What separates brands that scale at retail from brands that struggle to stay on shelf?

In this episode of CPG Insiders, Mark Young and Justin Girouard sit down with Scott Fuselier and Matt Jones from BCI (Buckeye Corrugated) to break down the real role packaging plays in retail growth, operational efficiency, sustainability, and customer experience.

The conversation goes far beyond “just boxes.”

They unpack how leading brands use retail displays, power wings, pallet programs, fulfillment solutions, and sustainable packaging strategies to win with retailers like Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Kroger, and more.

You’ll also hear:

• Why packaging is a brand introduction — not just a container
• How packaging impacts retail sell-through and damage rates
• What brands need to know about EPR and sustainability regulations
• The operational mistakes that cost brands money at retail
• How turnkey fulfillment and display programs work
• Why “plug-and-play” retail execution matters
• The future of sustainable corrugated packaging
• How brands can reduce freight costs and improve efficiency

If you’re a CPG founder, brand operator, retail leader, or packaging decision-maker, this episode is packed with practical insight.

Key Takeaways

• Retail packaging directly impacts sales, retailer relationships, and returns
• Sustainability is becoming a retail requirement — not a nice-to-have
• Damage reduction can dramatically improve profitability
• Smart packaging strategy creates operational and retail advantages
• Great displays help brands win more floor space and visibility

Breaking into retail isn’t just hard—it’s brutally unforgiving. With only a fraction of new CPG products surviving beyond two years, what separates the winners from the rest?

In this episode, Mark Young and Justin Girouard sit down with Bruce Montgomery and Tracey Priest of Road2Retail to unpack what it really takes to succeed in brick-and-mortar.

They go beyond the usual advice and get into the operational realities most founders overlook—from pricing strategy and margin math to supply chain readiness, retail expectations, and the hidden costs of failure.

If you’re an emerging brand aiming for retail shelves, this conversation is a must-listen.

Most entrepreneurs build their business for freedom—but end up creating a prison they can't leave.

In this episode of CPG Insiders, Dr. Mark Young and Justin Girouard sit down with Greg Heeres, author of Passing the Baton, to unpack one of the most overlooked—and emotionally complex—parts of entrepreneurship: what happens when you step away.

Whether you plan to sell, pass the business down, or simply step back, Greg explains why succession is not a financial decision—it's an emotional one. From identity loss and leadership dependency to family dynamics and post-exit regret, this conversation reveals the hidden challenges most founders never prepare for.

You'll learn why every entrepreneur needs not one—but three plans: a short-term contingency plan, a long-term exit strategy, and a personal "next chapter" plan that replaces purpose after the business is gone.

The episode also explores:

• Why most businesses are dangerously dependent on the founder

• The four "unpredictable events" that can force an unplanned exit

• Why selling your company can strain (or even break) relationships

• How to prepare your team—and your family—for what comes next

• The biggest mistake founders make after a liquidity event

If you're building a business to eventually exit, this episode will challenge how you think about success—and what comes after it.

Because the real question isn't "How do I sell my company?" It's "Who am I when I no longer run it?"