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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
Nina Lombardo & Anna Kotler: Building O’ts Cookies Into a Shelf-Ready Brand
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, Anna and Nina share the behind-the-scenes journey of building their brand.
You’ll hear:
- How they identified a white space in the cookie aisle
- The story behind their top-selling Sweet & Salty Oatmeal and Churro con Chocolate cookies
- What it really takes to work with distributors and get on store shelves
- Lessons learned about demos, packaging pivots, and staying nimble as founders
If you’ve ever dreamed of turning a beloved recipe into a shelf-ready brand—or just love a good founder story—you won’t want to miss this episode.
O'ts Cookies Website: https://otscookies.com/
O'ts Cookies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otscookies/?hl=en
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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