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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
10. 5 Things You Should Never DIY When Scaling into Retail
If you’ve ever found yourself cozied up with your laptop, ChatGPT, and a mug of hot cocoa trying to “figure it out” yourself when it comes to breaking into retail — this episode is your reality check.
In today’s episode, Kristin is breaking down the five critical areas DTC brands should never DIY if they want to protect their margins, avoid costly mistakes, and actually stay profitable once they hit retail shelves. From legal contracts to compliance to supply chain logistics, these are the things Google just can’t help you with.
Tune in as Kristin shares insider stories from her days managing billions in retail buys plus why hiring the right experts isn’t an expense, it’s insurance for your retail success.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why legal contracts are not a DIY project (and what happens if you try)
- How hazmat and compliance mistakes can tank your retail opportunity
- What most founders miss when calculating their true product costs
- The major difference between DTC marketing and retail marketing
- Why your supply chain setup can make or break your retail relationships
Because landing on shelves is one thing — staying there profitably is another.
👉 Grab Kristin’s free mini course, Get Retail Ready, to learn how to prep your brand for retail the right way.
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