Shelf Talks

Roberta Townes

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.

  1. 1d ago

    Cory Varona, Co-Founder of OCOA Beauty: From Kitchen Formulation to 461 Ulta Stores

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to go from an idea in your kitchen to getting your product on the shelves of 461 Ulta Beauty stores? In this episode of Shelf Talks, Roberta sits down with Cory Varona, co-founder of OCOA Beauty, the sister-founded curly hair brand inspired by their Dominican heritage and their own journey of learning to embrace their natural curls. Cory and her sister Nicole didn't come from the beauty industry. Cory was an accountant and Nicole worked in financial services and marketing. But after discovering cleaner hair care options and realizing there was a gap in the market, Cory decided to educate herself in formulation and began developing OCOA's first products. What followed was a journey filled with persistence, mistakes, a major rebrand, accelerator programs, and plenty of lessons about what it takes to become retail ready. Cory shares how they: • Created their first formulas themselves before partnering with a lab • Found a manufacturer by refusing to give up • Launched with one hero product instead of trying to launch five • Learned the importance of branding and packaging before entering retail • Rebranded from D N Organics to OCOA Beauty and connected the brand more deeply to their Dominican heritage • Used accelerator programs to learn the retail business • Prepared for and pitched Ulta Beauty • Differentiated OCOA by identifying white space on the shelf • Prepared their supply chain for a 461-store retail launch • Learned the difference between selling DTC and supporting a retail business • Track productivity and rebuys to understand retail performance • Built community as a small brand without a huge marketing budget Cory also gets candid about the challenges of growing a small CPG brand, knowing when to invest in education, building a business with your sister, leaving a corporate career, and trusting your intuition when the next opportunity appears. If you're a founder trying to get your product into retail, this episode is packed with lessons on persistence, retail readiness, differentiation, community building, and knowing when your brand is ready for the shelf. This is a conversation about more than getting into retail. It's about building a brand that is ready to stay there. OCOA Beauty Website OCOA Beauty Instagram Support the show 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

    Cory Varona, Co-Founder of OCOA Beauty: From Kitchen Formulation to 461 Ulta Stores
  2. Sep 28

    Why Sampling Could Be Your Secret Weapon in Retail

    Send us Fan Mail Getting your product onto a retail shelf is not the finish line. It’s the beginning. In this solo episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta breaks down one of the most powerful ways product-based brands can turn their retail presence into real consumer connection: sampling. If you sell an experiential product that customers can taste, feel, use, or experience, sampling gives you the opportunity to connect with shoppers at the exact moment they are making purchasing decisions. But Roberta explains why the value goes far beyond getting someone to try your product. You’ll learn how sampling can help you: • Build trust and loyalty with consumers • Turn product claims into real proof through firsthand experience • Gather valuable feedback on your product, packaging, pricing, and positioning • Create content from real customer reactions and conversations • Show retail buyers that you are invested in growing your business once you’re on the shelf • Turn retail associates into brand advocates • Drive incremental sales and add-to-basket purchases • Start sampling strategically, even when you have a small budget • Create an in-store experience even if your product can't be physically sampled Roberta also shares examples from founders featured on Shelf Talks, including SEEQ and Loonen Water, and explains how brands can start small with one store, one activation, and a clear strategy. Whether you're already selling in retail or preparing for your first retail launch, this episode will help you think differently about what you do after you get on the shelf. Because getting on the shelf is just the beginning. The real question is: what are you going to do with the opportunity? Listen now and start thinking about how you can turn your retail shelf presence into an experience customers remember. Support the show 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

  3. Sep 21

    10 Questions Every Founder Should Ask a Retail Buyer Before Saying Yes

    Send us Fan Mail Getting your product onto a retail shelf is exciting, but getting the yes is only the beginning. In this episode of Shelf Talks, Roberta Townes shares 10 smart questions every product-based founder should ask a retail buyer when discussing a potential retail partnership. From understanding what success looks like and how your launch will be measured, to uncovering promotional opportunities, customer demographics, category resets, and what happens if your product doesn't perform as expected, these questions will help you walk into buyer conversations prepared and informed. You'll learn how to:  Understand what success looks like to the retailer  Identify the biggest opportunities for your brand within the assortment  Determine whether your target customer aligns with the retailer's customer  Understand the scope of your initial launch  Clarify what support the buyer expects from you  Uncover promotional and retail media opportunities  Know which metrics will determine your success  Understand what happens if your product underperforms  Learn from brands that have already succeeded in the retailer  Identify upcoming category resets, seasonal opportunities, and initiatives Because getting on the shelf isn't the finish line. The goal is building a partnership between two businesses that can actually win on shelf.  Grab your pen and pad. These are questions you'll want to have ready for your next conversation with a retail buyer. Support the show 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

  4. Sep 14

    Your Product Is Great. So Why Isn’t It Selling? 5 Retail Mistakes Founders Make

    Send us Fan Mail Getting your product onto a retail shelf is a huge milestone, but what happens when the product isn't selling once it gets there? In this solo episode of Shelf Talks, Roberta Townes, retail buyer and host of Shelf Talks Podcast, breaks down 5 reasons a great product may not be performing as expected in retail. From unclear packaging and pricing to weak marketing, poor shelf placement, and not understanding your retail metrics, Roberta shares the buyer perspective every product-based founder needs to know. You'll learn how to: • Make sure consumers can understand your product in seconds • Evaluate your pricing against the competition and perceived value • Create demand instead of relying on the retailer to do all the marketing • Evaluate your shelf placement and merchandising • Understand key retail metrics including sales velocity, inventory, weeks of supply, sell-through, and promotional performance • Understand why a reorder is more powerful than an initial purchase order • Look at your product through the eyes of the consumer, retailer, and buyer Whether you're preparing to pitch your first retailer or your product is already on shelves and you're frustrated with slow sales, this episode will give you a practical retail checkup you can use immediately. Because getting into retail is only the beginning. The real goal is winning on the shelf. Support the show 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

  5. Sep 10 ·  Bonus

    Retail Readiness Round: Wendy Kushel, Founder of Wendala's

    Send us Fan Mail In this Retail Readiness Round, Wendy Kushel, founder of Wendala's shares practical advice for founders who want to get their products onto retail shelves. Wendy breaks down one of the biggest mistakes founders make before pitching retail buyers: not being truly retail ready. From UPC codes and legal labeling to understanding FDA requirements, she explains what founders need to have in place before approaching retailers. She also shares advice for founders hoping to land a major retailer like Walmart, including why your product needs to be ready for mass production and why founders shouldn't be afraid to take the order and figure out the next steps. Plus, Wendy talks about the trade shows and events that have helped her connect with retail buyers, including Expo West and curated buyer meetings. If you're a product-based founder preparing to pitch retail, this quick Retail Readiness Round is packed with practical advice to help you get ready for the shelf. She mentions on the episode as well Global Beauty & Wellness Exchange in Bluffton, SC Support the show 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

  6. Sep 7

    No Big Budget. No Big Team. Just Scrappiness: How Wendy Kushel Built Wendala’s

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to get a product from farmers markets to major retailers? For Wendy Kushel, founder of Wendala’s, the answer is being scrappy, staying persistent, listening to your customers, and simply getting in the game. In this episode of Shelf Talks, Wendy shares the unconventional journey behind her innovative sugar scrub brand, from discovering sugar scrubs at age 50 to building a business that now sells through retailers including Walmart and Ace Hardware. Wendy opens up about how she landed her first retail opportunity, why she believes farmers markets are one of the best places to find proof of concept, and how customer feedback helped shape some of her bestselling products. She also shares the scrappy tactics she used to get into 21 Ace Hardware stores, connect with major retail decision-makers, and ultimately earn a Walmart Open Call Golden Ticket. But getting on the shelf was only the beginning. Wendy gets candid about the realities of fulfilling a 10,000+ unit Walmart order, merchandising challenges, marketing, inventory, manufacturing, retail data, and knowing when it's time to ask for help. And perhaps most importantly, Wendy shares her advice for anyone who feels like they're starting their entrepreneurial journey later in life. Her message is simple: there is no expiration date on your ideas. If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start a business, how to think differently about retail, or what it really takes to build a brand when you don't have unlimited resources, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll learn: • How Wendy turned a personal discovery into a product-based business • Why customer feedback can be one of your most valuable forms of product research • How to use scrappiness as a competitive advantage • How Wendy landed 21 Ace Hardware stores by going directly to the decision-maker • The story behind her Walmart Golden Ticket • What happened after Walmart placed a 10,000+ unit order • Why getting on the shelf is only half the battle • How merchandising can impact whether shoppers notice your product • Why founders need to understand their retail data and financials • How to determine which SKUs make sense for different retailers • Why your previous career experiences may be preparing you for entrepreneurship • Wendy's advice for becoming an entrepreneur later in life Wendy's journey is a powerful reminder that you don't need to have everything figured out before you start. Sometimes you just need to get in the game, keep paddling, and be willing to figure it out along the way. Support the show 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

    No Big Budget. No Big Team. Just Scrappiness: How Wendy Kushel Built Wendala’s
  7. Aug 31

    FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK: From Kitchen Creation to Thousands of Retail Shelves with Harken Sweets Founder Katie Lefkowitz

    Send us Fan Mail We’re continuing our Founders Flashback series by revisiting my conversation with Katie Lefkowitz, founder of Harken Sweets, a better-for-you candy brand that is changing the way consumers think about indulgence. When I originally interviewed Katie, Harken was already on shelves at Walmart and expanding into retailers across the country. Katie shared the behind-the-scenes story of taking her healthier candy concept from her kitchen to thousands of retail doors, including how she prepared for Walmart, scaled manufacturing, managed inventory and built relationships with retail buyers. In this episode, Katie and I talk about: • How a personal health journey inspired the creation of Harken Sweets • Turning a homemade recipe into a scalable product • Finding the right manufacturing partner • How Harken landed Walmart and went from “yes” to shelf in about five months • What founders need to know about supply chain and replenishment • Building strong relationships with buyers and retail partners • Why sampling and word of mouth have been so powerful for the brand • How to think about merchandising and where your product belongs on shelf • Why getting onto the shelf is only the beginning of your retail journey And because this is a Founders Flashback, I’m also sharing an update on Katie and Harken Sweets since our original conversation, including the brand’s continued retail expansion, new investment from Taste Tomorrow Ventures, Selva Ventures and GRTSHT Ventures, and its expansion into Costco. This conversation is a great reminder that getting the retail yes is just the beginning. The real work is building the systems, relationships and consumer demand that allow your brand to grow once you’re on shelf. Support the show 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

  8. Aug 24

    FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK: How to Get Your Brand Seen with PR Expert Gloria Chou

    Send us Fan Mail We’re continuing the Founders Flashback series on Shelf Talks with a conversation that every product-based founder should revisit. In this episode, I’m bringing back my conversation with Gloria Chou, award-winning Small Biz PR Coach, to talk about one of the biggest challenges founders face: getting your brand noticed. Gloria shares her no-fluff approach to PR and breaks down how founders can get media coverage without a huge following, expensive PR agency, or a Rolodex full of journalist contacts. We talk about: • The difference between PR and marketing • How to find the right journalists and media outlets for your brand • Gloria’s CPR pitching framework: Credibility, Point of View, and Relevance • How to make your pitch relevant instead of simply talking about your product • When and how to follow up with journalists • How PR can build credibility with retailers and potential partners • Why media coverage can help create momentum across your entire business • How founders can use their story as a powerful PR asset One of my favorite takeaways from Gloria is that PR isn’t simply about getting your brand featured. It’s about having your industry talk about you, creating credibility and authority that you can take into your next retail conversation. If you’re a founder trying to get your product noticed, build credibility, or create more opportunities for your brand, this Founders Flashback is packed with practical advice you can put into action. 🎧 Press play and revisit this Shelf Talks conversation with Gloria Chou. Support the show 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

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

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.

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