#466 - From Amazon to Aisle 7: How Sellers Break Into Retail with Doug Harding

In episode 466 of the AM-PM Podcast, Kevin King interviews Doug Harding about the retail landscape for Amazon and e-commerce sellers. Doug shares insights on how success on Amazon can translate to retail success, emphasizing that Amazon is now a litmus test for retailers. They discuss the importance of branding, social outreach, and diversification across online marketplaces. Doug identifies Costco and Target as the "holy grail" for retailers and explains the challenges and requirements for getting into retail, including certifications, packaging, and slotting. He also highlights the financial aspects, such as factoring and managing cash flow, and shares a success story about a Shark Tank product, a pizza oven, that transitioned from online to retail. The conversation also covers the cost structure, margins, and fees involved in wholesale retail distribution, and emphasizes that retail is far from dead, offering significant opportunities for those who can navigate it successfully.