I was recently a guest on Hummingbirds' Local Marketing School podcast, and had an amazing conversation with Emily Steele—going DEEP on what it really takes to win at retail in today's market. One of my favorite moments? Breaking down Paktli Foods' journey from farmers markets to retail success. Their story perfectly illustrates what I see again and again – that retail success isn't about quick fixes, it's about building the right foundation first. If you're curious about: - Why brands ACTUALLY struggle to stay on shelf (spoiler: it's rarely about sales) - The 3 biggest retail myths I'm tired of seeing - How to build a brand buyers can't say no to - The data that actually matters for retail success - Why DTC and retail need different (but connected) strategies ...then this episode is for you! I shared the exact frameworks and strategies we use with our clients to get them not just on shelf, but selling off. Check out the link in my comments to listen to the full episode. Would love to hear your thoughts if you give it a listen! 👇
Such great insights Caroline! I had a talk with a founder today and realized how much I've learned from my experiences (and from you). It's not only getting on the shelf, but getting OFF the shelf. An example that comes to mind is when I was at Lakewood and we had a terrible experience with Walmart. We were all so excited to get in, but we failed miserably because it turned out to be the wrong retailer, placement, and product selection for that chain.
Caroline Grace is an incredible consultant that gave me so many tools and insights. She helped me, among many other things to pivot my packaging, messaging and to be more retail ready to achieve the transition from farmers market to larger retailers. The work she does is priceless. She is very wise, structured, and sharp, a definite jewel for the CPG industry.
Sounds like an awesome conversation! Retail success really is about that strong foundation, not just a quick fix. I’ll definitely check out the full episode to hear more about the myths and strategies you shared.
I just listened to this. Such a great podcast and very insightful! Thanks for sharing.
Agreed Caroline Grace - Many brands try to push their supply chain 'string', when the most effective way is to pull the 'string' through the channel.
Great stuff, Caroline. Will have to look for the full cut on this. Shelf sustainability is such a solid concept. Keep rockin it!!! Well done!
Retail Growth Strategist for Emerging CPG Brands | Faire Sales Specialist | Founder & CEO @Product & Prosper, @The Prosper Lab, @The Retail Lab
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