Show Notes
Send us Fan Mail Getting a meeting with a retail buyer is a huge accomplishment. Walking out of that meeting feeling confident, only to receive a "no," can be frustrating. In this solo episode of Shelf Talks, Roberta Townes breaks down the five biggest reasons great products still get rejected by retail buyers, even when the product itself is strong. You'll learn: • Why timing matters more than most founders realize • How your confidence influences a buyer's decision • The c...
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Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to grow a product-based business and expand into retail? In this Retail Readiness Round, Erica Haft, founder of Sweeter Collective, shares three practical lessons for emerging brands looking to get their products on retail shelves. Erica reveals what she wishes she had done before launching in retail, including building a stronger online community, and highlights the trade shows and communities that have helped her along the way, including Startup CPG...
Send us Fan Mail What does it take to turn a big idea into a product on retail shelves? For Erica Haft, founder of Sweeter Collective, it started with a sweet tooth, a gap in the candy aisle, and the courage to leave a nearly decade-long career in law to build something entirely new. In this episode of Shelf Talks, Erica shares how she reimagined hard candy with modern flavors and better-for-you ingredients, spent nearly two years developing the product, and landed an opportunity with Sprouts...
Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to be ready for a national retail opportunity? In this Retail Readiness Round, Cory Varona, co-founder of OCOA Beauty, shares three important lessons every product-based founder should know before pitching a national retailer. Cory talks about: Why your product and packaging need to be retail-ready before you pitchWhy having a manufacturer that can scale with you is criticalHow mentors, accelerators, and retailer programs can help open doorsWhy resear...
Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to go from an idea in your kitchen to getting your product on the shelves of 461 Ulta Beauty stores? In this episode of Shelf Talks, Roberta sits down with Cory Varona, co-founder of OCOA Beauty, the sister-founded curly hair brand inspired by their Dominican heritage and their own journey of learning to embrace their natural curls. Cory and her sister Nicole didn't come from the beauty industry. Cory was an accountant and Nicole worked in financial s...
Send us Fan Mail Getting your product onto a retail shelf is not the finish line. It’s the beginning. In this solo episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta breaks down one of the most powerful ways product-based brands can turn their retail presence into real consumer connection: sampling. If you sell an experiential product that customers can taste, feel, use, or experience, sampling gives you the opportunity to connect with shoppers at the exact moment they are making purchasing decisions. But ...