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
3 Rapid Retail Questions with Psyche Terry, Founder of Urban Hydration
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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 shares:
- The non-negotiables founders must know before their very first buyer conversation (hint: margins matter more than you think)
- The most underrated skill required to win and stay on shelf—especially when things don’t go as planned
- The key metric founders must track closely once in stores to avoid “buying customers” and hurting long-term profitability
This conversation goes beyond buzzwords and dives into the mindset, preparation, and financial discipline required to build a brand that lasts in retail—not just one that gets a yes.
🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear Psyche’s honest perspective on retail readiness, resilience, and protecting your profit while you scale.
Full episode released 1/12/26
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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