Why These Shark Tank Founders Went ALL IN on Retail...

Is retail really dead? In this episode of Marketing Misfits, Norm Farrar and Kevin King sit down with three powerhouse guests who prove otherwise, Doug Harding from Wholesaleretaildistribution.com , Kirk Hyust from Turbo Trusser (a Shark Tank deal with Kevin O’Leary), and GC Brown, founder of UpCup Koffee, a fast-growing functional mushroom coffee brand.

You’ll hear how these brands are cracking into Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, QVC, and big-box retail, even in a world dominated by Amazon. From the truth about what retailers actually want to surprising insights about shelf space, product packaging, and the growing role of AI in retail decisions, this episode is packed with must-know info.

🚨 You’ll learn:

- Why 90% of purchases still happen offline

- How Kevin O’Leary helped close a deal the same day it aired on Shark Tank

- What mushroom coffee brands must do to survive retail

- How a single $50K PR mistake nearly sunk a startup

- The power of predictive buying and how AI is changing retail strategy forever

- Why most Amazon sellers are NOT ready for retail—and how to fix that

- How to actually build brand equity off Amazon

The mindset shift every seller needs to go from ecom to retail Whether you’re an Amazon seller, brand owner, or product inventor looking to scale into physical stores, this episode is your wake-up call. Retail isn’t dead—it’s just evolved.

📍 Want to go from Amazon to big-box retail? Learn what works, what doesn’t, and who can actually help you get on shelves. Timestamps

00:00 Is Retail Dead?

01:43 Retail vs. E-commerce

03:14 Introducing the Guests

04:27 State of Retail Today

06:44 The Turbo Trusser Story

08:00 UPC Cup Coffee Journey

13:48 Marketing Strategies for Retail

24:47 Shark Tank Experience

35:07 Building an Audience

39:36 Social Media and Influencer Marketing

41:03 Financing Challenges for Small Brands

47:09 Kevin O'Leary's Involvement Post-Shark Tank

59:00 Retail Trends and AI

01:09:09 The Value of Patience in Business

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