Explore by Topic
Start with the challenge you’re working through or the category you know best. Explore selected Road2Retail conversations with founders, retailers, investors, and subject matter experts.
Your listening list
Latest episodesWork through product differentiation, shopper fit, capacity, cash and the choice of your first retail accounts.
Try a guest’s name, a different search, or browse all episodes.
Clear your search and topicThe hosts connect supply chain capacity, full product costs, customer fit, leadership credibility, and broker relationships to the decision to enter retail and secure a buyer meeting.
Why it’s here Start with the recent overview of readiness, retailer fit and meeting access.
Assess manufacturing consistency, supplier confidence, supply-chain resilience, planning and retailer performance expectations before seeking distribution.
Why it’s here Check manufacturing, supply-chain and cost-of-failure fundamentals.
A practical guide to choosing an initial retail channel and account, setting pricing and accounting for the financial consequences of failure.
Why it’s here Turn readiness into a go-to-market plan.
Evaluate retailer fit, trade channels, launch assortment, fulfillment capacity, cash requirements and geographic focus before accepting or expanding distribution.
Why it’s here Choose distribution using shopper fit and the full cost of serving an account.
Dan Mack explores the preparation, resilience, customer alignment and adaptable plans challenger brands need before pursuing regional or national retail.
Why it’s here Evaluate the challenges of regional or national expansion.
Allison Ball explains why retail expansion needs a strategy, how buyer selling differs from DTC, what she sought as a buyer, and how to follow up professionally.
Why it’s here Add a specialist perspective on getting a food business retail-ready.
Harley Sutton discusses beauty and wellness convergence, TikTok awareness, the trade-offs of making products in-house, retail entry decisions, and managing a portfolio of brands.
Why it’s here Matched automatically from the episode title and discussion notes.
Wayne Bennett joins a recap of retail and supply chain readiness, measured expansion, manufacturer selection, packaging decisions, and transparent relationships with retail teams.
Why it’s here Matched automatically from the episode title and discussion notes.
Jake Nelson explains how regional distributors evaluate emerging brands, which capabilities and promotional assets brands need, and how to build an effective working relationship.
Why it’s here Matched automatically from the episode title and discussion notes.
Rob Catanzariti outlines broker readiness, mutual evaluation questions, manufacturing and funding prerequisites, and the communication needed to build a productive sales partnership.
Why it’s here Matched automatically from the episode title and discussion notes.
Brandon Pogue discusses TruLabs' hydration focus, clear consumer communication, the pressures of a major first retail order, investor fit and building a sales function as the brand grows.
Why it’s here Matched automatically from the episode title and discussion notes.
Koia cofounder Maya French discusses launch lessons, mistakes to avoid when entering retail and considerations for raising funds.
Why it’s here Matched automatically from the episode title and discussion notes.