Mix, Share, Succeed: Ashley Hunt-Poole’s Path from Mixing Mocktails on Social Media to her own brand Mocktails for Mommy on the shelves of Sam’s Club

Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Roberta interviews Ashley Hunt-Poole, the founder of Mocktails for Mommy, a pioneering alcohol-free beverage company. Ashley shares her journey from making videos on social making fun mocktails to creating a brand that caters to the sober curious community. The discussion covers the challenges she faced and the importance of being the face of her brand. Ashley Hunt-Poole shares her journey of launching 'Mocktails for Mommy,' detailing the challenges she faced in production, the importance of logistics, and the power of belief in achieving her dreams. She discusses her creative marketing strategies, the significance of community engagement during her product launch, and the relationships she built with retailers. Ashley emphasizes the need for persistence in pitching to retailers and shares how she entered local retail, Sam's Club and her 2025 launch in Walmart.Key Takeaways:Ashley started Mocktails for Mommy during the pandemic while pregnant.Being the face of her brand was a conscious decision for authenticity.Ashley participated in Target's accelerator program to learn about retail.Retail involves more than just getting products on shelves.Creative marketing can make a significant impact.Persistence pays off in retail pitching.Slow and steady wins the race in business growth.Breakouts:00:00 Introduction to Mocktails for Mommy01:57 The Journey to Starting Mocktails for Mommy03:40 Creating Unique Mocktail Recipes05:23 Overcoming Doubts and Challenges07:09 Finding Mentorship and Support08:55 Developing the First Product10:37 Launching and Selling the First SKU13:06 Building Brand Presence and Community16:19 The Importance of Being the Brand's Face17:31 Expanding into Retail and Target's Accelerator Program20:27 Pitching to Major Retailers25:19 Differentiating Mocktails for Mommy in the Market26:20 The Rise of the Sober Curious Movement27:21 Navigating Challenges in Production32:00 The Power of Belief and Taking Action33:33 Strategic Marketing and Local Launches35:01 Creative Launch Strategies and Community Engagement38:57 Building Relationships with Retailers41:52 Persistence in Retail Pitching44:44 Preparing for Walmart Launch45:48 Future Vision and Brand GrowthLinks in this episode:Mocktails for Mommy Website LINKMocktails for Mommy Instagram LINKFind locations on her website! 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