Shelf Talks
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.
Episodes
140 episodes
5 Costly Mistakes That Are Blocking You From Getting In Front of Retail Buyers
Struggling to get your product in front of retail buyers—even though you know it belongs on the shelf?In this solo episode of Shelf Talks, I’m breaking down the 5 biggest mistakes product-based founders make when try...
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Season 1
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Episode 66
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14:23
3 Rapid Retail Questions with Marisa Sergi, CEO of L'uva Bella Wines
If you’ve ever felt like your emails are getting lost in a buyer’s inbox or questioned why your retail pitch isn’t landing, this quick-hit segment is packed with actionable insights you can apply immediately.Marisa pulls back the curtain...
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Season 2
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4:19
From Family Business to Retail Powerhouse: How Marisa Sergi Scaled L’uva Bella Wines
If you're a product-based founder trying to get into retail stores—and actually stay there—this episode is your blueprint.In this episode of Shelf Talks, I sit down with Marisa Sergi, CEO and co-founder of a multi-bran...
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Season 2
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Episode 65
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41:36
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How to Follow Up With Retail Buyers After a Trade Show
Trade shows like Expo West are exciting for product founders. You spend months preparing your booth, sampling your product, and finally getting the chance to meet retail buyers face-to-face.But here’s what many founders don’t realize:
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Season 2
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Episode 64
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10:13
Rapid Retail Questions with Jing Gao, Founder of Fly By Jing
In this special Retail Readiness Round from Shelf Talks, Fly By Jing founder Jing Gao shares what it really takes for a product-based business to succeed in retail.If you're a founder working toward getting your pr...
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Season 2
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3:39
How Jing Gao Built Fly By Jing From Supper Clubs to 12,000 Retail Stores
What does it take to turn a cultural idea into a global CPG brand—and land on thousands of retail shelves?In this episode of Shelf Talks, Roberta Townes sits down with Jing Gao, Founder and CEO of Fly By Jing, the fl...
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Season 2
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Episode 63
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43:23
MINI DIVE TRADE SHOWS: She Didn’t Just Blend In at Cosmoprof...She Built Authority
Trade shows aren’t just about foot traffic they’re about getting in the right rooms.In this final Expo mini dive, Brittany Lo shares how exhibiting at a major beauty trade show led directly to landing her first retail account with...
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Season 2
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5:19
MINI DIVE TRADE SHOWS: She Went to Expo West Without Product...and Landed Retail On the Spot
What if you went to Natural Products Expo West… without finished product?In today’s mini dive, Jess Berger, founder of Bundle x Joy, shares how she showed up to Expo West with mock-up packaging, no confirmed retailer...
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Season 2
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8:06
MINI DIVE TRADE SHOWS: How to Use Trade Shows to Get Into Retail (Even With a 10x10 Booth)
In this Trade Show Mini Dive, Olivia Abrams, co-founder of TiCK MiTT, shares how she strategically used viral social media momentum and in-person trade shows to break into retail without a massive budget or elaborate booth build.From exh...
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Season 2
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9:34
MINI DIVE TRADE SHOWS: She Almost Didn’t Submit… Then Won Most Innovative Product at a Major Trade Show
With Natural Products Expo West right around the corner, today’s Shelf Talks mini dive is one every CPG founder needs to hear.In this clip from my conversation with Molly Blakeley, founder of Molly Bz Cookies, we div...
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Season 2
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8:14
MINI DIVE TRADE SHOWS: She spent $20K on Her First Expo West Booth (Big Mistake?)
This is a mini clip from my full conversation with Jia Liao, founder of Hot Pot Queen pulled especially since we are nearing Expo West week.In this short drop, Jia shares the story of launching her brand the exact same day she showed at ...
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Season 2
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12:43
3 Rapid Retail Questions with Toni Covington, Co-Founder of Oktane Energy
In this Retail Readiness Round of Shelf Talks, I put Toni Covington in the hot seat for three rapid-fire questions every product-based founder needs to hear.If you’re preparing to pitch your first retail buyer, this segment is key...
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Season 2
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2:13
How Toni Covington, Co-Founder of Oktane Energy, Broke Into C-Stores and Hospitals
What does it really take to break into C-stores and hospitals in one of the most competitive categories in CPG?In this episode of Shelf Talks, I sit down with Toni Covington, Co-Founder & CEO of Oktane Energy, to unpack how she scale...
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Season 2
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Episode 62
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49:02
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3 Rapid Retail Questions with Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods
In the Retail Readiness Round, Julie breaks down:What founders must stop doing when trying to scale in retailWhy growing too fast can actually kill your brand on shelfThe importance of repeat purch...
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Season 2
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5:08
How Lifeway Foods Went from Immigrant Startup to National Retail Staple with Julie Smolyansky
On this episode I’m sitting down with Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, a true retail powerhouse who took over a public company at just 27 years old and helped turn kefir into a nationally recognized category.In this ...
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Season 2
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Episode 61
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53:24
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3 Rapid Retail Questions with Kim Brown, Founder & CEO of CocoXo
Getting into retail isn’t just about having a great product it’s about being retail ready before you ever sit across from a buyer.In this Retail Readiness Round bonus episode of the Shelf Talks podcast, Roberta sits down ...
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Season 2
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2:47
Pricing, Scaling & Trade Shows: Lessons from Kim Brown, Founder of CocoXo
In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta sits down with Kim Brown, founder of CocoXo Body Care Love, to break down what it really takes to build a product-based brand that’s ready for retail and stay on shelf.K...
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Season 2
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Episode 60
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43:17
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Olivia Abrams Co-Founder of TiCK MiTT Talks Shark Tank
What does it really take to walk into the Shark Tank — and walk out stronger as a founder?In this episode clip from this week's full episode, Roberta sits down with Olivia Abrams, co-founder of TiCK MiTT, to unpack her un...
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Season 2
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8:14
3 Rapid Retail Questions with Tina Chamoun, Founder of Terranean Herbs
In this Retail Readiness Round, Roberta sits down with Tina Chamoun, Founder of Terranean Herbs, to break down what it really takes to prepare for retail success.Tina shares practical, buyer-focused advice for founders gett...
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Season 2
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3:47
From Law to Lebanese Flavors: How Founder Tina Chamoun Scaled Terranean Herbs in Retail
In this episode of Shelf Talks, Roberta sits down with Tina Chamoun, founder of Terranean Herbs, to unpack her journey from practicing law to building an authentic Lebanese food brand now stocked in grocery stores across the count...
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Season 2
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Episode 59
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45:12
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3 Rapid Retail Questions with Psyche Terry, Founder of Urban Hydration
In this Retail Readiness Round, Psyche Terry—co-founder of Urban Hydration—drops unfiltered, real-world advice every product-based founder needs before pitching a retail buyer and after landing on shelf.Psyche sh...
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Season 2
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2:29
Plant-Based Innovation, Retail Strategy & Impact: The Urban Hydration Story with Founder Psyche Terry
What does it really take to build a shelf-ready brand that lasts in retail?In this episode of Shelf Talks, I’m joined by Psyche Terry, founder and CEO of Urban Hydration, one of the fastest-growing Black-owned...
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Season 2
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Episode 58
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51:24
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3 Rapid Retail Questions with Billie Asmus, Creator & Founder of The Repaint Tray
In this Retail Readiness Round, Roberta sits down with Billie Asmus, creator and Founder of Repaint Studios, to break down what founders actually need to know before bringing an innovative product to retail shelves.Billie shares...
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Season 2
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4:05
From DIY Frustration to Retail Disruption: How Billie Asmus Created The Repaint Tray by Solving One Small Problem
How do you turn a simple DIY frustration into a retail-ready product that lands on major store shelves?In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes sits down with Billie Asmus, creator and founder of The Repaint Tray, to break dow...
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Season 2
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Episode 57
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38:09
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FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK: Candice Wu, Co-Founder of Wonder Monday
In this FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK from episode Ep 33 host Roberta interviews Candace Wu, co-founder of Wonder Monday, a brand that is redefining cheesecake with healthier options. Candace shares her journey from technology consulting to entrepreneurs...
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Season 2
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29:18