Influential Woman · Publishing, Boutique Owner, Luxury Travel Agent

Kristine Burton

Company Owner, Little Gal Books and Designs LLC

Melissa, TX

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Currently pursuing Associate's Degree in Business Management (expected completion end of 2026) Degree Plans to pursue Associate's Degree in Marketing Degree Plans to pursue Bachelor's Degree Member Who's Who Member Lifetime Girl Scout Member Member Junior League (inactive member)

Her Story

About Kristine

My career path has been shaped by my love for creativity, flexibility, and making a positive impact. I've always had a passion for shopping, fashion, and designing jewelry, which naturally led me to the boutique industry about 8 years ago. What started as jewelry making grew into Southwest Sage Boutique, a full boutique featuring clothing, art, books, gifts, and accessories. Along the way, I've done mostly office work and volunteer work, but being a mom meant I needed the flexibility to raise my daughter and support her activities. That flexibility is what drove me to run my own businesses. When COVID hit, I decided I needed a change and wanted to do something I truly loved. I've always loved reading and spending time with my daughter, so I decided to write children's books. I created the Tad and Pinky series to encourage youth to get outdoors and have adventures without being technology-driven. The series now includes three books available at major retailers like Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, and I even have animated read-aloud versions on YouTube. My goal is to eventually turn the series into a TV show. I also work as a luxury travel agent, which combines my love of travel with helping others. Every single day, I have to be intentional with my time, fulfilling orders, stocking inventory, following up with clients about book events, checking websites and reviews, and finding new leads to help people publish their own books. I'm currently working with a client who's getting ready to publish their first book for schools and colleges. I'm also in school pursuing my degree in business management, which I'll complete by the end of 2026, and then I plan to go back for marketing because I've learned that marketing is crucial for running successful businesses.

Quick Facts

IndustryPublishing, Boutique Owner, Luxury Travel Agent
Based inMelissa, TX
Specialty Children's Book Publishing, Boutique Retail, Luxury Travel
- Book Publishing Consulting
Volunteers with FFA Support, Girl Scouts, Local School Support

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Kristine

01What do you attribute your success to?

I would attribute my success to my upbringing and the determination and grit that I have for things. My upbringing gave me a strong foundation, and the determination and grit I possess have been important because they've allowed me the ability to pursue my dreams and to be active in making them happen. It's that combination of where I came from and my refusal to give up that has enabled me to build and sustain my businesses over the past 8 years.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I've received is to make each day a new one and enjoy the moments. It's also important to take time to be present. And most importantly, never give up on your dreams. Being in business for 8 years and growing through different challenges and obstacles that come up in everyday life and in my businesses, I've learned that this advice provides a solid foundation. No matter what happens, you have to make each day a new one, enjoy the moment, and never give up on your dreams.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

My advice to young women entering my industry is to definitely find the resources, because they're out there. Don't get discouraged, no matter what happens. And even on the bad days, remember that there's something positive to be found. The resources and support exist if you look for them, and maintaining that positive outlook even during difficult times is crucial to making it in this field.

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life include choosing to be courageous and being mindful of others. Trust is obviously important in any business. I also value making time to be creative and treating others the way that I would want to be treated. Standing up for what's right and doing the best that I can are fundamental to how I operate. I guess that's kind of just the baseline for my businesses and how I live my life.

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