As we wrap up Season 7 of the Boutique Chat Podcast, I wanted to pause—right where you're listening—and take an honest look at where the retail industry stands today and where it's headed next.

Based on 1,000's of conversations with boutique owners over the past year, this episode breaks down 13 key focus areas that are truly working right now and will matter most in 2026. These aren't trends for trends' sake—these are strategic shifts, mindset changes, and operational priorities that will help you grow with clarity, confidence, and profitability.

We'll talk about how consumer behavior shifted in 2025, why trust and community matter more than ever, how to use AI without losing your voice, and what successful retailers are doing differently as we move into the next season.

• How 2025 reshaped consumer spending and buying behavior

• Why value and trust now matter more than impulse and volume

• The impact of tariffs, de minimis changes, and the shift back toward small business support

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- Which of the 13 stood out most?

- What you loved (or didn't) in Season 7

- Who you want to hear from in Season 8

Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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

What if the fastest way to grow your boutique… isn't more products, but a better experience?

In this episode, Ashley sits down with Hannah Carlson of Mulberry Market Co. Hannah shares her story of how she went from selling jam at a veggie stand on her parents' farm to building a booming, curated retail brand—then she moved across the country and essentially started over. We get into the real play-by-play: switching systems, barcoding, syncing Shopify + Lightspeed, adding apparel, leaning into local makers, and building a workshop/event machine that brings new customers through the door (and actually converts them).

You'll learn:

• How Hannah accidentally built a business from a mulberry tree… and why it worked

• The "local makers" strategy that filled a bigger space and fueled word-of-mouth growth

• Why apparel became a growth lever—and the buying/turn differences vs. home + gift

• Margin realities: women's apparel vs. kids, plus pricing pressure in home + gift

• Workshops as a funnel: paid events that create community, drive traffic, and trigger purchases

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Retail Bootcamp

Hannah Carlson & Mulberry Market Co.

Website: mulberrymarketco.com
Instagram: @mulberrymarketco

Facebook: @mulberrymarketco

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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

Burnout is one of the most common struggles for boutique owners, retailers, and small business owners—and it's rarely caused by laziness or lack of passion. More often, it comes from trying to do too much, growing too fast, and drifting away from the very reason you started your business in the first place.

In this episode, Sara Burks breaks down why burnout happens, how over expansion drains your energy, and why "more" isn't always better.

You'll learn:

• The #1 reason small business owners experience burnout

• A simple exercise to identify what energizes vs. drains you

• Why burnout impacts not just your business—but your family too

• How learning to say "no" can be one of your most powerful tools

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Ashley Alderson: Instagram

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