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 conv...
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...
Send us a text In this special solo episode of Shelf Talks, I’m breaking down 10 proven ways to connect with retail buyers and stay top of mind—without feeling stuck, invisible, or ignored. As a retail buyer myself, I’ve seen what works (and what gets passed over). From leveraging LinkedIn the right way, to using trade shows, accelerator programs, awards, local stores, press, social media, and even TV, I’m sharing the insider strategies that founders on this very podcast have used to get thei...
Send us a text In this solo episode of Shelf Talks, I breaks down the exact formula you need to craft a winning retail pitch. Whether you’re preparing for a virtual meeting or flying out to meet a buyer face-to-face, I reveal the four must-have elements every pitch needs—your brand story, curated product assortment, data that excites buyers, and a marketing plan that drives traffic to their stores. You’ll learn how to position your heavy-hitter SKUs, leverage exclusives to win shelf space, an...
Send us a text Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Caroline McGinley, Founder of La Gringuita Cookiesand 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 Caroline 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 ...
Send us a text In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Caroline McGinley, founder of La Gringuita, a cookie brand that started in her kitchen and has grown into a successful retail product. Caroline shares her journey from baking cookies in Uruguay to navigating the complexities of the U.S. market, including her experiences with Whole Foods and the challenges of scaling production. The conversation highlights the importance of customer feedback, innovative marketing strategies...
Send us a text In this FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK from Episode 13 - Roberta interviews Heather Sloan and Enwei Li, co-founders of Heali, a wellness company that innovates in the sports, beauty, skincare, and aging sectors. They discuss their backgrounds, the inception of Heali, the challenges faced during product development, and their unexpected success in retail. The conversation also covers their experience on Dragons' Den and the impact it had on their brand growth. In this conversation, H...
Send us a text In this FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK from Episode 4 - Jamika Martin, founder of Rosen Skincare, discusses her journey from formulating her products in her college apartment to launching a successful skincare brand now in over 700 Ulta stores. Jamika shares insights on the challenges and learnings from starting her business, including the importance of customer feedback, the transition to direct-to-consumer sales, and her experience with the Target Accelerator program. The discussion als...
Send us a text In this rapid-fire Retail Readiness Round, Scout Brisson, CEO of De Soi, drops powerful insights for any founder getting ready to hit store shelves. From packaging tips that stop customers in their tracks to the underrated magic of being on-shelf at Whole Foods, Scout shares what she wishes she knew before launching into retail. We talk: 💡 How to make your packaging speak in 5 seconds (or less) 📦 Why your messaging hierarchy really matters 🛒 The true value of in-st...
Send us a text In this episode of Shelf Talks, I’m joined by Scout Brisson — co-founder of functional cookie dough brand Deux and current CEO of De Soi, the non-alcoholic apéritif brand co-founded with Katy Perry. Scout takes us inside her journey from management consulting to leading not one, but two standout brands in the crowded world of CPG. We dive into the real behind-the-scenes of building product-market fit, pitching to skeptical retailers, and standing out in a category that di...
Send us a text Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Jess Berger, Founder of Bundle & Joy 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 Jess specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What’s one thing every founder should do before trying to get their product into retail stores?What marketing strategies have you found the most sales generating when growing a ...
Send us a text In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Jess Berger, founder of Bundle and Joy, a pet care brand focused on clean ingredients and wellness for pets. Jess shares her journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, the challenges she faced in launching her brand during the pandemic, and the importance of community engagement and retail partnerships. She discusses her unique approach to building the brand before the product, her experiences at trade shows, and ...
Send us a text Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Val Emanuel, Co-Founder of Rif Care 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 Val specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What’s one thing every founder should do before trying to get their product into retail stores?What marketing strategies have you found the most sales generating when growing a brand ...
Send us a text In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Valerie Emanuel, co-founder of Rif Care, a sustainable feminine care brand. Valerie shares her journey from modeling to entrepreneurship, detailing the challenges and triumphs of launching a product-based business in the wellness space. The conversation covers the importance of community, feedback, and iteration in product development, as well as the complexities of navigating retail and building a brand that resonates wit...
Send us a text In this FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK from episode 6 - Brianna Arps, founder of Moodeaux, shares her journey from being a beauty editor to launching her own luxury fragrance brand. She discusses the challenges she faced, the importance of community engagement, and how her personal experiences shaped her brand's identity. Brianna emphasizes the significance of emotional connections in fragrance, the role of PR in building momentum, and the strategic decisions that led to successful retail...