How Apothekary’s Shizu Okusa Blends Eastern Traditions with Modern Retail Success

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In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta Townes sits down with Shizu Okusa, founder and CEO of Apothekary, the plant-based pharmacy redefining modern wellness on retail shelves.

Shizu shares how she went from working on Wall Street to building a multimillion-dollar wellness brand that blends ancient Eastern medicine with modern health practices. She opens up about her early days running a cold-pressed juice business, her bold pivots, and how Apothekary grew from DTC success to landing on shelves at Sprouts, Ulta Beauty, and Whole Foods.

You’ll learn:
🌿 Why quitting early can sometimes be the smartest move
🧠 How to prepare your brand for retail growth
💡 The power of authentic storytelling and community in driving awareness
💰 What founders should know about fundraising and scaling sustainably

This is an inspiring conversation about vision, resilience, and building a brand rooted in purpose.

🎧 Tune in to hear how Shizu is making wellness more accessible — and what every founder can take from her journey.

Links:

Apothekary Website: https://www.apothekary.com/

Apothekary Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apothekary/

Shizu's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shizu-okusa-87a25415/

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