Bulletproof Your CPG Brand

265. You don't need to build your CPG brand alone—but if you try, you'll burn cash, waste time, and miss critical growth opportunities.

Most founders assume government resources are slow, bureaucratic, or irrelevant. That mistake costs brands runway. In this episode, I sit down with Michael Bevis, Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship for the City of Denver, to unpack how Denver is quietly building one of the strongest entrepreneurial ecosystems in the country—especially for food, natural, ag-tech, and emerging CPG brands.

We discuss free co-working at The Commons on Champa, pre-accelerator and ScaleUp programs, gap financing from $50K–$400K, access to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), global landing pads for international expansion, and the development of a massive innovation hub with shared labs and food incubators.

If you're bootstrapping, raising capital, scaling distribution, or looking for infrastructure to accelerate growth, this conversation could change your trajectory.

Download the free episode guide and explore additional episodes to go deeper into retail strategy, capital access, and category leadership.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session265

264. You're losing cash every month to trade deductions—and you probably don't even know it. If 6–10% of deductions are invalid and 70% of trade spend is ineffective, that's not a small leak… that's lost runway, lost growth, and lost negotiating power with retailers.

In this episode, I sit down with Yuval Selik of Promomash to unpack one of the most overlooked profit killers in CPG: deduction mismanagement. We break down where deductions come from, how they quietly erode your promotional ROI, and why even $100M brands get this wrong. More importantly, we walk through a simple framework to reconcile, recover, and protect your cash flow—so you can stop fundraising and start building.

If you care about profitability, valuation, and sustainable growth, this is a must-listen. Try the free Trade Promotion ROI Calculator and episode guide, and explore the related webinars and podcast episodes to go deeper into trade strategy and deduction prevention.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session264

Download the free Effective Deduction Management guide https://RetailSolved.com/guide21

263. Burned out, busy, and still not growing? You don't need more tasks—you need direction.

Most founders confuse activity with progress. You're running faster, chasing sales, managing fires… but without a clear destination, velocity becomes burnout. In this episode, Ron Karr and I unpack the difference between being task-driven and purpose-driven—and why direction is the missing ingredient in sustainable CPG growth.

You'll learn how to clarify your strategic destination, align your team around meaningful outcomes, sell value instead of commodities, and stop competing on price alone. We break down how empathy builds trust, how leaders rewrite their internal stories, and how to create momentum without chaos.

If you want predictable growth, stronger retailer relationships, and a team aligned around results—not noise—this conversation is for you.

Download the free episode guide and listen to the related episodes to go deeper into building your unfair competitive advantage.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session263

262. If you're building your CPG brand on Amazon but don't own the customer, you're building on borrowed land—and that puts your runway at risk. Amazon is a powerful search engine and discovery platform, but it's only one sales channel. In this episode, I sit down with Mike from AMZ Advisors to unpack how to optimize your Amazon listing for SEO, conversions, and profitability—without losing control of your brand.

We cover how to leverage keyword strategy, high-converting images, brand registry insights, DSP retargeting, and competitor congesting to drive visibility and sales. More importantly, we talk about why you must capture customer data, build your email list, and create a thriving community outside of Amazon.

If you want to make it easy for shoppers to find and buy your products wherever they shop—and turn Amazon into a launchpad instead of a dependency—this episode is for you.

Listen to the related episodes on community, retail execution, and trade marketing to go deeper.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session262

261. Your website recipes aren't building loyalty—they're leaking traffic, insights, and sales. That's a costly mistake in CPG where community and data drive growth.

In this episode, I sit down with Michael from Plant Jammer to unpack how brands can transform static recipe pages into powerful engagement tools that reduce bounce rates, grow email lists, and uncover real consumer behavior. Instead of guessing how shoppers use your product, you can see what's in their pantry, what they substitute, and what they actually cook.

These insights help you build better innovation, stronger trade marketing, smarter cross-promotions, and more compelling retailer stories. When you understand the full market basket and shopper journey, you gain an edge your competitors can't replicate.

Download the free episode guide at RetailSolved.com and listen to related episodes to go deeper into community building, trade marketing, and retail execution strategies.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session261

260. If you're trying to sell to everyone, you're invisible—and it's costing you sales, margin, and momentum. In this episode, I sit down with Seth Greene to break down why most founders define their target market too broadly—and how that mistake silently sabotages growth. We unpack the power of micro-niche positioning, building a connected community, and creating evangelists who grow your brand for you. Seth shares real-world examples of businesses that transformed revenue, profit, and lifestyle simply by tightening their avatar and owning their lane. This is about differentiation, predictable customer acquisition, and building systems that scale. Download the free episode guide to map your ideal customer and start refining your positioning today. Then go back and listen to other foundational episodes to deepen your strategy and strengthen your retail execution.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session260

259. If your brand is stuck competing on price, you're losing margin, leverage, and long-term growth. And it matters—because once your product is commoditized, retailers treat you like a line item, not a leader.

In this episode, I sit down with sales expert Doug Brown to unpack why most CPG brands default to rinse-and-repeat strategies that erode value—and how to break that cycle. We dig into the psychology of selling, overcoming fear, building clarity, and positioning your brand around tangible and intangible ROI.

You'll learn how to shift the conversation from "How low can you go?" to "How much value do you create?"—and why that shift fuels innovation, protects margin, and drives sustainable category growth.

If you want higher margins, stronger retailer relationships, and a more defensible brand, this episode is for you.

Download the free episode guide and explore additional episodes at RetailSolved.com to go deeper into value-based selling and sustainable CPG growth.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session259

258. Confused by supplement aisles packed with products that don't work? That confusion is costing you sales and trust.

In this episode, I sit down with Scott from Enzymedica to unpack what really separates premium natural supplements from the noise — and why quality, science, and clarity matter more than price.

We talk about microbiome health, the difference between real omega science and marketing hype, and why retailers must eliminate shelf confusion to compete effectively. If you're a CPG brand or retailer in the natural space, this conversation will challenge how you think about assortment, execution, and category leadership.

You'll learn how to: • Differentiate with science-backed solutions • Reduce shelf confusion to grow profit per inch • Compete on value — not price

If you want to build trust, drive contribution, and create sustainable retail growth, this episode is for you.

Download the free guide for this episode and listen to other sessions at RetailSolved.com to go deeper into these strategies.

Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session258

257. Find out how to position your brand as a leader and implement the strategies your learned her that drive success and efficiency. Retailers need and want your help. Taking a leadership role in the category and with retailers can open doors to incremental opportunities to grow sales and profits giving you a sustainable competitive advantage!

Today's Free Downloadable Guide: 30 Days To Prosperity Workbook podcasts: 226-257. The 30 Days To Prosperity Workbook is a companion to the 30 Day Challenge. This Retail Solved Blueprint will teach you what you need to know to confidently grow and scale your brand, build a connected community of loyal evangelists, and multiply your brands impact, sales, and profits. Every slight improvement means more runway for sales growth, higher brand valuations, better terms when negotiating with investors, fuel for more innovation, greater support for mission based causes, and much more.Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session257

256. Enhance collaboration with your retail partners by learning what retailers really want to succeed and thrive in the marketplace. Retailers want #1 Increase Shopper Foot Traffic #2 A Competitive Advantage In Their Market #3 A Reasonable Profit. Leverage your ability to fill these voids and win at retail.

Today's Free Downloadable Guide: 30 Days To Prosperity Workbook podcasts: 226-257. The 30 Days To Prosperity Workbook is a companion to the 30 Day Challenge. This Retail Solved Blueprint will teach you what you need to know to confidently grow and scale your brand, build a connected community of loyal evangelists, and multiply your brands impact, sales, and profits. Every slight improvement means more runway for sales growth, higher brand valuations, better terms when negotiating with investors, fuel for more innovation, greater support for mission based causes, and much more.Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session256