178. Struggling to scale your CPG brand in a new market without losing your identity? When you expand across regions—or even countries—you risk diluting the very story that makes you different. And if your story gets lost, so does your shelf velocity.

In this episode, I sit down with Evan Holod, CEO of Michel et Augustin USA, to unpack how they brought an iconic French brand to the U.S. without sacrificing its roots. We discuss brand DNA, packaging that stops the scroll (and the shopper), why product must come before brand hype, and how to build community before chasing promotions.

You'll learn how to translate culture into commerce, how to compete against dominant CPG giants, and how to leverage tribe-building to drive retail success.

Go deeper into the strategies that help you grow sustainable, profitable sales.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session178

Taking a beloved brand from France and turning it into a beloved brand in the US requires a creative innovative strategy. This begins with redefining a brand as an adventure, an experience that transports you into a world that celebrates artisan foods

177. Are you guessing at your forecast and hoping you don't run out of cash or product? Poor forecasting quietly kills CPG brands—tying up capital in excess inventory or triggering costly out-of-stocks that can get you discontinued. In this episode, I break down a simple, practical framework to forecast smarter—even if you don't have expensive data tools. You'll learn how to understand true consumer takeaway, decode category seasonality, separate pantry-loading spikes from sustainable demand, and collaborate with retail partners to plan promotions with confidence. I also share real-world examples—like why toilet paper and milk behave differently—to help you think strategically about consumption patterns. If you want to protect your runway, improve trade marketing ROI, and scale predictably, this episode is for you. Download the free Trade Marketing Essentials guide and listen to related episodes to go deeper into forecasting, planning, and retail execution strategies that give you an unfair competitive advantage.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session177

176. If you're spending thousands on trade promotions and still not seeing sustainable growth, you have a trade strategy problem — and it's quietly draining your runway. Nearly 25% of a CPG brand's gross sales go to trade marketing, yet over 70% of that spend is wasted or ineffective. That's lost margin, lost leverage, and lost negotiating power with retailers and investors.

In this episode, I break down what trade marketing is really supposed to do: bring new shoppers into your brand and build base sales — not subsidize customers who would have bought anyway. I'll show you how to evaluate promotions based on contribution, not just lift, and how to stop writing blank checks for programs that don't perform.

Listen to related episodes to go deeper into trade ROI, promotion design, and building sustainable CPG growth.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session176

175. Trade shows get canceled. Buyers are overwhelmed. And your brand never gets seen. If retailers can't find you, you can't scale — no matter how good your product is.

In this episode, I sit down with Brandon from RangeMe to unpack how emerging CPG brands can become discoverable in today's digital-first retail environment. We talk about why relying solely on trade shows is risky, how to future-proof your sales strategy, and how to position your brand so buyers find you when they're actively sourcing new products.

You'll learn how to tell a compelling digital selling story, leverage certifications and search visibility, and create a scalable B2B presence that works 24/7. Retail buyers still want innovation — they just need efficient ways to find it.

If you want more retailer meetings, better follow-up, and a modern retail strategy, this is your playbook.

Download the free Trade Marketing Essentials guide at the link in the show notes and go deeper by listening to more episodes designed to help you grow sustainable CPG sales.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session175

174. Expo West was canceled and uncertainty is everywhere—if you don't adapt fast, your CPG brand could lose shelf space and momentum.

In this episode, I break down how to future-proof your natural CPG brand when markets shift, shoppers panic, and retailers tighten their belts. People still need to eat. In fact, they're actively looking for healthier, better-for-you products now more than ever. That's your opportunity—if you work smarter, not harder.

You'll learn why natural brands are the true growth engine in retail, why competing on velocity alone is a losing game, and how to focus on profitable category contribution instead of buying sales through wasteful trade spend. I'll show you how to leverage category management, shopper insights, and your unique consumer to help retailers drive traffic, gain competitive advantage, and grow profit.

Listen to related episodes on trade marketing and category leadership to build your sustainable edge.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session174

173. Worried your CPG brand won't survive economic uncertainty? If you don't future-proof your strategy now, you risk losing shelf space, shopper loyalty, and runway.

Retail is pay-to-play. Over 80% of natural brands fail in their first year—not because their product isn't good, but because they rely on cookie-cutter strategies their competitors are using too. When uncertainty rises, weak strategies get exposed.

In this episode, I break down how to future-proof your brand by shifting from transactional selling to strategic category leadership. You'll learn why everything in retail is negotiable, what retailers actually want (more traffic, competitive advantage, and reasonable profit), and how to bring insights your competitors overlook. I also explain why relying solely on brokers for category management won't differentiate your brand—and what to do instead.

If you want better placement, stronger merchandising support, and more influence at retail, this episode is your roadmap.

Listen to additional episodes to go deeper into sustainable CPG growth strategies.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session173

172. Your retail pitch is getting ignored—and it's costing you shelf space and investor interest.

If you're still relying on static pitch decks, generic PDFs, and hoping your broker "explains it well," you're losing control of your narrative. Retail buyers and investors are overwhelmed. They don't have time to interpret your story. If you don't tell it clearly and visually, someone else will.

In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Fierberg of Sora Digital to unpack how strategic video storytelling helps CPG brands:

• Control their brand narrative • Stop the scroll and capture attention • Improve merchandising execution • Align retailers, brokers, and internal teams • Build trust faster with buyers and investors

We break down pre-production planning, storyboarding, and how a simple 30-second merchandising video can prevent costly retail execution mistakes.

If you want to land on more shelves—and stay there—this is a must-listen.

Then go deeper by exploring more episodes on retail execution, storytelling, and trade strategy.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session172

171. Confused about compostable packaging and worried it's just added cost? If your packaging doesn't align with your mission, you risk losing trust, loyalty, and shelf space—and that matters more than ever in natural CPG.

In this episode, I break down how compostable and personalized packaging can become a competitive advantage instead of a compliance headache. Retail is pay-to-play, and small brands can't out-discount big brands. But you can out-strategize them. Your packaging is one of the most overlooked go-to-market assets you have. When aligned with shopper values—organic, sustainable, mission-driven—it can attract higher-value customers, grow market basket, and give retailers a reason to support you.

I share how customizable packaging can drive loyalty, improve trade promotion ROI, and even create co-branded retail activations that build traffic and profit. Stop treating packaging as a cost center. Start using it as a profit center.

Go deeper by listening to related episodes on trade promotion, market basket strategy, and retailer collaboration.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session171

170. You built a mission-driven CPG brand—then wrapped it in packaging that ends up in a landfill for generations. That disconnect is costing you trust, velocity, and retail leverage. In this episode, we uncomplicate compostable packaging and show you how it can become a strategic growth lever—not just a cost center.

You'll learn why flexible packaging dominates retail, where recycling falls short, and how earth-digestible materials can protect your product and your brand reputation. We dig into digital printing, faster innovation cycles, supply chain flexibility, and how packaging can become your most powerful storytelling asset.

Retailers want traffic, differentiation, and sustainable profit. When your packaging aligns with your mission and solves a real environmental pain point, you give them a competitive edge.

Download the free guide and go deeper into the strategies that help you earn more shelf space and build sustainable sales.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session170