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In this Shelf Talks Retail Readiness Round, Shizu Okusa, founder and CEO of Apothekary, shares quick but powerful insights every founder should know before stepping into retail.

From managing working capital and understanding payment terms, to deeply researching buyers and their priorities, Shizu breaks down what it really takes to make a lasting impression and succeed once your products hit the shelf.

Plus, she leaves us with the best piece of founder advice she lives by:

“Don’t borrow trouble. The true balance is living in the present — because presence is the ultimate present.”

A must-listen for any entrepreneur preparing to pitch, scale, and grow in retail.

Listen to the full episode that dropped 10/27/25

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Purchase the book Shelf Talk: A step by step guide to launching your product in Retail Stores by Roberta Townes Buy Book