The Secret Spicy Sauce to Getting on Shelves with Hotpot Queen’s founder, Jia Liao

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Jia Liao, the founder of HotPot Queen, a brand that brings the rich tradition of hot pot to American homes. Gia shares her journey from growing up in a family restaurant to launching her own CPG brand, emphasizing the importance of family legacy, product development, and the challenges of entering the retail market. The conversation highlights the significance of branding, market research, and the impactful experience at Expo West, where Gia successfully engaged with retailers and received positive feedback on her products. In this conversation, Jia shares her journey of launching her CPG brand, Hot Pot Queen, detailing the challenges faced in inventory management, navigating the retail landscape, and crafting effective pitches to retailers. She discusses the importance of patience in the industry, the learning curve she experienced, and the strategies she employed to engage customers and drive sales. Jia also highlights her future plans for product innovation and expansion into new markets. In this conversation, Jia shares her journey as an entrepreneur in the food industry, detailing the challenges she faced with product packaging, leakage issues, and the lessons learned from her first year of launching her brand. She emphasizes the importance of thorough testing and preparation before launching products, as well as the strategies for succeeding in retail environments. Jia's experiences highlight the resilience required in entrepreneurship and the value of learning from mistakes.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Hot Pot Queen and Gia's Journey02:40 Family Legacy and Early Influences05:30 Transitioning to CPG: The Birth of Hot Pot Queen07:58 Product Development and Branding Strategy10:37 Launch Experience at Expo West13:15 Retailer Engagement and Market Response24:20 Navigating Retail Challenges28:43 Learning the CPG Landscape32:58 Crafting the Perfect Pitch36:28 Sales Strategies and Customer Engagement42:29 Future Plans and Product Innovations48:46 Navigating Product Packaging Challenges56:19 Lessons Learned from Product Launches01:06:18 Retail Strategies and InsightsHotpot Queen Website: https://hotpotqueen.com/Hotpot Queen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queenofhotpot/?hl=enJia Liao LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weijia-liao/ 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