Empowering Intimacy: Building the brand Bloomi with founder Rebecca Alvarez-Story

Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, I interview Rebecca Alvarez-Story, founder of Bloomi, a sexual wellness brand currently available at Target and CVS stores. We discuss Rebecca's journey from intimacy consulting to launching her own brand, the challenges she faced, and the importance of community engagement. The conversation also covers her experience of launching in retail, particularly at Target, and the strategies for building a successful brand. Rebecca shares insights on product development, marketing, and the significance of representation in the industry.Impactful highlights within the episode:Community engagement and feedback are important for understanding what your consumers want and where they want to buyThe importance of being prepared for retail challenges and opportunities before and after you land on shelfContinuous innovation and adaptation are key to maintaining relevancy in the marketBreakdowns:00:00 Introduction to Bloomi and Rebecca Alvarez-Story03:02 Rebecca's Journey to Founding Bloomi05:47 Launching her first product09:01 Navigating Early Challenges and Successes12:08 Building a Brand and Community14:57 Retail Strategy and Target Partnership17:56 The Emotional Launch Experience20:57 Understanding what Consumers want34:11 Pitching to Target42:30 Raising Venture59:50 Competitive Pricing within your own BrandLinks mentioned in this episode:Social Media:Rebecca Alvarez-Story Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaalvarezstory/Bloomi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebloomi/Bloomi Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebloomiShop Bloomi: https://thebloomi.com/Check out target.com and cvs.com to find stores where Bloomi is sold in a retailer near you. Support the showEvent Partner: Nourish Summit & Expo (Oct. 5-7, 2027 | Baltimore) - Use code SHELFTALKS10 for 10% off full registration https://bit.ly/4sx0ZbaLooking for more? Visit our Linktree for the latest episodes, free resources, retail tips, and ways to connect with the Shelf Talks community.https://linktr.ee/shelftalkspodcastLove what you hear on Shelf Talks? You can now support the podcast. Every contribution helps bring more indie voices to the mic. Thank you for being part of this journey! ✨https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411532/supportContact us via email: [email protected] Reach out if you know of a female founder with an impactful brand and retail story and leave a review if you found value in this episode! [email protected] the book Shelf Talk: A step by step guide to launching your product in Retail Stores by Roberta Townes Buy Book