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
151 episodes
3 Rapid Retail Questions with Sarela Harrada, Co-Founder of SIMPLi
Sarela Herrada, co-founder and CEO of SIMPLi, joins Shelf Talks for a candid conversation packed with actionable retail insights every product-based founder needs to hear before pitching buyers and launching into stores.If you're trying ...
How Sarela Herrada Built SIMPLi Into a Fast-Growing Retail Brand Through Regenerative Farming
In this episode of Shelf Talks, Roberta sits down with Sarela Herrada, co-founder and CEO of SIMPLi, to unpack the journey of building a mission-driven food brand from the ground up and transforming regenerative agriculture into a fast...
Rapid Retail Questions with Carrie Sporer, Co-Founder of SWAIR Hair
In this Retail Readiness Round of Shelf Talks, Roberta sits down with Carrie Sporer for a candid conversation on what founders really need to know before landing on retail shelves. From understanding margins, tariffs, and shipping costs to crea...
From Personal Frustration to Retail Shelves: Carrie Sporer’s Story Behind SWAIR Hair
In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes sits down with Carrie Sporer, co-founder of SWAIR Hair to talk about building an innovative beauty brand that is disrupting the haircare category with showerless shampoo solutions designed for...
5 Things I'm Loving Right Now Founders are Doing to Drive Awareness, Traffic & Sales to Retail Stores
If you're a product-based founder trying to figure out how to drive traffic to retail stores, increase sell-through, and stand out on crowded shelves, this episode breaks down exactly what’s working right now.In this solo episode ...
Rapid Retail Questions with Jillian Salinas, Founder of Beach City Coffee & Clara Sieg, Co-Founder of Loonen Water
What does it really take to be retail ready and land your product on store shelves?In this Retail Readiness Round of Shelf Talks Podcast, we’re bringing you rapid-fire, high-impact insights from two founders acti...
Jillian Salinas of Beach City Coffee: How She Landed Whole Foods First and Scaled to Walmart & Kroger
If you’re a product-based founder trying to figure out how to get into retail stores, pitch buyers, and actually scale on shelf, this episode delivers a real-world blueprint you can learn from and apply.In this episode of Shel...
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How Clara Sieg Built Loonen Water Through Purity, Transparency & Retail Strategy
What does it really take to build a standout brand in one of the most crowded retail categories?In this episode of Shelf Talks, I’m joined by Clara Sieg, co-founder and CEO of Loonen Water, the brand rethinking hyd...
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5 Biggest Mistakes Founders Make After Getting Into Retail (And How to Win on Shelf)
Getting on Shelf Isn’t the Win, Here’s How to Actually Succeed in RetailGetting your product into retail feels like the ultimate milestone… but what if that “yes” is just the beginning?In this solo episode of Shelf Talk...
Rapid Retail Questions with Samantha Ong, Founder of Joeydolls
If you’re a product-based founder trying to figure out how to get your brand into retail stores and actually win on the shelf this episode is packed with real, actionable insight you don’t want to miss.In this conversation,...
From Idea to Retail Shelves: How Samantha Ong Built Joeydolls with No Product Experience
What does it really take to turn a deeply personal mission into a retail-ready brand that resonates on shelves and in hearts?In this episode of Shelf Talks, I sit down with Samantha Ong, founder and CEO of JoeyDolls, a ...
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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...
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...
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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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:
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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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