.png)
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
08. The 5 Branding Realities Every DTC Founder Needs to Know Before Going Retail
Think your brand identity is bulletproof? Think again.
In this episode of Retail & Shiz, I share a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens when your DTC brand hits retail shelves and why your stunning branding might not survive the buyer review process.
From last-minute endcap changes to compliance curveballs, I break down the five branding realities every founder needs to understand before launching in retail.
You’ll learn:
- Why flexibility is your biggest competitive advantage in retail
- How to reframe your brand story so it actually drives sales
- What happens when buyer feedback clashes with your creative vision
- How to prepare for last-minute changes without losing your sanity
- Why performance beats perfection every time
Whether you’re preparing for your first retail pitch or knee-deep in buyer revisions, this episode will give you the real-world perspective you won’t find in your typical brand course.
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