119. Your product can't sell if shoppers can't find it—and that's why poor retail execution silently kills CPG brands. Most founders believe the job is done once distribution is secured. It's not. The real selling begins at shelf.

In this episode, we unpack why store audits, flawless merchandising, stock rotation, and in-store compliance are the true roadmap to sales success. You'll learn how out-of-stocks distort your data, how competitors can manipulate shelf position, why brokers can't protect your brand the way you can, and how disciplined retail execution builds sustainable growth.

This is where most brands fail—not because of product quality, but because of poor follow-through.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session119

118. Are you competing on price and velocity while retailers care about something else entirely? If you're not leveraging market basket strategy, you're leaving growth—and influence—on the table.

In this episode, I break down why your brand's true value isn't just your sales ranking—it's the total dollars your shopper spends across the store. Retailers sell real estate. They reward brands that grow categories, increase basket size, and drive sustainable traffic.

You'll learn how to identify complementary products, understand share of wallet, and build a selling story rooted in category growth—not discounts. I'll also share how natural and organic brands are driving sustainable growth across nearly every category—and how you can use that insight to gain an unfair competitive advantage.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session118

117. If your broker isn't delivering results, your sales strategy is leaking revenue — and it's costing you shelf space. Most CPG brands hand over the keys and hope for miracles. That's not a strategy — it's a risk.

In this episode, I break down how to maximize broker effectiveness, align your entire sales team with a unified selling story, and create clear KPIs that drive distribution, merchandising, and sustainable retail growth. You'll learn why you must remain the captain of your brand strategy, how to hold brokers accountable with scorecards, and how to arm them with the insights retailers actually value.

When you help your broker succeed, you accelerate sales, improve retail execution, and gain a competitive edge.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session117

116. Your "recyclable" packaging may still end up in a landfill—and that disconnect could undermine your brand mission and retailer credibility. If you're building a natural CPG brand, clean ingredients aren't enough. Retailers and consumers are demanding sustainable packaging solutions that actually work.

In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Williams of Futamura to unpack the shocking truth about recycling, why most flexible packaging never becomes packaging again, and how earth-digestible, compostable materials are reshaping the future of CPG. We also explore print-on-demand packaging, faster go-to-market strategies, and how sustainable packaging can become a competitive advantage at retail—not just a cost.

If you want to align your brand mission with execution, strengthen retailer partnerships, and future-proof your packaging strategy, this episode is for you.

Download the free strategic guide linked in the show notes and listen to related episodes to go deeper into category management, retail execution, and profitable CPG growth.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session116

115. If you don't own your execution at retail, you're gambling with your brand's survival—and most CPG brands lose that bet.

In this episode, we unpack the fundamentals that determine whether your brand lasts a week, a year, or a decade. Too many founders chase distribution, price promotions, or investors—while ignoring the blocking and tackling that actually drives sustainable sales.

You'll learn why execution beats strategy, why knowing your consumer changes every retail conversation, and how to build real partnerships with brokers, distributors, and retailers. We break down scorecards, shelf positioning, pricing architecture, cross-merchandising, and why hope is not a strategy.

Your brand is a reflection of you. Out-of-stocks, weak storytelling, and poor follow-through damage trust—with shoppers and retail buyers.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session115

114. If you're trying to compete with billion-dollar CPG brands using canned reports and generic sales decks, you're already losing. And the cost is shelf space, wasted trade spend, and missed growth. In this episode, I break down why traditional category management isn't enough—and how True Category Management levels the playing field for emerging brands.

Retailers don't want more noise. They want insights that drive profitable category growth, increase foot traffic, and convert occasional shoppers into loyal evangelists. You'll learn how to shift from "push-button" reporting to fact-based selling, how to tell a compelling selling story with real data, and how to become a trusted category leader—not just another vendor asking for space.

This is the great equalizer between small and large brands.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session114

113. If your brand isn't scaling at retail, your foundation is broken — and retailers can see it before you do.

In this episode, I sit down with Tim Forrest to unpack the Nine Pillars every CPG brand must master to earn shelf space and keep it. We break down why most founders lose retailer meetings before they even begin — not because of taste, not because of price — but because they fail to bring a compelling business case.

You'll learn how to shift from "sell my product" to "here's how I make you money." We discuss per-point-of-distribution sales, pricing strategy, consumer insights, private label threats, and how to control the narrative in buyer meetings.

This is how small brands outperform legacy giants — by being strategic, data-driven, and retailer-focused.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session113

112. If your product gets discontinued or misplaced at retail, you may not survive the reset. Most brands rely on canned topline reports and velocity rankings, but those reports don't tell you what's really driving sustainable sales. And when you leave assortment decisions in the retailer's hands, you leave your future in your competitor's hands.

In this episode, I break down how to go beyond the Pareto curve and "fix the mix" using fact-based category management. You'll learn how to analyze product assortment through the shopper's lens, protect your distribution, eliminate out-of-stocks, and position your brand as a category leader. This is how you help retailers drive traffic, grow baskets, and build profit—while protecting your shelf space.

Strengthen every retail pitch and avoid costly mistakes. Then listen to related episodes to go deeper into category management, shopper insights, and sustainable CPG growth.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session112

111. Discover how the future of healthy food is shaping our industry and promoting better nutrition for everyone. Big Green aims to change how people think about food, starting with children. Through their Learning Garden program, they build outdoor gardens in underserved urban schools, fostering community engagement and teaching students about healthy eating and sustainable food practices.

Today's Free Downloadable Guide: The Essential New Item Checklist - The Recipe For Success. New product innovation is the lifeblood of every brand. New products fuel sustainable growth, attract new shoppers and increase brand awareness. Learn the critical steps to get your product on more retailer's shelves and into the hands of more shoppers. Maximizing your trade marketing can pour rocket fuel on your launch.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session111

110. You're walking into retail meetings with canned reports… and wondering why nothing changes. That mistake is costing you shelf space, credibility, and runway.

Most brands rely on top-line syndicated reports that retailers have already seen—and already dismissed. Velocity rankings alone won't differentiate you. Retailers want actionable insights that help them grow category sales, increase shopper traffic, and drive profitable growth.

In this episode, I break down the difference between push selling and true fact-based pull strategy. You'll learn how to mine your data for contribution, dollars per point of distribution, shopper behavior insights, and category trends that actually matter. I'll also explain why understanding your core LOHAS shopper gives you leverage most competitors overlook.

When you know your numbers—and what they mean—you stop begging for shelf space and start earning it as a category leader.

Then go deeper by listening to related episodes on category management, shopper insights, and trade strategy. This is how you turn data into a strategic weapon—and build sustainable CPG growth.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session110