The Blog

The Modern Wholesale Playbook

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

Jun 13, 2025·8 min read

Retail-Ready Packaging Guide for CPG Brands Leaving DTC

Soft pastels and minimalist DTC packaging fail on retail shelves. Here's how CPG brands adapt their packaging design for wholesale without a complete rebrand.

Jun 12, 2025·10 min read

Affiliate Marketing on a Budget for CPG Brands

Low-cost affiliate marketing for CPG brands. Find the right platforms, vet micro-influencers, build a program from scratch, and measure ROI without a big budget.

Jun 11, 2025·9 min read

Foodservice vs Retail Wholesale Margins Explained for CPG

Foodservice and retail wholesale have different margin expectations. Here's how to price for both channels without sacrificing profitability or creating conflict.

Jun 10, 2025·11 min read

How to Reach Independent Retailers Beyond Faire and Airgoods

Discover how CPG founders can reach independent retailers beyond Faire and Airgoods. Covers direct outreach tactics, INFRA/NCG directories, and building targeted store lists.

Jun 9, 2025·10 min read

Whole Foods Vendor Requirements and How to Get Shelf Space

A practical guide to Whole Foods Market vendor requirements, the application process, certifications, pitch tactics, and what it takes to stay on the shelf.

Jun 8, 2025·10 min read

Amazon Pricing Strategy for CPG Brands Protecting Margins

Learn how to calculate true Amazon profitability for CPG brands. Covers referral fees, FBA fees, PPC advertising costs, and strategies for setting sustainable retail prices.

First Trade Show Checklist for CPG Brand Exhibitors

Exhibiting at your first CPG trade show? This checklist covers booth prep, on-floor execution, lead capture, and post-show follow-up so nothing falls through the cracks.

Jun 7, 2025·9 min read

Store-Level Sales Data for CPG Brands and How to Use It

Learn how CPG brands access store-level sales data from retailers like Natural Grocers, when to buy Nielsen or SPINS data, and how to use retail insights to grow.

Jun 6, 2025·10 min read

UGC for CPG Brands, Sourcing, Creating, and Growing With It

Learn how CPG brands source authentic UGC creators, brief campaigns that convert, and use user-generated content across Meta ads, social, and retail pitches.

Jun 5, 2025·9 min read

Wholesale Pricing 101 for Retail, DTC, and B2B Channels

Learn how to set wholesale prices for retail, DTC, and B2B buyers. Covers keystone pricing, MSRP strategy, and margin benchmarks for CPG brands.

Jun 4, 2025·10 min read

PR and Influencers for a Successful CPG Retail Launch

Learn how to integrate PR and influencer marketing for a CPG retail launch. Includes how to find PR firms, vet influencers, and measure sales impact.

Jun 3, 2025·9 min read

Finding a Trusted Legal Partner for Your CPG Brand

How to find legal partners for CPG brands, including trademark attorneys, food lawyers, and startup-friendly firms that understand the industry.

Jun 2, 2025·10 min read

Whole Foods Pricing and Promotions Guide for CPG Brands

A practical guide to Whole Foods Market pricing, slotting fees, TPRs, display costs, and co-op programs. Learn what to expect and how to protect your margins.

Jun 1, 2025·10 min read

Sampling Success at Food Festivals and Pop-Ups That Drive Real Results

Sampling at food festivals and pop-ups is expensive. Here's how CPG brands maximize impact, capture feedback, and actually measure whether it worked.

May 31, 2025·9 min read

Retailer Fees Decoded, Slotting, Free Fills, and Hidden Costs

Slotting fees, free fills, marketing fees, and distributor deductions explained. Know what you're agreeing to before you sign with KeHE, UNFI, or any retailer.

May 30, 2025·10 min read

Amazon Growth Strategies for Emerging CPG Brands

Practical Amazon growth strategies for emerging CPG brands, covering listing optimization, review acquisition, affordable agencies, and ad spend that actually pays off.

May 29, 2025·10 min read

Walmart Deduction Codes Explained for CPG Brands

Learn how Walmart deduction codes work, what 761 and 762 mean, and the exact steps to dispute chargebacks and protect your margins as a CPG supplier.

May 28, 2025·9 min read

Driving Velocity at Walmart With Strategies That Move Product

Learn how CPG brands drive velocity at Walmart using promotional programs, in-store execution, Luminate data, and shelf placement strategies that actually work.

May 27, 2025·9 min read

CPG Legal Agreements Every Founder Needs to Get Right

NDAs, private label contracts, supplier agreements, and 1099 sales rep templates: what CPG founders actually need to know before signing anything.

May 26, 2025·9 min read

Optimizing Case Packs and Shipping for Wholesale Margins

How CPG founders should determine optimal case pack size, decide on free vs. paid shippers, and factor shipping costs into wholesale pricing strategy.

May 25, 2025·12 min read

How to Select the Right Trade Shows for Your CPG Brand

Learn how CPG founders should evaluate trade shows by buyer profile, show type, and business stage to maximize ROI on every event dollar spent.

May 24, 2025·10 min read

Direct-to-Retailer Outreach Without a Broker

Learn how CPG founders can master direct-to-retailer outreach without a broker. Covers identifying stores, fixing failed outreach, and building real buyer relationships.

May 23, 2025·11 min read

Email and SMS Marketing Automation for CPG Brands

Learn how to choose the right email and SMS platform for CPG, build essential automated flows, and grow your list without buying subscribers.

May 22, 2025·10 min read

How CPG Brands Navigate Price Increases Without Losing Shelf Space

Learn when and how to implement CPG price increases, communicate them to buyers and consumers, and protect margins without damaging retail relationships.

May 21, 2025·8 min read

Broker vs Direct Retail Expansion for CPG Brands

Should CPG brands hire a broker or go direct for retail expansion? Compare costs, timelines, and fit by channel to make the right call for your stage.

May 20, 2025·7 min read

How to Build a Core CPG Team From Entry Level to Executive

A practical guide to building a CPG team. Covers entry-level hiring, executive roles, freelancers, geographic coverage expectations, and where to post jobs.

May 19, 2025·11 min read

Trade Promotions for CPG Brands That Actually Move Product

Learn how CPG brands run profitable trade promotions with coupons, displays, and TPRs. Includes clearing house guidance, invoice deduction norms, and retailer requirements.

May 18, 2025·12 min read

5 Ways to Measure Trade Show ROI Beyond Direct Sales

Stop measuring trade show ROI by sales alone. These 5 frameworks help CPG brands quantify brand awareness, lead quality, buyer relationships, and long-term impact.

May 17, 2025·9 min read

What Goes Into a Winning Retail Pitch Deck

Build a retail pitch deck that gets buyers to say yes. Covers structure, key slides, data to include, and how to present in person vs. virtually.

May 16, 2025·8 min read

TikTok Shop for CPG Brands Setup and Growth Guide

Step-by-step guide to setting up TikTok Shop for CPG brands. Learn verification, affiliate strategy, live shopping, and how to scale sales fast.

May 15, 2025·9 min read