The Blog

The Modern Wholesale Playbook

How today's CPG brands find best-fit retailers, reach buyers, and scale without brokers.

Aug 2, 2025·10 min read

Lead Retrieval Apps vs Traditional Trade Show Methods

Compare lead retrieval apps against traditional methods for trade shows. Learn which lead capture tools deliver better data, faster follow-up, and higher ROI for CPG brands.

Aug 1, 2025·10 min read

Retail Packaging Design Lessons from Successful CPG Brands

Packaging design lessons from successful CPG brands. Case studies, shelf design principles, common mistakes, and designer recommendations for bootstrapped founders.

Jul 31, 2025·9 min read

Affordable Product Photography for CPG E-Commerce Brands

Budget-friendly product photography for CPG brands. DIY setups, Soona, lifestyle imagery tips, and when AI-generated images make sense for DTC and Amazon.

Jul 30, 2025·10 min read

Co-Packing vs Self-Manufacturing Margins for CPG Brands

Compare co-packing vs self-manufacturing margins for CPG brands. Covers true COGS, hidden costs, break-even analysis, and when to bring production in-house.

Jul 29, 2025·10 min read

Independent Retailer Outreach Tactics That Work Beyond Faire

Proven independent retailer outreach tactics beyond Faire. Covers direct email, in-person visits, social selling, local events, and relationship building.

Jul 28, 2025·9 min read

CPG Compensation Benchmarks for Key Roles in 2025

Salary benchmarks for CPG roles including lifecycle managers, sales reps, and ops leads. Learn how location, experience, and benefits affect compensation packages.

How to Maximize Trade Show ROI for Your CPG Brand

Learn how to calculate the true cost of trade shows, set realistic lead goals, build a post-show follow-up process, and evaluate which events deserve your budget.

Jul 27, 2025·9 min read

Niche vs Broad Trade Shows for Emerging CPG Brands

Compare niche trade shows like Newtopia and FounderMade to broad events like Expo West. Learn how to assess ROI, buyer fit, and value for emerging CPG brands.

Jul 26, 2025·10 min read

The Role of PR in Retail Launches Beyond Press Releases

Learn how PR supports retail distribution beyond press releases. Covers targeting journalists, building credibility with buyers, and measuring PR impact on sell-through.

Jul 25, 2025·9 min read

How Faire, RangeMe, and SFP Compare for CPG Brands

Compare Faire, RangeMe, and SFP for CPG brands. Understand fees, buyer audiences, and when each B2B marketplace makes sense for your wholesale growth strategy.

Jul 24, 2025·10 min read

Pricing Specialty Channels Like Weddings and Corporate Gifting

How to price specialty food and beverage products for weddings, corporate gifting, and custom orders. Build a pricing structure that protects margins and wins deals.

Jul 23, 2025·9 min read

Walmart Velocity Tactics That Go Beyond Standard Promotions

Increase sales velocity at Walmart with tactics beyond Rollbacks: shelf placement, online reviews, Walmart Connect, Luminate data, and internal marketing tools.

Jul 22, 2025·11 min read

What Founders Need to Know About CPG Layoffs and Restructuring

CPG layoffs are reshaping who owns your accounts. Here's how to track team changes, find replacement contacts, and protect your retail relationships.

Jul 21, 2025·10 min read

Costco Fees and Volume Pricing Every CPG Brand Must Know

A guide to Costco's margin expectations, promotional fees, volume pricing, and what the bulk model means for CPG brand margins long-term before you pursue the deal.

Jul 20, 2025·10 min read

Trade Show Shipping Tips to Protect Your Booth

How CPG founders protect their trade show booth materials in transit, choose reliable freight partners, and stop sending fragile displays and coolers home destroyed.

Jul 19, 2025·10 min read

Broker vs Direct Sales, a Cost-Benefit Analysis for CPG Brands

A complete cost-benefit analysis of broker vs. direct sales for CPG brands. Covers commissions, hidden fees, direct sales resources, and long-term retail strategy.

Jul 18, 2025·9 min read

Affordable Subscription Apps for CPG Brands Beyond Recharge

The best subscription apps for CPG brands in 2025. Compare Recharge alternatives like Skio, Bold, and Loop on price, features, and Shopify compatibility.

Jul 17, 2025·9 min read

Advanced Pricing Tactics for CPG Wholesale Growth

Go beyond MSRP with advanced CPG pricing tactics. Learn psychological pricing, dynamic channel pricing, bundling strategies, and how to use price elasticity to drive orders.

Jul 16, 2025·11 min read

How the Retail Sales Cycle Goes From Pitch to Purchase Order

Master the retail sales cycle from initial pitch to purchase order. Learn the key milestones, what causes delays, and how to keep deals moving without annoying buyers.

Jul 15, 2025·10 min read

CPG Exit Strategy for Selling Your Brand, Recipes, and IP

How CPG founders sell recipes, license IP, find partnership buyers, and navigate wind-downs. Real options, real tradeoffs, no sugarcoating.

Jul 14, 2025·11 min read

Negotiating Slotting Fees and Retailer Programs That Work

Learn how to negotiate slotting fees with Target, Kroger, and distributors like KeHE and UNFI. Know your walk-away number before the meeting.

Jul 13, 2025·10 min read

Building Your Event Marketing Kit for Trade Shows and Events

The complete guide to building a CPG event marketing kit: booth essentials, branded merch with low MOQs, and giveaway ideas that actually work at trade shows.

Jul 12, 2025·10 min read

How to Find Retail Buyer Contacts as a CPG Founder

A practical guide for CPG founders on finding retail buyer contact information across major retailers, distributor portals, and independent channels.

Jul 11, 2025·10 min read

Media Buying for DTC CPG Brands with Under $150K Budgets

Learn how CPG brands can maximize DTC media budgets under $150K. Covers StackAdapt, AdRoll, Criteo, programmatic vs direct, and key metrics to track.

Jul 10, 2025·10 min read

Product Simplification for Better Profit Margins in CPG

Learn how CPG founders can boost profit margins by cutting underperforming SKUs, auditing certifications, and managing short shelf-life products strategically.

Jul 9, 2025·9 min read

UNFI Distribution for CPG Brands, Operations and Pitfalls

A practical guide to UNFI distribution operations for CPG brands: how orders work, common pitfalls, managing inventory, and building a strong UNFI relationship.

Jul 8, 2025·9 min read

The CPG Legal Contracts Checklist Before You Scale

Before scaling your CPG brand, get these legal contracts in place: NDAs, manufacturing, distribution, contractor, and website agreements explained.

Jul 7, 2025·10 min read

Cost-Effective Retail Displays for CPG Brands on a Budget

Corrugated floor displays, cardboard shippers, and shelf units don't have to drain your margin. Here's how CPG brands estimate costs and find affordable options.

Jul 6, 2025·10 min read

Roll-Up vs X-Frame vs Feather Flags for Trade Shows

Roll-up banners, X-frame stands, and feather flags each serve a different job at trade shows. Here's how CPG brands choose the right one for their setup.

Jul 5, 2025·10 min read

Adapting Your DTC Packaging for Wholesale and Retail Shelves

A founder's guide to adapting DTC packaging for wholesale. Covers durability, shelf appeal, retailer labeling requirements, and cost-effective strategies for the transition.

Jul 4, 2025·11 min read