The Blog

The Modern Wholesale Playbook

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

Jul 13, 2025·10 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 12, 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 11, 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 10, 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 9, 2025·9 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 8, 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.

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

How to Get Product Reviews on Amazon and TikTok Shop

Ethical, fast strategies to get product reviews on Amazon and TikTok Shop. Covers Vine, UGC, influencer seeding, platform policies, and what actually moves conversions.

Jul 3, 2025·10 min read

Sales Commission Structures for CPG Brands That Actually Work

Learn how to design sales commission structures for CPG brands. Covers split commissions, tiered rates, independent contractor agreements, and performance metrics.

Jul 2, 2025·10 min read

Targeting Independent Retailers Beyond Online Marketplaces

Learn how to target independent retailers with outreach strategies beyond Faire and Airgoods. Covers store identification, direct outreach, and trade show tactics.

Jul 1, 2025·10 min read

How to Get Your CPG Product Into Target Stores

A practical guide to getting your CPG product into Target: the vendor portal, buyer expectations, packaging standards, and how to pitch and onboard successfully.

Jun 30, 2025·11 min read

The True Cost of CPG Packaging Design and Materials

From freelance designers to full agencies, here is what CPG packaging design actually costs and when to invest in premium vs. when to cut back.

Jun 29, 2025·9 min read

Trade Show Follow-Up That Turns Leads Into Retail Accounts

Proven trade show follow-up strategies for CPG brands. Segment leads, personalize outreach, and use CRM tools to convert show contacts into wholesale accounts.

Jun 28, 2025·9 min read

Slotting Fees 101, Costs, Timing, and Negotiation Tactics

Learn how slotting fees work, when they're charged, whether they're based on wholesale or MSRP, and how to negotiate better terms with retailers.

Jun 27, 2025·9 min read

Building an Email List from Scratch for CPG Founders

How CPG and DTC food brands grow email lists from zero using lead magnets, social media, content marketing, and smart subscriber acquisition math.

Jun 26, 2025·9 min read

Pricing Mistakes CPG Founders Make and How to Avoid Them

The most common pricing mistakes CPG founders make, from underpricing to ignoring channel differences, and how to fix them before they cost you the brand.

Jun 25, 2025·9 min read

CPG Branding Refresh for US Retail Shelf Appeal That Sells

How to refresh your CPG brand for US retail. Covers shelf presence evaluation, buyer expectations, the redesign process, and real brand refresh examples.

Jun 24, 2025·9 min read

5 Biggest Mistakes CPG Founders Make Hiring Sales Reps

Avoid the most common CPG hiring mistakes: unclear roles, wrong comp structures, poor vetting, no onboarding, and the 1099 vs W2 trap.

Jun 23, 2025·9 min read

Setting Target Margins for CPG Founders A Practical Framework

Learn how to set realistic target margins for your CPG brand across retail, foodservice, and DTC. Covers gross margin, net margin, and break-even by channel.

Jun 22, 2025·10 min read

Q1 Reset Trade Show Strategies for Target and Walmart

Learn how CPG brands use the Q1 reset cycle and trade shows to win shelf space at Target and Walmart. Practical strategies for buyer meetings and presentations.

Jun 21, 2025·9 min read

Finding Retail Buyer Contacts for Whole Foods and Beyond

A practical guide to finding retail buyer contacts for Whole Foods, Sprouts, and other retailers. Covers supplier portals, direct research tactics, and first outreach.

Jun 20, 2025·10 min read

How to Hire a Shopify Partner for CPG Conversion

A practical guide to hiring a Shopify web designer or developer for CPG brands. Covers vetting agencies, pricing models, and CRO-focused questions to ask.

Jun 19, 2025·10 min read

Target Margin Expectations and Pricing Strategy for CPG Brands

Learn Target's margin expectations by category, how TPRs and vendor agreements affect your P&L, and how to price your CPG product to stay profitable at Target.

Jun 18, 2025·10 min read

How to Fix Out-of-Stock Problems with UNFI and Whole Foods

Struggling with UNFI out-of-stock issues at Whole Foods? Learn the real causes, how to escalate, and how to prevent OOS before it costs you your shelf space.

Jun 17, 2025·10 min read

DIY Trademark Search vs Hiring a Lawyer for CPG Brands

Can you do your own trademark search? Yes. Should you? It depends. Here's the cost breakdown and when to hire a trademark attorney for your CPG brand.

Jun 16, 2025·9 min read

The CPG Broker Myth and When You Actually Need One

Think you need a broker to get into retail? Most early CPG brands don't. Here's what brokers actually do, what they cost, and when to hire one.

Jun 15, 2025·9 min read

How to Prepare for Whole Foods Trade Shows and Buyer Meetings

Preparing for a Whole Foods buyer meeting or trade show? Here's what to bring, how to pitch, and how to follow up to turn the conversation into a placement.

Jun 14, 2025·9 min read