x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Shelf Talks

Shelf Talks is the go-to podcast for female founders, product-based entrepreneurs, and emerging brands who want to learn how to get their products into retail stores and thrive once they’re there.Hosted by Roberta Townes, a seasoned retail buyer, each weekly episode features unfiltered conversations with founders who’ve landed on shelves at top retailers. You’ll learn exactly how they pitched to buyers, built retail partnerships, scaled wholesale distribution, and grew brand awareness all while

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

39:23

FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK: Aliett Buttelman, Co-Founder of...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/11/03

Send us a text In this flashback episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Aliett Buttelman, co-founder of Fazit Beauty, discussing her journey from helping other brands launch and grow to diving into entrepreneurship herself and advancing into the beauty industry. She explores the innovative product development of makeup patches, the importance of viral marketing and influencer engagement, and the strategic retail partnerships that have propelled the brand's growth. The conversa...

en-us

3:33

3 Rapid Retail Questions with Shizu Okusa, Founder &...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/10/28

Send us a text In this Shelf Talks Retail Readiness Round, Shizu Okusa, founder and CEO of Apothekary, shares quick but powerful insights every founder should know before stepping into retail. From managing working capital and understanding payment terms, to deeply researching buyers and their priorities, Shizu breaks down what it really takes to make a lasting impression and succeed once your products hit the shelf. Plus, she leaves us with the best piece of founder advice she lives by: “Don...

en-us

43:00

How Apothekary’s Shizu Okusa Blends Eastern...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/10/27

Send us a text In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes sits down with Shizu Okusa, founder and CEO of Apothekary, the plant-based pharmacy redefining modern wellness on retail shelves. Shizu shares how she went from working on Wall Street to building a multimillion-dollar wellness brand that blends ancient Eastern medicine with modern health practices. She opens up about her early days running a cold-pressed juice business, her bold pivots, and how Apothekary grew from DTC success...

en-us

3:45

Rapid Retail Questions with Lisa Curtis, Founder &...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/10/21

Send us a text In this special bonus clip from Shelf Talks, Lisa Curtis — Founder & CEO of Kuli Kuli Foods — joins me for the Retail Readiness Round, where I ask her three quick questions every founder should be thinking about before hitting store shelves. From understanding margins and testing products before launch, to authentically bringing culturally rooted ingredients to the mainstream — Lisa shares honest insights and lessons learned from her journey growing Kuli Kuli into a nationa...

en-us

43:02

Lessons from a Superfood Founder: Staying True in a...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/10/20

Send us a text What would you do if you discovered a powerful ingredient no one had ever heard of and decided to bring it to U.S. shelves? In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes sits down with Lisa Curtis, founder and CEO of Kuli Kuli Foods, the pioneering superfood brand that introduced Moringa to the American market and is now sold in over 11,000 retail stores. Lisa shares how a life-changing experience in the Peace Corps sparked her idea for Kuli Kuli, how she went from farmer...

en-us

11:54

One Year of Shelf Talks Podcast! Reflecting on this...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/10/14

Send us a text Shelf Talks is officially one year old! 🎉 In this special anniversary episode, host Roberta Townes reflects on the journey that started as a passion project to give female founders a voice—and has grown into a go-to destination for anyone dreaming of getting their product on retail shelves. After interviewing 41 incredible founders and industry experts, Roberta shares her biggest takeaways from the past year: 💡 Why the best founders are obsessed with solving real problems. 🛒

en-us

2:25

3 Rapid Retail Questions with Denise Woodard, Founder...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/10/07

Send us a text Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Denise Woodard, Founder and CEO of Partake Foods 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 Jessica specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). Looking back, what’s one mistake you made in the retail journey that you’d warn other founders about?What does being “shelf-ready” mean to you now that you’ve scaled na...

en-us

37:49

Partake Foods Founder Denise Woodard on Raising $30M...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/10/06

Send us a text Denise Woodard, founder and CEO of Partake Foods, turned her daughter’s food allergy diagnosis into one of the fastest-growing snack brands in the country. From selling cookies out of her car to landing in 18,000 stores nationwide including Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods, Denise shares her journey of grit, resilience, and building a mission-driven brand. In this episode of Shelf Talks, Denise opens up to host Roberta about: Denise's journey began with a personal mission to cr...

en-us

14:30

5 Competitive Shopping Tips That Can Make or Break...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/09/30

Send us a text Are you pitching your product to the wrong retailers? In this solo episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes breaks down one of the most overlooked steps in preparing for retail success: competitive shopping. If you’re a founder with a product-based business struggling to figure out which retailers are the right fit for your brand, this episode is for you. Roberta shares insider tips on how to: Study the shelf to understand category layout and placementIdentify key players, p...

en-us

38:24

The Art of Continuity in Branding with Laura Viola...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/09/22

Send us a text Your packaging isn’t just a pretty box—it’s the first impression that determines whether buyers and consumers pick your product off the shelf. In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes sits down with Laura Maccarone, founder of Rizbee Studio, to unpack how packaging and visual branding directly connect to retail success. If you’re a founder of a product-based business who feels frustrated with figuring out why your product isn’t catching attention in stores, this conv...

en-us

3:23

3 Rapid Retail Questions with Jessica Taylor, Founder...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/09/16

Send us a text Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Jessica Taylor, Founder of Ezra Coffee 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 Jessica specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What is a learning that you didn’t know until your products were actually on retail shelves?What advice would you give to other founders trying to secure their first retail deal?...

en-us

33:24

Jessica Taylor on Blending Coffee, History, and...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/09/15

Send us a text On this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes sits down with Jessica Taylor, founder of Ezra Coffee, to share how she turned a pandemic idea into a fast-growing retail brand. Jessica reveals what it really takes to go from small-batch coffee experiments at home to winning shelf space at major retailers like H-E-B and Central Market. If you’re a female founder with a product-based business or dreaming about getting your brand into retail stores, this conversation is packed...

en-us

4:47

3 Rapid Retail Questions with Nina Lombardo and Anna...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/09/09

Send us a text Hope you have enjoyed the full episode with Nina Lombardo and Anna Kotler, co-founders of O'ts 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 Nina and Anna specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn). What is a learning that you didn’t know until your products were actually on retail shelves?What advice would you give to other founders trying to secur...

en-us

35:32

Nina Lombardo & Anna Kotler: Building O’ts Cookies...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/09/08

Send us a text In this episode of Shelf Talks, I sit down with Anna Kotler and Nina Lombardo, the powerhouse duo behind O’ts Cookies—a brand bringing globally inspired flavors to the classic oatmeal cookie. We dive into how Nina’s background in packaging design and Anna’s experience in brand management came together to transform a farmers’ market favorite into a retail-ready product. From testing recipes in the kitchen for weeks, to navigating co-packers, distributors, and retail launches, An...

en-us

18:50

The Local Advantage: 10 Reasons Why Starting in Local...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/09/01

Send us a text Should you launch straight into mass retail—or start smaller in your local market? If you’ve been frustrated and second-guessing where to begin, this episode of Shelf Talks is for you. Roberta breaks down 10 powerful reasons why starting local can set your brand up for long-term retail success. From lowering your risk and getting real-time customer feedback, to building community loyalty, testing promotions, and creating case studies that win over national buyers—this episode g...

en-us

21:10

10 Proven Ways to Get in Front of Retail Buyers (and...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/08/25

Send us a text In this special solo episode of Shelf Talks, I’m breaking down 10 proven ways to connect with retail buyers and stay top of mind—without feeling stuck, invisible, or ignored. As a retail buyer myself, I’ve seen what works (and what gets passed over). From leveraging LinkedIn the right way, to using trade shows, accelerator programs, awards, local stores, press, social media, and even TV, I’m sharing the insider strategies that founders on this very podcast have used to get thei...

en-us

19:21

Pitch Perfect: 4 Keys to Winning Over Retail Buyers

Shelf Talks ·

2025/08/19

Send us a text 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 stores. You’ll learn how to position your heavy-hitter SKUs, leverage exclusives to win shelf space, an...

en-us

3:18

3 Rapid Retail Questions with Caroline McGinley,...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/08/13

Send us a text 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 actually on retail shelves?What advice would you give to other founders trying to secure their first ...

en-us

41:45

Frozen Dough & Sharpie Labels: How Caroline McGinley...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/08/11

Send us a text 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 production. The conversation highlights the importance of customer feedback, innovative marketing strategies...

en-us

39:35

FOUNDER'S FLASHBACK: Heather Sloan & Enwei Li,...

Shelf Talks ·

2025/08/05

Send us a text 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 their experience on Dragons' Den and the impact it had on their brand growth. In this conversation, H...

en-us

127 results

Similar Podcasts

TaxTalent.com The Golden Rule Podcast

Adam Golden

TaxTalent.com Podcast

Tony Santiago

Handelsblatt Crime - spannende Streitfälle der deutschen Wirtschaft

Ina Karabasz, Solveig Gode, Sönke Iwersen

Deffner und Zschäpitz – Der Wirtschafts-Talk von WELT

WELT

Black Box - La scatola nera della finanza

Guido Brera e Gian Luca Comandini -...