Shelf Talks
Shelf Talks is the podcast for female founders, CPG entrepreneurs, and product-based business owners who want to get their products into retail stores and build brands that thrive once they're on the shelf.
Hosted by Roberta Townes, a retail buyer with more than 15 years of experience discovering and launching products at national retailers, each weekly episode features honest conversations with female founders who have successfully landed on retail shelves. Together, they pull back the curtain on how they pitched buyers, built wholesale partnerships, scaled distribution, increased brand awareness, and overcame the challenges of growing a product-based business.
Whether you're preparing for your first retail pitch or looking to expand into more stores, you'll gain practical strategies for retail readiness, wholesale growth, buyer expectations, merchandising, and increasing sell-through once your product hits the shelf.
If you're ready to turn your product into a retail success story, you're in the right place.
New episodes drop every week. Subscribe to Shelf Talks and learn what it really takes to get your brand retail-ready and winning in stores.
Looking for even more retail guidance? Roberta's 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 Kim Brown, Founder & CEO of CocoXo
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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 with Kim Brown, founder of CocoExo, to break down the non-negotiables every product-based founder must have in place to win shelf space and stay there.
Kim shares real, practical insights on:
- Why inventory clarity and pricing can make or break your first retail buyer conversation
- The most underrated skill founders need to win and stay on shelf (hint: it’s not marketing ads)
- How networking directly impacts retail growth and buyer relationships
- Trade shows, events, and retail communities emerging brands should prioritize to get in front of the right buyers
If you’re a product-based entrepreneur preparing to pitch retailers, wondering what buyers actually expect, or trying to grow from local shelves to larger retail opportunities, this bonus episode is packed with actionable retail strategy you can apply immediately.
🎧 Listen to the full Retail Readiness Round episode of Shelf Talks now and get one step closer to being shelf-ready, buyer-confident, and retail-approved.
Full episode released 3/2
CocoXo Website: https://cocoxos.com/
New York Now: https://nynow.com/
Shoppe Object: https://shoppeobject.com/
Event Partner: Nourish Summit & Expo (Oct. 5-7, 2027 | Baltimore) - Use code SHELFTALKS10 for 10% off full registration https://bit.ly/4sx0Zba
Looking for more? Visit our Linktree for the latest episodes, free resources, retail tips, and ways to connect with the Shelf Talks community.
https://linktr.ee/shelftalkspodcast
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