We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Lindholm a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I’m all about making fashion feel approachable — for real life, real budgets, and real bodies. Whether it’s for men, women, or kids, I love curating pieces that are both stylish and size inclusive without the high price tag. While not everyone wants to shop for new apparel — or can afford it — we want to have something to offer both. Living in a small town, having a local option that brings together name-brand style and affordable prices is really all I’m after.

One unique piece of what we do is that my own casual, personal style really influences what we bring into the store. After 13 years of being a mom, I’ve learned that everyday, easy-to-wear styles are what most people actually relate to — and reach for. It just makes sense to stock what real life looks like.

After 22 years in retail — from running a shoe store, working in apparel, owning an online clothing business, and managing retail teams — it’s been so fun pulling together all the pieces that once felt missing to create what we have now. It’s been amazing to see it all come together and truly benefit our community.

Ashley, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For as long as I can remember, business has been in my blood. My first job was at the YMCA, but I quickly realized working with kids wasn’t my path. At 16, I started at Office Max and instantly fell in love with the retail world — I still joke my dream is to run a grocery store cash register someday!

At 18, I joined Famous Footwear and was managing my own store by 20. I’ve always been someone who follows the rules, stands up for what’s right, and leads with integrity — even when it’s hard. After feeling taken advantage of, I briefly moved to Nordstrom, but commission-based sales didn’t sit right with me. I returned to Famous Footwear in a new state, later adding a role at The Buckle, where I again found that pushing sales and credit cards wasn’t my thing.

As our family began to grow, I stepped back from full-time work to focus on being a mom. Our son was born in 2012 and our daughter in 2013. I stayed connected by helping at Famous Footwear during busy seasons. Around that time, I joined Honey & Lace, a women’s and kids’ clothing MLM. I found fast success and ended up mentoring over 1,000 people while running my own business. But when new ownership took over and began implementing changes I didn’t agree with ethically, I chose to walk away — even though it meant giving up a big chunk of our income.

I went on to launch my own independent online clothing business, offering personal shopping out of our basement and shipping over 300 orders a month. But I struggled with balance, and my family was missing out. I made the tough call to close that chapter and refocus on home life.

I spent the next few years trying different hobbies — quilting, woodworking, you name it — but I always came back to retail. When COVID hit, I watched our local consignment store — one that had served the community so well — begin to struggle and eventually close due to circumstances completely out of her control. She ran a great business that people truly valued, and her closing left a noticeable gap in town. That stuck with me.

In January 2024, a heated online conversation about our community’s lack of support for local businesses lit a fire in me. I realized support isn’t always about willingness — sometimes it’s about affordability. That moment sparked what would become Style Revival.

Style Revival wasn’t born out of financial need — it was built to meet a need in our community. I hand-pick items that reflect real-life style at prices people can actually afford. Because no matter how great the quality is, if something’s financially out of reach, it’s not truly helping.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe truly understanding your customers is the foundation of a strong reputation. In retail management, I was often the first point of contact for upset customers — those face-to-face experiences taught me a lot about communication, problem-solving, and staying grounded. Later, my roles evolved into online spaces, where my reputation was shaped by how others perceived me. And as we all know, social media doesn’t always reflect real life.

That’s why I’ve been intentional about showing the real, everyday side of life — not oversharing, but being honest. If I’ve had a rough night with the kids and show up without makeup and messy hair, I’m okay showing that to my audience. It’s not about perfection or brand names — it’s about being real and relatable. I believe my reputation has grown because people see that I’m transparent, consistent, and genuinely here to connect — not just to sell.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Here’s the crazy thing — even now, I’m not entirely comfortable on social media. But staying relevant sometimes means stepping outside your comfort zone. The key is to adapt in a way that feels authentic to you, not just what everyone else is doing. That’s going to look different for each person.

For example, you won’t catch me doing a bunch of TikTok trends or pre-recorded, overly produced videos. I don’t love being goofy on camera, and I’m my own worst critic. But I am very comfortable going live — even if I’m in sweats with no makeup. That’s my space to genuinely connect, check in, and show appreciation for those who support my business.

If you’re just getting started, my biggest advice is this: find what you’re comfortable with and lean into it. People can tell when you’re being real. Don’t force yourself to fit into someone else’s version of success. It’s easy to compare yourself — I still catch myself doing it, especially when sales are slow or when I see other businesses thriving. But the algorithm is unpredictable, and most of it is out of your control.

Focus on consistency, connection, and staying true to who you are. I always told my team: it’s better to have 200 engaged followers than 1,000 who just scroll past. The people who interact with you, support you, and root for you — those are the ones who matter most.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.style-revival.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylerevivalmn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stylerevivalmn/

Image Credits

Krista Reynolds Photography