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Shelf Talks is the go-to podcast for female founders, product-based entrepreneurs, and emerging brands who want to learn how to get their products into retail stores and thrive once they’re there.
Hosted by Roberta Townes, a seasoned retail buyer, each weekly episode features unfiltered conversations with founders who’ve landed on shelves at top retailers. You’ll learn exactly how they pitched to buyers, built retail partnerships, scaled wholesale distribution, and grew brand awareness all while navigating the real challenges of building a product-based business.
If you’re ready to turn your product into a retail success story, discover what retail buyers look for, and gain insider tips on wholesale strategy, retail readiness, and in-store growth, this is your podcast.
New episodes drop every week, subscribe to Shelf Talks and learn how to get your brand retail-ready and thriving on the shelf.
Also if you are looking for more knowledge, host Roberta Townes book 'Shelf Talk: A Step by Step guide to getting your Product in Retail Stores' is available on Amazon.
110 Episodes
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Send us a text You’ve heard the classic marketing five P’s… but in this episode, Roberta reframes them specifically for getting on retail shelves and staying there. If you're a product-based founder who wants to scale into national retailers like Target, Whole Foods, Sephora, Walmart, or specialty boutiques, this episode is essential listening. We deep dives into: PRODUCT: What makes a product truly retail-ready packaging, claims, attributes, durability, shelf presence, compliance, and how yo...
Send us a text In this Retail Readiness Round, Maree Glading drops powerful insights every founder needs before stepping into retail. 1. Don’t underestimate your category story. Maree shares that many founders believe a great product is enough—but retailers want to know why your brand deserves shelf space. “It’s not just about having a beautiful brand or a product that tastes great,” she says. “You have to understand how your product helps the retailer and the category.” 2. Tenacity wins eve...
Send us a text In this episode of Shelf Talks, Roberta sits down with Maree Glading, founder of evre., a natural skincare brand created specifically for teens and tweens—all the way from New Zealand. Maree shares how she transitioned from building a global food company to creating a purpose-driven beauty brand that empowers young people to feel confident in their own skin. From recognizing a white space in the market while shopping with her daughter to landing evre. on the shelves of Sprouts,...
Send us a text In this flashback episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Aliett Buttelman, co-founder of Fazit Beauty, discussing her journey from helping other brands launch and grow to diving into entrepreneurship herself and advancing into the beauty industry. She explores the innovative product development of makeup patches, the importance of viral marketing and influencer engagement, and the strategic retail partnerships that have propelled the brand's growth. The conversa...
Send us a text In this Shelf Talks Retail Readiness Round, Shizu Okusa, founder and CEO of Apothekary, shares quick but powerful insights every founder should know before stepping into retail. From managing working capital and understanding payment terms, to deeply researching buyers and their priorities, Shizu breaks down what it really takes to make a lasting impression and succeed once your products hit the shelf. Plus, she leaves us with the best piece of founder advice she lives by: “Don...
Send us a text In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes sits down with Shizu Okusa, founder and CEO of Apothekary, the plant-based pharmacy redefining modern wellness on retail shelves. Shizu shares how she went from working on Wall Street to building a multimillion-dollar wellness brand that blends ancient Eastern medicine with modern health practices. She opens up about her early days running a cold-pressed juice business, her bold pivots, and how Apothekary grew from DTC success...
Send us a text In this special bonus clip from Shelf Talks, Lisa Curtis — Founder & CEO of Kuli Kuli Foods — joins me for the Retail Readiness Round, where I ask her three quick questions every founder should be thinking about before hitting store shelves. From understanding margins and testing products before launch, to authentically bringing culturally rooted ingredients to the mainstream — Lisa shares honest insights and lessons learned from her journey growing Kuli Kuli into a nationa...
Send us a text What would you do if you discovered a powerful ingredient no one had ever heard of and decided to bring it to U.S. shelves? In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes sits down with Lisa Curtis, founder and CEO of Kuli Kuli Foods, the pioneering superfood brand that introduced Moringa to the American market and is now sold in over 11,000 retail stores. Lisa shares how a life-changing experience in the Peace Corps sparked her idea for Kuli Kuli, how she went from farmer...
Send us a text In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Rachel Kane, co-founder of Sprinkle Bites, a company that creates fun, nutritious sprinkles for kids. Rachel shares her journey from a corporate career to entrepreneurship, the challenges of launching a new product, and the importance of community and networking in the retail space. She discusses the unique aspects of her product, the strategies for scaling the business, and the lessons learned along the way. Rachel emphas...
Send us a text Numbers don’t have to be scary — especially when you’re tracking the ones that actually matter for retail success. In this solo episode, Roberta breaks down 5 essential retail metrics every founder should be tracking, even if spreadsheets aren’t your thing. You’ll learn how buyers evaluate your performance, which numbers influence reorders, and how to use these metrics to grow confidently on the shelf. If you want to scale in retail without feeling overwhelmed by data, this is ...
Send us a text Shelf Talks is officially one year old! 🎉 In this special anniversary episode, host Roberta Townes reflects on the journey that started as a passion project to give female founders a voice—and has grown into a go-to destination for anyone dreaming of getting their product on retail shelves. After interviewing 41 incredible founders and industry experts, Roberta shares her biggest takeaways from the past year: 💡 Why the best founders are obsessed with solving real problems. 🛒 ...
Send us a text Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Denise Woodard, Founder and CEO of Partake Foods and took away some learning about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores. On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Jessica specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). Looking back, what’s one mistake you made in the retail journey that you’d warn other founders about?What does being “shelf-ready” mean to you now that you’ve scaled na...
Send us a text Denise Woodard, founder and CEO of Partake Foods, turned her daughter’s food allergy diagnosis into one of the fastest-growing snack brands in the country. From selling cookies out of her car to landing in 18,000 stores nationwide including Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods, Denise shares her journey of grit, resilience, and building a mission-driven brand. In this episode of Shelf Talks, Denise opens up to host Roberta about: Denise's journey began with a personal mission to cr...
Send us a text Are you pitching your product to the wrong retailers? In this solo episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes breaks down one of the most overlooked steps in preparing for retail success: competitive shopping. If you’re a founder with a product-based business struggling to figure out which retailers are the right fit for your brand, this episode is for you. Roberta shares insider tips on how to: Study the shelf to understand category layout and placementIdentify key players, p...
Send us a text Your packaging isn’t just a pretty box, it’s the first impression that determines whether buyers and consumers pick your product off the shelf. In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes sits down with Laura Maccarone, founder of Rizbee Studio, to unpack how packaging and visual branding directly connect to retail success. If you’re a founder of a product-based business who feels frustrated with figuring out why your product isn’t catching attention in stores, this con...
Send us a text Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Jessica Taylor, Founder of Ezra Coffee and took away some learning about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores. On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Jessica specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What is a learning that you didn’t know until your products were actually on retail shelves?What advice would you give to other founders trying to secure their first retail deal?...
Send us a text On this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes sits down with Jessica Taylor, founder of Ezra Coffee, to share how she turned a pandemic idea into a fast-growing retail brand. Jessica reveals what it really takes to go from small-batch coffee experiments at home to winning shelf space at major retailers like H-E-B and Central Market. If you’re a female founder with a product-based business or dreaming about getting your brand into retail stores, this conversation is packed...
Send us a text Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Nina Lombardo and Anna Kotler, co-founders of O'ts Cookies and took away some learning about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores. On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Nina and Anna specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What is a learning that you didn’t know until your products were actually on retail shelves?What advice would you give to other founders trying to secur...
Send us a text In this episode of Shelf Talks, I sit down with Anna Kotler and Nina Lombardo, the powerhouse duo behind O’ts Cookies—a brand bringing globally inspired flavors to the classic oatmeal cookie. We dive into how Nina’s background in packaging design and Anna’s experience in brand management came together to transform a farmers’ market favorite into a retail-ready product. From testing recipes in the kitchen for weeks, to navigating co-packers, distributors, and retail launches, An...
Send us a text Should you launch straight into mass retail—or start smaller in your local market? If you’ve been frustrated and second-guessing where to begin, this episode of Shelf Talks is for you. Roberta breaks down 10 powerful reasons why starting local can set your brand up for long-term retail success. From lowering your risk and getting real-time customer feedback, to building community loyalty, testing promotions, and creating case studies that win over national buyers—this episode g...
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