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.
Shelf Talks
FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK: Heather Sloan & Enwei Li, Founders of Heali Medical
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
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, Heather and Enwei Li discuss their journey in building Heali, a brand focused on innovative pain relief and recovery products. They share insights on leveraging influencer marketing, navigating retail challenges, and the importance of strategic partnerships. The duo emphasizes the need for continuous innovation and adaptability in a competitive market, while also providing practical advice for other founders looking to enter retail.
Breakdowns:
00:00 Introduction to Heali and Its Founders
03:12 The Birth of Heali: Identifying Market Gaps
06:00 Challenges in Product Development
08:55 Launch Strategy and Initial Sales
12:01 Networking and Finding Advisors
15:12 Unexpected Retail Success
18:05 The Journey on Dragons' Den
20:56 Post-Show Impact and Brand Growth
25:02 Strategies for Retail Success
28:03 Challenges of Competing in Retail
29:54 Navigating Manufacturing and Supply Chain
32:03 The Importance of Brokers in Retail
34:01 Crafting the Perfect Pitch
35:55 Future Innovations and Product Expansion
40:05 Retail Readiness and Key Advice
Heali links mentioned on this episode:
Instagram LINK
Tiktok LINK
Website LINK
Heali website has a geo-locator where you can find all the locations to purchase!
Event Partner: Nourish Summit & Expo (Oct. 5-7, 2027 | Baltimore) - Use code SHELFTALKS10 for 10% off full registration https://bit.ly/4sx0Zba
How to Follow Shelf Talks Podcast on social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelftalkspodcast/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelf-talks-podcast
Love what you hear on Shelf Talks? You can now support the podcast. Every contribution helps bring more indie voices to the mic. Thank you for being part of this journey! ✨
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411532/support
Contact us via email: Hello@shelftalks.com
Reach out if you know of a female founder with an impactful brand and retail story and leave a review if you found value in this episode! Hello@shelftalks.com
Purchase the book Shelf Talk: A step by step guide to launching your product in Retail Stores by Roberta Townes Buy Book