the blog.
Holiday Content That Converts In-Store: How to Bridge PDPs, Social, and Shopper Marketing
Learn how retail PDP optimization and holiday in-store content can drive awareness, trial, and sales for emerging CPG brands this season.
7 Essential Steps to Get Your Products Recommended by AI (and Actually Sell) This Holiday
Discover how AI-powered strategies can help consumer brands stand out and get recommended in today’s retail landscape. Learn actionable tips from a Fractional CMO on brand visibility, digital audits, and positioning products for growth in an AI-driven world.
Jenica Oliver: A Rebrand Fueled by Collaboration, Strategy, and a Little Bit of Serendipity
Discover how strategic collaboration between experts in branding, marketing, legal, and photography led to an authentic rebrand. Read about the power of partnership, lessons learned, and how to join the conversation in this behind-the-scenes case study.
From Founder-Led to Function-Led: How to Structure Your CPG Marketing Team for Scale
Shift from founder‑led hustle to function‑led efficiency. Learn how to build a scalable CPG marketing org that drives growth.
Translate Consumer Insights into Retail Pitches that Win Shelf Space
Turn data into stories. Leverage consumer insights to craft retail pitches that persuade buyers and secure shelf space.
How to Validate New CPG Product Ideas Before You Invest
Save time and money. Learn market‑tested methods to validate new CPG product ideas before committing significant resources.
Beyond Line Extensions: Build a CPG Innovation Pipeline that Excites Retail Buyers
Keep retail buyers engaged by creating an innovation pipeline that delivers fresh, data‑backed products beyond simple line extensions.
Outgrowing DIY Marketing? 5 Signs It's Time for Fractional CMO Support
Identify the tipping points that signal it’s time to move beyond DIY marketing and bring in fractional CMO expertise.
Retail Merchandising 101: How to Stand Out in a Crowded Aisle
From planograms to promotions, master the basics of retail merchandising to make your CPG product pop on crowded shelves.
Is Your Packaging Shelf‑Ready? What Retail Buyers Really See
Make a killer first impression. Learn what retail buyers look for in shelf‑ready packaging and how to optimize yours for sell‑through.
Do You Really Need a Full‑Time CMO? Why Fractional Might Be Smarter for CPG Brands
Explore when a fractional CMO is a cost‑effective way to unlock senior marketing leadership without the full‑time price tag.
Retail Marketing Metrics That Actually Matter for CPG Brands
Focus on the KPIs that drive sell‑through. Learn the retail marketing metrics that truly matter for CPG brands and how to track them.
Deep vs. Wide: Choosing the Right Retail Growth Strategy for Your CPG Brand
Compare deep distribution with wide expansion to decide which retail growth strategy maximizes velocity and profits for your CPG brand.
E-Commerce to Retail: The Complete Expansion Checklist for CPG Brands
Use this step‑by‑step checklist to expand from e‑commerce to brick‑and‑mortar retail, covering forecasting, packaging, and buyer outreach.
Is Your CPG Brand Ready for Retail? How to Get Your Product on Store Shelves
Discover if your CPG brand is retail‑ready and follow proven steps to get your product into stores and keep it selling.
Smart Retail Scaling for Small Marketing Teams
Expanding into multiple retail accounts is a critical milestone for emerging consumer product brands. But with limited marketing resources, small teams often face the daunting challenge of supporting growth across various channels without burning out or losing strategic focus. Building a lean, high-impact marketing function isn’t just a necessity—it’s a competitive advantage when done right.
Here’s how to sidestep common pitfalls and scale your retail presence with a focused, efficient marketing team.
AI-Powered Social Listening: A Practical Guide for Product Innovation
In today’s digital-first world, innovation doesn’t just start in a lab—it starts on TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit. Social media has become the pulse of consumer interest, where microtrends can rapidly snowball into major market opportunities. One standout example? Kroger’s new Private Selection Cherry Harvest collection, inspired by the viral rise of “cherry red” on social media, and in this case, TikTok.
The beauty of this trend-inspired innovation is that it didn’t come from a high-tech lab—it came from social listening. And thanks to the rise of affordable AI tools, even small and mid-sized brands can do the same.
The Ugly Truth About Pretty Packaging
When it comes to consumer-packaged goods (CPG), brands have mere seconds—typically 3 to 7 seconds—to capture a shopper’s attention in-store or online. In this short window, packaging plays a critical role in telling a brand’s story, differentiating the product, and ultimately converting a browsing consumer into a buyer. While many brands focus on making their packaging visually appealing, the ugly truth is that a "pretty" package alone doesn’t drive sales. Instead, effective packaging must be a combination of clear communication, functionality, and design that resonates with the target audience.
5 Ways to Pop Out with a Pop-Up Shop
Pop-up shops have become a popular strategy for early-stage consumer brand founders looking to build brand awareness, gain traction, engage customers, and generate buzz around their products. With the right approach, your brand can create unforgettable shopping experiences that capture the attention of your target audience, and drive excitement and sales. Whether you’re popping up at a Farmer’s Market, community festival, or near a store that’s launching your brand, Pop-up shops are a proven way to Pop Out! But with so many brands competing for attention, how do you stand out? Here are five (5) effective ways to make your pop-up shop stand out and command attention.
Cracking the Retail Code: How to Get Your Products on Store Shelves (and Keep Them There)
Breaking into retail is a game-changer for emerging consumer brands. But landing on store shelves is only half the battle—staying there is the real challenge. Retailers want products that sell; without a strategic approach, brands risk being delisted before gaining traction. Follow these 6 steps to get your products into retail and ensure they stay in demand.