What makes a gift feel truly unforgettable? Today I’m joined by Holly Hachman of Little Red Bird Gifts, who joins the show to share her journey of building a joyful, story-driven retail space. Inspired by her mother's love for shopping, Holly chose to focus on meaningful gifts over apparel, creating a warm, inviting shop. She opens up about the power of storytelling in retail, how it shapes customer experience, and the role of signature lines in connecting with shoppers.

Resources:

• Holly Hachman: Website | Facebook | 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 continuing our Know Your Numbers series by showing you how to find the most important retail metrics inside your POS, financial reports, and analytics tools.

Before you can improve your numbers, you need to know where to find them. This episode gives you the step-by-step to locate data like inventory, markdowns, traffic, and sales—so you can confidently apply the formulas that drive profit.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Know Where to Find Your Metrics

Learn how to locate your on-hand inventory at cost and retail inside your POS or inventory reports.

Find your operating expense % inside your Profit & Loss statement and calculate your markdown % using sales by discount reports.

Get Clear on Traffic and Transactions

Use Google Analytics to track e-commerce visitor data and a door counter for in-store foot traffic.

Pull your daily transactions, sales by units, and total dollars from your POS sales reports.

Prep for the Profit-Driving Formulas Ahead

Discover how to calculate average inventory at retail and get the foundational numbers you’ll need for metrics like IMU, inventory turn, and more.

Pro tip: Use Shopify’s ABC Product Analysis Report or Inventory Snapshot to get both cost and retail values in one place.

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Not a member yet? These are the kinds of resources waiting for you inside the Hub to help you grow smarter.

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

Get ready to meet Dane Cohen, the newest member of The Boutique Hub team, whose retail roots run deep! Growing up in his family's store, Lester's, a Brooklyn-based business that blossomed from a 500-square-foot shop into a specialty department store, Dane shares how those early experiences shaped his perspective on community, business, and what it really takes to succeed in retail. In this episode, he dives into the lessons learned behind the register and how he’s bringing that same passion and insight to the Hub.

Resources:

• Dane Cohen: LinkedIn
• 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 highlighting one of the most powerful tools in your retail business: conversion rate.

Your conversion rate isn’t just a performance stat—it’s your daily truth teller. When you track it consistently, it helps you identify whether you need more traffic or better in-store or online performance to grow your sales.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Use Conversion to Clarify What’s Really Happening

Learn how to calculate conversion rate by dividing transactions by foot traffic or web visitors.

Discover how this one metric helps you determine if you have a traffic issue or a sales opportunity.

Stop Guessing—Start Tracking

Track traffic daily with a door counter or Google Analytics.

Use fluctuations to identify patterns and shifts in customer engagement.

Diagnose Performance and Improve Strategy

If traffic is steady but conversion is low, focus on improving in-store experience, team training, and product relevance.

If conversion is high but traffic is down, prioritize driving new visitors to your store or site.

Leverage Boutique Hub Tools for Smarter Growth

Members can access the Traffic Formula Tool to calculate how much traffic you need to hit your sales goals based on your conversion rate.

Not a member yet? This is the kind of tool available inside the Hub to help you grow with clarity and confidence.

Bottom line: When you track conversion rate, you stop making excuses and start making data-driven decisions. It’s the key to understanding what’s working—and where to focus next.

Tune in and take back control of your daily performance.

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

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