culture moments are...

#741: How Working With Sales Reps Elevates Your Retail Business

Boutique Chat

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...

More Episodes

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.

Join The Boutique Hub

Retail Bootcamp

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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