How to Get Your Product Into Retail Stores Without Investors with Ethan Haber

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Welcome back product bosses! What does it really take to turn a product idea into something you can actually buy on store shelves?

In this episode, I sit down with Ethan Haber, Founder and CEO of Happy Habitats, who took an overlooked niche idea in the small pet market and built it into an award-winning brand now sold across major retailers in North America.

This conversation is a masterclass in persistence, product validation, and believing in possibility long before the proof shows up.

WHAT IT REALLY TAKES TO GO FROM IDEA TO RETAIL SHELVES

Ethan shares how he spotted a gap in a niche pet category and turned it into a real opportunity. We talk about why niche markets can be incredibly profitable, and how specificity, not mass appeal,  is often the advantage.

You’ll learn how he used online communities to validate his idea before manufacturing, the persistence required during tough growth stages, and how trade shows and relationship-building opened doors to major retailers.

We also cover the biggest product development mistake that costs founders time and money, why decision-makers are more accessible than you think, and the mindset shift that helped him scale to six figures and beyond.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your product idea is too small or too niche, this episode will expand what you believe is possible, and show you how small ideas can lead to big retail opportunities.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

00:00 Meet Ethan Haber, CEO & Founder of Happy Habitats.

04:30 How Ethan discovered an overlooked niche opportunity in the pet market.

08:30 Why niche markets can still become highly profitable businesses.

15:00 How to use online communities for customer research and product validation.

18:30 What persistence looks like during difficult growth stages.

21:00 How trade shows and relationship-building led to major retail opportunities.

23:15 The biggest product development mistake that costs time and money.

26:30 Trade show booth strategies that attract buyers.

29:00 Why “everyone is accessible” and how to connect with decision-makers.

31:15 The mindset shift that helped Ethan scale to 6-figures and beyond.

35:00 Where to find and support Happy Habitats products today.

Resources:

  • Learn more about Happy Habitats HERE!

  • Ready to stop guessing and follow a proven system? Book your strategy call HERE!

  • Find and close your next buyer with AI & automation HERE!

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