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Retail Edit | Actionable Advice to Grow and Scale Your DTC Retail Business
The essential podcast for founders who refuse to guess their way into retail.
Hosted by Kristin Engen, former Fortune 50 retail buyer, 15 years managing a $4 billion portfolio, now Chief Commercial Officer getting brands onto shelves.
Someone who's been on both sides of the table.
Each week: retail strategy, brand positioning, buyer psychology, the metrics that matter, the operational realities no one mentions, and the commercial intelligence that separates serious brands from hopeful ones.
No mythology. No sanitized theory. No advice from consultants who've never sat in the buyer's chair.
Just the unfiltered strategy that elite brands pay a pretty penny to access.
This is where branding meets buying power.
Retail Edit | Actionable Advice to Grow and Scale Your DTC Retail Business
06. The Real Key to Retail Success: Why Grit Beats Glamour Every Time
Retail might look glamorous on Instagram — those Target shelfies and Costco launches make it seem effortless but the truth? It’s 5% glam, 95% grit.
In this episode, Kristin pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to make it in retail. From late-night calls with overseas teams to air-freighting product at the cost of your margins, she’s breaking down the five elements of grit that separate retail dreamers from retail winners.
You’ll learn:
- Why “build your breakout brand in six simple steps” is total BS
- The five types of grit every brand needs to survive and thrive in retail
- How to stress-test your systems, anticipate problems, and build true retail endurance
- The mindset shift that will keep you going when things get messy
If you’re serious about breaking into big-box stores or scaling your DTC brand without burning out, this episode will give you the unfiltered truth and the action steps you actually need.
🎧 Listen now to learn how to develop the grit that gets you on the shelf.
Resources & Links
🎓 Ready to grow your retail business? Check out Kristin’s freebie → Get Retail Ready Course
If this episode made you think "finally, someone who gets it"—you def need my Retailish newsletter in your life.
📲 Hang out with Kristin on Instagram → @kristinaengen