Road 2 Retail

On today’s episode, the Road 2 Retail team speaks with Wade Yenny - an experienced retail buyer with several high-profile natural and specialty retailers. Wade shares his views on the importance of differentiation and his observations related to small, emerging and challenger brands. Wade shares his insights on the following topics: • How important is traction for a brand online before going to re...

Dan Mack is a passionate advocate for challenger brands like those we work with and try to help here on the Road 2 Retail podcast.  Dan shares his views on what small, emerging and challenger brands really need to think through prior to making the move into a regional or national retailer.  He points out the challenges all of these brands will undoubtedly face, and he offers his views on how to be...

Episode #56 A detailed discussion with Eric Koppelman - CEO of Ruby Jewel Ice Cream Sandwiches Today we were fortunate to spend some time with Eric Kopplelman to discuss how he and his team are building out their brand of super premium ice cream sandwiches. He leads with a very interesting history of Ruby Jewel and how they went about bringing the focus of the business back to the core: delicious...

Many small, emerging and challenger brands are truly different- and some are not.  Some are very authentic and simply find ways to keep going and evolving while others can't change fast enough to survive.  After years of studying challenger brands extensively- Dan shares his 10 Traits winning challenger brands possess.  Give the show a listen to hear Dan walk us through this list - they are al...

Larissa Dannenberg, Vice President of Consulting at Market Performance Group, shares her views on how brands can best work with Retailer Media Networks. Retailer Media Networks (RMNs) are an emerging vehicle with many of the nation's largest retailers. After years of watching Amazon build out their massive advertising business, many retailers have responded by building out their own advertisin...

On today’s episode we discuss what it has taken for Doug and the team to make Sweet Loren's the #1 'better for you' cookie dough in the USA. Having been a senior leader at several successful emerging brands, Doug discusses some of the key points he has learned along the way: - Do you have a solid strategy? Are you flexible? - Do you have enough margin to expand your business successful...

On today’s show we speak with Buck Robinson- the President of Media Manager Marketplace. Buck and his experienced team have a long history of helping non big budget brands test and learn their way into the world of offline media (TV, print, radio, etc). You don't need a seven figure budget to make a positive impact on your business with offline media. Right up front, Buck discusses how offline...

On today’s episode, we speak with Marc Perez - President of The Menper Group. Marc leads a family owned business intensely focused on delivering health and wellness products to the US Hispanic consumer. Marc discusses how they think about expanding their business, the way they have structured their sales organization, and how they vet suppliers. In addition, Marc reflects on his time as a private...

On today’s episode we discuss the important actions small, emerging and challenger brands need to make when preparing to raise money with Genevieve Gilbreath - Co-Founder of Springdale Ventures. Given her experience, Genevieve discusses the keys to successfully raising money and the importance of having a good "match" with an investor. Among the topics discussed are: - What should a bran...

Road 2 Retail: Episode 47. Today we speak with the Founder & CEO of Backstroke - RJ Talyor. RJ is a multi exit entrepreneur in the technology space. His latest venture is helping brands and companies utilize email marketing and AI to grow their businesses. RJ discusses how their service works, how to manage budgets and discusses their methodology to ensure nothing offensive gets generated and...

On today’s episode, we speak with Andrew Weiss- the founder and CEO of the Partnered CEO. Andrew has been a part of the teams driving sales of several CPG brands. His biggest achievement is building the largest plant-based protein brand: Vega. Andrew shares his experiences building brands both his successes and the things he'd like to do over. We also discuss the importance of generating consu...

Road 2 Retail: Episode 45. On today's show we speak with the founder of 3 Roads Brewing, Chris Sadler. Chris shares his reasons for starting 3 Roads Brewing and the journey he and his team have been on ever since. Chris discusses the complexity of the multi tier alcohol distribution system, the importance of building the brand out from (and winning) in your home market, the vital role a high q...

Episode # 44- Expo West 2024 Recap On today’s episode we share with our audience what Tracey Priest saw and experienced at this year's Expo West show in Anaheim. We cover the current trends at this year’s show- including his take on what were the hot categories? Tracey also shares his insights and recommendations for brands who first want to walk the show as attendees and for those brands who...

Road 2 Retail: Episode #43. On today's show we speak with David Spratte - Co-Founder of Carpe. Carpe is a leading brand in the antiperspirant category. In today's show, David shares the genesis of the brand idea, how they developed the products and he shares a very interesting approach to inbound calls from consumers. David also shares learnings around driving awareness and demand for the...

On today's show we speak with Susan Levy - Founder of SBL Consulting. Susan and her firm do a lot of work in the consumer healthcare space. She shares with us her views on how small and emerging healthcare brands need to think about coming to market, what trends she is seeing in the consumer healthcare space and she discusses a particular area of expertise of her firm: helping companies naviga...

Executing smart, cost effective market research can help you better understand your brand, your consumer, your communications, and why people are buying your product. This work can be done quickly and cost effectively. Today we speak with George Brown, VP of Client Development at AcuPoll. George takes us through examples of how research can help small brands understand their consumer, generate the...

Road 2 Retail: Episode 38. Part II of an interview with Jason Omenn, VP of eCommerce at Market Performance Group (MPG). Many small, emerging or challenger brands feel that the road to success goes through Amazon and building a business on their platform. In the first part of our discussion with Jason, he highlighted the benefits and watch outs with regard to doing business with Amazon. Here in par...

Episode #37. Part I of an interview with Jason Omenn, VP of eCommerce at Market Performance Group (MPG). Many small, emerging or challenger brands feel that the road to success goes through Amazon and building a business on their platform. This still may be true, but much has changed over the years. In today's discussion, Jason highlights the benefits and watch outs with regard to doing busine...

Road 2 Retail: Episode #.40 On today's show we speak with the leadership team at Yard Rink. Yard Rink is a leader in the backyard hockey business. Brian Packard (CEO & Co-founder) and Dan Touhey (Head of Business Development) share their stories of how they saw a market for a simple, high quality backyard hockey rink that would be simple for consumers to set up and maintain. They share the...

With 2023 in the books, today we take a look at a short checklist of key issues to be on top of as 2024 kicks off and you look to grow your small, emerging or challenger brand at retail. Being organized, doing what you say you are going to do (on time and accurately), following up, understanding the exp[ectations of your retail partner, and making sure your marketing plan is ready to activate are...

Today we speak with Doug Hall, Founder of the Eureka! Ranch and Co-Founder of Brain Brew Distillery. Doug and the Eureka! Ranch are one of the preeminent new products and innovation firms in the country. He has helped companies such as Nike, Diageo, Disney and Bank of America accelerate their innovation processes and drive growth. Brain Brew Distillery is his latest venture offering custom whiskey...

As we continue our Founders Series we interview Matt Matros, a founder with two 8-figure exits. In this episode Matt shares with us his learnings from being a CPG entrepreneur: his successes, mistakes, what he has learned about raising funds and the real struggles of being an entrepreneur.

On today's show we speak with Garrett Gingerich, the Chief Marketing Officer of TayCo Brace. Garrett takes us on a journey through his career, transitioning from marketing agency executive to crossing the chasm and stepping into the client-side to facilitate brand and company growth. TayCo Brace is a young company on the incline of their growth curve as they bring true innovation to bracing an...

On today's show we speak with Jason Reiser, the President of Market Performance Group (MPG). Jason has served in roles of increasing responsibility in merchandising at several of the country's largest retailers: Sam's Club, Walmart, Family Dollar, Vitamin Shoppe, and Dollar General. Jason talks about what makes small, emerging brands successful, what they must get right when dealing wi...

oad 2 Retail: Episode31. On today's show we speak with Vicky Holland. Vicky is the past President and current Chief Growth Officer of Pathfinders Advertising. Over the course of Vicky's career, she and her agency have helped brands of all sizes and categories shape their marketing communication and branding. Vicky offers insights and examples of what small, emerging brands need to get righ...