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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 conversation is for you. Laura shares her 20+ years of design expertise helping food and beauty brands create packaging that tells a story, builds consumer trust, and drives retail sales.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
✅ Why packaging is a key factor in becoming shelf-ready for retail buyers
✅ How to know if your brand needs a refresh or full rebrand
✅ The most common packaging mistakes entrepreneurs make (and how to fix them)
✅ Why storytelling and continuity in branding can make or break your retail success

Whether you’re pitching to national chains, preparing for a retail launch, or simply trying to stand out in a crowded aisle, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to take your packaging to the next level.

Rizbee Studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rizbeestudio/?hl=en

Rizbee Studio Website: https://www.rizbeestudio.com/

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How to Follow Shelf Talks Podcast on social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelftalkspodcast/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelf-talks-podcast

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

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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).

1. What is a learning that you didn’t know until your products were actually on retail shelves?
2. What advice would you give to other founders trying to secure their first retail deal?
3. What trade shows, support groups or accelerators have you found the most beneficial in growing your business?

Support the show

How to Follow Shelf Talks Podcast on social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelftalkspodcast/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelf-talks-podcast

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

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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 with actionable insights. Jessica opens up about:

• How she developed flavors and packaging that stand out on shelf.
• The importance of connecting with your community before pitching buyers.
• Lessons from joining Target’s accelerator program and pitching to retailers.
• Why consistent demos, smart marketing, and relationship-building keep sales strong after launch.
• How she built Ezra Coffee with both culture and purpose, including a scholarship program for students.

Whether you’re just starting your brand or you’re ready to scale into retail, this episode will help you understand how to pitch with confidence, compete with bigger brands, and stay successful on shelf.

✨ Tune in to hear Jessica’s journey and get the strategies you need to grow your product-based business into a retail-ready brand.

Link to Ezra Coffee:

Ezra Coffee Website: https://ezracoffeeco.com/

Ezra Coffee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezracoffeeco/

Support the show

How to Follow Shelf Talks Podcast on social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelftalkspodcast/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelf-talks-podcast

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

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).

1. What is a learning that you didn’t know until your products were actually on retail shelves?
2. What advice would you give to other founders trying to secure their first retail deal?
3. What trade shows, support groups or accelerators have you found the most beneficial in growing your business?

Support the show

How to Follow Shelf Talks Podcast on social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelftalkspodcast/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelf-talks-podcast

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

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, Anna and Nina share the behind-the-scenes journey of building their brand.

You’ll hear:

• How they identified a white space in the cookie aisle
• The story behind their top-selling Sweet & Salty Oatmeal and Churro con Chocolate cookies
• What it really takes to work with distributors and get on store shelves
• Lessons learned about demos, packaging pivots, and staying nimble as founders

If you’ve ever dreamed of turning a beloved recipe into a shelf-ready brand—or just love a good founder story—you won’t want to miss this episode.

O'ts Cookies Website: https://otscookies.com/

O'ts Cookies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otscookies/?hl=en

Support the show

How to Follow Shelf Talks Podcast on social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelftalkspodcast/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelf-talks-podcast

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

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 gives you the clarity you’ve been craving.

If you’ve been spinning your wheels wondering whether local stores are “big enough” for your vision, this conversation will show you how local shelves can actually be the foundation that helps you scale into mass retail with confidence.

Support the show

How to Follow Shelf Talks Podcast on social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelftalkspodcast/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelf-talks-podcast

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

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 their products on shelves at Target, Ulta, CVS, Walmart, and beyond.

If you’ve ever felt like:

• You don’t know how to reach buyers.
• You’ve pitched but never get responses.
• You’re unsure where to start when it comes to making retail connections.

…then this episode will give you a clear roadmap and real-world examples to help you move forward.

Grab your notebook—this is your step-by-step guide to turning “how do I connect with buyers?” into “my product is on shelf.”

I'm so excited to hear how you have connected from these tips!

Support the show

How to Follow Shelf Talks Podcast on social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelftalkspodcast/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelf-talks-podcast

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

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, and present data even if you’re not yet in big-box retail. Plus, I share insider tips on what most founders forget to include (and why it could cost them the deal).

If you’ve ever wondered what makes buyers say yes, this episode is your step-by-step guide to showing up with confidence and securing your spot on the shelf.

Support the show

How to Follow Shelf Talks Podcast on social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelftalkspodcast/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelf-talks-podcast

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