Shelf Talks

Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode of Shelf Talks , I breaks down the exact formula you need to craft a winning retail pitch. Whether you’re preparing for a virtual meeting or flying out to meet a buyer face-to-face, I reveal the four must-have elements every pitch needs —your brand story, curated product assortment, data that excites buyers, and a marketing plan that drives traffic to their st...

Send us Fan Mail Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Caroline McGinley, Founder of La Gringuita Cookiesand took away some learning about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores. On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Caroline specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What is a learning that you didn’t know until your products were act...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Caroline McGinley, founder of La Gringuita, a cookie brand that started in her kitchen and has grown into a successful retail product. Caroline shares her journey from baking cookies in Uruguay to navigating the complexities of the U.S. market, including her experiences with Whole Foods and the challenges of scaling productio...

Send us Fan Mail In this FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK from Episode 13 - Roberta interviews Heather Sloan and Enwei Li, co-founders of Heali, a wellness company that innovates in the sports, beauty, skincare, and aging sectors. They discuss their backgrounds, the inception of Heali, the challenges faced during product development, and their unexpected success in retail. The conversation also covers the...

Send us Fan Mail In this FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK from Episode 4 - Jamika Martin, founder of Rosen Skincare, discusses her journey from formulating her products in her college apartment to launching a successful skincare brand now in over 700 Ulta stores. Jamika shares insights on the challenges and learnings from starting her business, including the importance of customer feedback, the transition...

Send us Fan Mail In this rapid-fire Retail Readiness Round, Scout Brisson, CEO of De Soi, drops powerful insights for any founder getting ready to hit store shelves. From packaging tips that stop customers in their tracks to the underrated magic of being on-shelf at Whole Foods, Scout shares what she wishes she knew before launching into retail. We talk:  💡 How to make your packaging speak in 5 s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Shelf Talks , I’m joined by Scout Brisson — co-founder of functional cookie dough brand Deux and current CEO of De Soi , the non-alcoholic apéritif brand co-founded with Katy Perry.  Scout takes us inside her journey from management consulting to leading not one, but two standout brands in the crowded world of CPG. We dive into the real behind-the-scenes of buil...

Send us Fan Mail Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Jess Berger, Founder of Bundle & Joy and took away some learning about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores. On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Jess specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What’s one thing every founder should do before trying to get their product into...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Jess Berger, founder of Bundle and Joy, a pet care brand focused on clean ingredients and wellness for pets. Jess shares her journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, the challenges she faced in launching her brand during the pandemic, and the importance of community engagement and retail partnerships. She discusses...

Send us Fan Mail Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Val Emanuel, Co-Founder of Rif Care and took away some learning about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores. On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Val specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What’s one thing every founder should do before trying to get their product into retail...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Valerie Emanuel, co-founder of Rif Care, a sustainable feminine care brand. Valerie shares her journey from modeling to entrepreneurship, detailing the challenges and triumphs of launching a product-based business in the wellness space. The conversation covers the importance of community, feedback, and iteration in product de...

Send us Fan Mail In this FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK from episode 6 - Brianna Arps, founder of Moodeaux, shares her journey from being a beauty editor to launching her own luxury fragrance brand. She discusses the challenges she faced, the importance of community engagement, and how her personal experiences shaped her brand's identity. Brianna emphasizes the significance of emotional connections...

Send us Fan Mail Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Maxi Heidenblut, Founder of Häppy Candy and took away some learning about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores. On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Maxi specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). 1. What is a learning that you didn’t know until your cookies were actually on ret...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Maxi Heidenblut, the founder of Häppy Candy, who shares her journey from a finance career to creating a healthier candy brand. Maxi discusses her passion for nutrition, the challenges of product development, and the importance of retail strategy in the candy market. She highlights the significance of taste testing, marketing...

Send us Fan Mail Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Taylor Walker, Co-Founder of Spritzal Cookies and took away some learning about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores. On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Taylor specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). 1. What is a learning that you didn’t know until your cookies were actuall...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Taylor Walker, co-founder of Spritzal Cookies, about her journey from IT sales to building a successful cookie brand with her mother. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of starting a family business, the importance of marketing and sampling, and the strategic decisions behind rebranding and product development. Taylor...

Send us Fan Mail Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Molly Blakeley, Founder of Molly Bz Gourmet Cookies and took away some learning about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores. On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Molly specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What is a learning that you didn’t know until your cookies were actua...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Molly Blakeley, the founder of Molly B's gourmet cookie brand. Molly shares her inspiring journey from struggling with just $150 to building a successful cookie business known for its innovative flavors. She discusses the challenges she faced, including numerous rejections, and how her persistence paid off. Molly emphasi...

Send us Fan Mail In this FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK from Episode 8 - Tania Sweis hares her journey from being a corporate attorney to launching a clean, gluten-free, vegan cookie brand. The conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of starting a business, navigating the retail landscape, and the importance of maintaining quality while scaling production. Tania also discusses her experienc...

Send us Fan Mail In this FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK from Episode 3 - Rachel Klein shares her unique journey from being a modern dance major to founding Revival Food Co., a premium almond butter brand. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of starting her business, including her experiences with scaling, entering retail, and navigating setbacks. Rachel emphasizes the importance of relationships i...

Send us Fan Mail Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Candice Wu, Co-Founder of Wonder Monday and took away some learning about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores. On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Candice specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What was the most challenging part about securing placement in retail stores? W...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Candace Wu, co-founder of Wonder Monday, a brand that is redefining cheesecake with healthier options. Candace shares her journey from technology consulting to entrepreneurship, the challenges of product development, and the strategies for entering the competitive retail market. She discusses the importance of understanding c...

Send us Fan Mail Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Sarah Vilenskiy, Founder of Blossom Essentials and took away some learning about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores. On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Sarah specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What were some of the unexpected challenges you faced once your product wa...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Sarah Vilenskiy, the founder of Blossom Essentials, a beauty brand focused on skincare for sensitive skin. Sarah shares her journey from digital marketing to launching her own brand, the challenges of product development, and the importance of quality assurance. She discusses the transition from direct-to-consumer to retail,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Gloria Chou, an expert in public relations for small businesses. Gloria shares her unique journey from being a US diplomat to becoming a PR coach, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and visibility for female founders. She introduces her CPR pitching method, which focuses on credibility, point of view, and relevance, a...