Ronak Shah

CEO & Co-Founder at Obvi | EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 | Featured on Inc. as 1 of 22 High Achievers | Chew on This Podcast Host

As the CEO of Obvi, I lead the company's vision to offer the most obvious choice of transparent products that deliver real results without sacrificing taste. Obvi, which has been featured on Inc. as one of the 22 high achievers of 2022, has grown rapidly since its launch in 2019, thanks to our innovative and customer-centric approach to product development, marketing, and community building.

With over a decade of experience in accounting, finance, and e-commerce, I have developed strong competencies in customer relationship management, analytical skills, communication, and technology. I have successfully completed enterprise-scale projects involving technology conversions, re-branding, custom CRM development, report design, and release management. As an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 and a co-host of Chew On This podcast, I am passionate about sharing my insights and expertise on DTC content and strategies with other founders and entrepreneurs. I am also a growth ambassador for Gorgias, a universal tool for CX that I endorse and use for Obvi.

Chief Executive Officer

Obvi was founded with one objective in mind: present the most obvious choice of transparent products which present real results without having to sacrifice taste. At Obvi, we believe the industry as it is currently, is facing a phenomenon which is known as the paradox of choice; that is, the more choices there are, the less satisfied the customer is starting to become. We have set out to make that choice as obvious and easy for our customers. Simple and transparent formulas with a cutting-edge flavor systems make any Obvi product, the obvious choice.

$80+ shipping is customer betrayal.
You're asking customers to leave your store.

International shoppers don’t leave because they don’t want the product.

They leave because of sticker shock.

They'll see $59,99 on the website.
Then at checkout, it's suddenly $100+.

Conversion is gone.
And the fix isn’t cheaper shipping.

Here's the solution:
Show the full price upfront.

To do this, use software that detects the user's location.

Then, bundle product + shipping + duties + taxes directly on the product page.

So:
• US customer sees $59.99
• Australian customer sees $105

Both customers can see “Free Shipping”
(because it’s already baked in).

With international ads 60–70% cheaper than US ads, even small conversion lifts compound fast.

The Takeaway:
Stop charging $30+ for international shipping.

Just show all-in pricing depending on the user's location.

graphical user interface, text, application, chat or text message

If you want to grow your e-com business in 2026, avoid these 5 mistakes ⬇️
Mistake #1: Playing defense
No urgency = no innovation.

Markets punish complacency fast.

Mistake #2: No goal
When your team doesn't have a unified goal, your business will spiral.

Your employees won't know what to do and they won't feel motivated.

Mistake #3: Expanding too fast
At Obvi, our viral flavors made us famous.

Launching a line of unflavored greens would be a big mistake.
- That's why we made Strawberry Lychee greens.

Mistake #4: Ignoring subscriptions
Recurring revenue must be the core of the business.

Mistake #5: Mismanaging inventory & debt
Cash flow > expansion fantasies.

You can hire faster and chase growth, but if cash isn’t coming in faster than it’s going out, the business collapses.

The Takeaway:
Growth comes from urgency, focus, and doubling down on what works.

Don't make these mistakes in 2026.

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Attribution is the next Lego.
Attribution just means who you give credit to for a purchase.

And most teams are counting it wrong.

For example:
Someone hears me on a podcast during their commute.
They don’t buy.

A week later they open a newsletter that references Obvi.
Still no purchase.

Two days after that, a promo email hits their inbox.
They buy.

Last-click says the email did everything.
First-click says the podcast did everything.

Both are wrong.
Buying decisions aren’t a single moment. They’re a sequence.

Awareness without follow-up never converts.

A great closer without awareness can't close.

The fix is simple:
Lego attribution.

Instead of giving 100% of the credit to one touch, break it into blocks:
1) The awareness block gets credit
2) The conversion block gets credit

Why Lego attribution wins:
• Reflects how people actually buy
• Shows channels that create demand
• Proves what’s working together

The Takeaway:
Stop using single-click attribution.

Start tracking attribution blocks.

Common hiring mistake:
Thinking background is critical.

It’s not.
Reliability is what matters.

I’ll take a “get the job done” person with an average resume over a perfect background and shaky follow-through every single time.

Because follow-up emails close sales.

Because the CRM works only if someone updates it after the call.

Because the invoice needs to go out the same day, not three weeks later.

Because the unglamorous work keeps the lights on.

Because churn starts with “sorry for the late reply.”

Background tells you where someone’s been.

Reliability tells you what happens after you hire them.

The Takeaway:
Hiring isn’t about collecting impressive resumes.
It’s about betting on people who will execute.

Here's how I generated 1,000+ leads for AppLovin:
[steal this]

Most brands default to ads. We didn’t.

Instead, we published a starter guide for AppLovin that explained the platform from zero → launch.

This starter guide was the equivalent of a 2 hour acquired podcast on AppLovin.

Short-form video walkthroughs explained each section.

Old podcasts and clips from Chew on This were recycled inside the guide.

Real ad creatives showed what “good” actually looks like.

Here's the key to converting:
We gave an incentive for the audience.

$5,000 in free ad credits for anyone who signed up.

This was all on a landing page. Anybody can do this.

The result:
1,000 qualified leads from a single campaign without paying a dime in ads.

Takeaway:
Marketing doesn’t mean ads.
It means making something so useful people choose to opt in.

Most brands aren’t bad at marketing.
They’re bad at counting.

Specifically:
Who gets credit when someone finally buys?

Last-click attribution is the problem.
It gives 100% of the credit to the final touch.

Last click attribution is wildly misleading.

Example:
• Customer sees a random Instagram ad
• Doesn’t buy
• One day later Googles the brand
• Purchases

Last click gives Google the credit.
Instagram looks useless.

Here’s the damage:
You cut Instagram. Sales drop.

Now flip it.

First-click isn’t better either.
Now, you're ignoring what convinced the customer to buy.

Most purchases involve 6–10 touchpoints before conversion.

Which brings us to reality:
Marketing is a relay race, not a duel.

Weighted attribution fixes this:
• Awareness gets credit
• Consideration gets credit
• Conversion gets credit

The Takeaway:
Use weighted attribution to track sales.

It will make sure credit is given where credit is due.

3 things every brand must do to rank #1 in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini

(Brand operators: save this.)

Why this matters

Search behavior is changing fast.

- ~70% of discovery conversations are already moving to AI
- OpenAI has partnered with Shopify
- In 10 years, the majority of shopping decisions will start in AI search — not Google

If your brand isn’t visible inside AI answers, you’re not just behind — you’re invisible.

What we’re seeing in the wild

Sean Frank (CEO of Ridge Wallet) recently shared that ChatGPT is already driving meaningful traffic for them.

We’re seeing the same thing across brands like Obvi and others in our portfolio.

AI isn’t coming. It’s already here.

So how do you actually increase AI visibility?

Here’s the playbook we’re using.

1. Nail the boring (but critical) hygiene

AI can’t recommend what it can’t clearly understand.

That means:

- Clean Merchant Center + product feeds (titles, GTINs, variants, availability)
- Clear shipping, returns, and warranty pages (scannable, not fluffy)
- FAQs for every hero product
- Review markup + visible review counts everywhere
- One strong “About” page written in plain English that clearly says who the product is for

If AI can’t extract the facts, it won’t surface your brand.

2. Actively test your AI visibility

Stop guessing. Start querying.

Ask AI the way a real buyer would:

“I need an all-natural deodorant that works for heavy sweating, has no aluminum, and won’t stain black shirts.”

Then:

• Build 25–50 synthetic buyer queries per product line
 • Include use cases + constraints
 • Benchmark weekly across ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity
 • Track who is ranking — and why

AI leaves clues. You just have to look.

3. Reverse-engineer where AI gets its opinions

AI doesn’t invent “best products.”
It synthesizes consensus.

Look at what it cites:

- “Best X” listicles (Wirecutter-style + niche blogs)
- Reddit threads
- YouTube reviews + transcripts
- Marketplaces (Amazon, etc.)
- Review platforms

Your job is simple (but not easy):

1. Get mentioned in the places AI already trusts

2. Make sure your brand positioning is consistent everywhere

AI rewards repetition and agreement.
Consensus is the ranking signal.

The reality

You can do all of this manually.

Or… you can use the same system we’re rolling out across 25+ brands.

Meridian 2.0 just launched, and it automates AI visibility tracking, benchmarking, and footprint analysis in one place.

It shows you — clearly — where your brand stands inside AI answers and what to fix next.

If you want to see what your AI visibility score actually looks like, drop a comment and I’ll share the framework.

Yes — full transparency — we’re a proud Meridian partner.

This is the future of SEO.

The first reader of your post is not a person.


It’s a model.

Email. LinkedIn. Now ChatGPT.

With SEO, page two still gets traffic.
With GEO (AI search), there is no page two.

Here’s how to optimize for GEO:

Take the example of what we did for Dr. Jen Natural, a premium toothpaste.

#1: Question the model
Ask ChatGPT and Claude what toothpaste they recommend.

Make a list of those exact articles & URLs.

#2: Copy the structure
Use the same framing. Same logic. But with a different product.

#3: Declare yourself the winner
Publish ranking-style content where Dr. Jen is the clear winner.

#4: Reinforce
Consistency trains the model. Repetition locks it in.

Now when someone asks AI for the best nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste,

Dr. Jen appears.

The Takeaway:
If customers trust ChatGPT and ChatGPT doesn’t trust you, you have a problem.

Optimize for ChatGPT.

Walmart🛒Sam's Club |📦Merchandising Displays & Packaging📦|❤️Sales & Marketing |🌄Outdoor Enthusiast & Endurance Everything🏃| Employee Owner❤️EBITA | #TheRetailDude

With over a decade of experience in retail merchandising and execution, I help CPG brands make an impact at Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, and beyond. From endcaps to pallet programs, I work closely with brand CEOs, Founders, and Marketing/Sales executives to execute in-store merchandising strategies that drive velocity, impulse purchases, and brand awareness.

I’m passionate about sharing insights on how brands can maximize their retail presence, whether through strategic packaging, off-shelf displays, or shopper marketing activations. My approach is rooted in innovation, data-driven decision-making, and a relentless pursuit of "What if?" thinking to bring ideas to life.

👟 Outside of retail, I’m an ultra trail runner, constantly pushing limits and testing endurance, just like in business. Success in both comes down to strategy, consistency, and execution.

Let’s connect and talk about winning at retail.

𝙏𝙤𝙥 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨: 
Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco, Kroger, Walgreens, Home Depot, Lowes, and more

𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝙀𝙭𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙨:
Direct Import(DI), Multi-Vendor, Pass-Through, DSDC, Single Supplier, Feature Trains, Signage Kits, Collect/Prepaid, Cross-Dock, Materials Only

𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚:
Toys, Electronics, Stationery/Craft, Apparel, OTC, H&W, Grocery, Consumables, Lawn & Garden, Entertainment, Beauty, Baby, Craft, Seasonal (Annual Event, BTS, Holiday, Easter)

𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙨:
★ Custom Point of Sale Displays: Pallets, Floorstands/FSDU's, Trays, Endcaps, Trendpods, In-store Signage
★ Protective Industrial Packaging: Retail Ready, Subscription Boxes, Trays, RSC Boxes Influencer Kits
★ Specialty Items: Set-up Boxes, Slide Boxes, Trade Show Booths
★ Retail Product Packaging: Baypack, Folding Carton, Gift Sets
★ Augmented Reality/AssemblAR
★ Digital Printing: Variable Data, Customized, Personalized

𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨:
★ Concept Design
★ Material Manufacturing
★ Retail Planning & Strategy
★ Project Management
★ Supply Chain Logistics
★ Packout & Fulfillment

Contact me at joshual@bay-cities.com

Joshua Linden

First Walmart store walk of the year is always telling.

Q1 brings new ideas and eye-catching merchandising, but it still runs on fundamentals.

What you can expect to see in stores right now:

• Clean, easy-to-shop shelves.
• Seasonal and need-state merchandising for Valentine’s Day, Flu/Cold, Wellness & Fitness, and everyday staples.
• Merchandising that looks great at the store level and works for the supply chain.
• Product either directly on shelf or supported by clear, branded merchandising vehicles.
• Fewer surprises. Fewer excuses.

The brands that win are blending strong execution with omnichannel marketing to drive traffic back into stores or Walmart dot-com for additional assortments.

The reality is simple. Strong execution earns trust. Trust earns opportunity. Sell-through earns more space.

If 2026 is a growth year for your brand, this is where it starts. On the floor, not just in a deck.

I share what I see across Walmart and other retail channels. What’s working, what’s not, and why it matters.

Follow along and share what you’re seeing in stores in the comments.

#TheRetailDude #Walmart #RetailExecution #CPG #StoreWalk #RetailReady

Having a strong, supportive, and loving wife makes life easier.

The quiet encouragement.

The belief on the hard days.

The reminder to keep going when quitting would be easier.

That kind of support doesn’t just show up at home. It shows up in how you lead, how you show up for others, and how hard you’re willing to push to become a better version of yourself.

Grateful for a partner who motivates me to keep growing. Always.

Who agrees with me?

P.S. Devon Linden my wife makes the best homemade cookies around. I love these little notes.

Just dropped the first edition of Selling Retail.

This one is a recap of what actually worked in 2025 and the best practices brands should carry into 2026. It’s built from real store walks, real execution, and lessons learned at Walmart and across retail.

Endcaps, sidekicks, packaging efficiency, digital + physical, and why execution still matters more than anything else.

Would love to hear what you’re seeing in stores and what you think brands should double down on this year.

Link to the article 👇
 
#SellingRetail #Walmart #RetailExecution #CPG #Merchandising #StoreWalks

What “great” looks like heading into 2026 Selling Retail focuses on what actually moves product at Walmart and across retail. Each month, I share stor

Open article: Selling Retail - Walmart & Retail insights from the store floor by Joshua Linden • 4 min read

Selling Retail - Walmart & Retail insights from the store floor

Retail moves fast. That’s not the problem.

The challenge shows up when urgency replaces clarity. When everything feels important at once, priorities blur, teams hesitate, and execution starts to slow instead of accelerate. Speed without alignment rarely delivers the results people expect.

Strong leadership in retail isn’t about pushing harder or asking for more. It’s about creating clarity so teams can move with confidence. Clear goals, defined ownership, and realistic timelines are what allow fast-moving organizations to execute without breaking things along the way.

That principle holds true on the sales floor, in operations, and across leadership teams. When clarity is present, momentum follows. When it’s missing, even the best teams struggle.

I share lessons from retail execution and leadership in fast-moving environments. What’s working, what’s not, and why it matters.

Follow along and share what’s helped you create clarity on your teams.

Let me know what you think in the comments. 

#Leadership #RetailLife #Execution #TheRetailDude #CPG

***photo from recent store walk

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The Battle

Ronak Shah

Joshua Linden

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ronak Shah's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreRonak Shah's LinkedIn Performance