Mitch Gould’s career in retail distribution began long before he ever set foot in a corporate buyer’s office. Growing up in Brooklyn, Gould learned the fundamentals of manufacturing, sales, and distribution from his father and grandfather, both of whom worked in the consumer products business. That early education paved the way for a career that would eventually include work with some of the largest retailers in the United States, including Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Costco, CVS, Walgreens, GNC, and Amazon.
“Retail was part of my life long before it became my career,” Gould said. “My grandfather had a factory in Brooklyn and a showroom in the Empire State Building. My father Jerry carried that tradition forward in manufacturing and distribution. I grew up learning how products were made, how they were sold, and how relationships opened doors. Those lessons stayed with me throughout my career.”
Gould’s professional path has spanned multiple retail sectors, from home improvement to mass-market, pharmacy, specialty, and e-commerce. He has helped manufacturers and consumer brands pursue distribution opportunities across a wide range of product categories, including hardware, household goods, health, wellness, and sports nutrition. His experience includes work with established brands such as Rubbermaid, Sunbeam, Igloo, and Miracle-Gro.
“I’ve had the opportunity to help brands get their products into some of the biggest retailers in America, from Home Depot and Lowe’s to Walmart, Costco, CVS, and Walgreens,” Gould said. “Every retailer is different. You have to understand what their buyers are looking for, what their customers want, and how to make the product work for that particular store. That’s something you learn through experience, not from a textbook.”
As retail evolved, so did Gould’s career. One of the notable chapters involved Amazon’s developing sports nutrition business. Working with Muscle Foods and Amazon buyers, Gould helped introduce more than 100 sports nutrition brands and products to the online marketplace, contributing to the early development of a category that would become an established part of Amazon’s health and wellness offerings.
“When I started in this business, everything revolved around getting products onto store shelves,” Gould said. “Then Amazon came along and changed the retail landscape. I had the opportunity to help build its sports nutrition category, bringing more than 100 brands and products to the platform. It was a different way of doing business, but the relationships, product knowledge, and distribution experience I’d developed over the years were just as valuable.”
Gould’s journey reflects the broader transformation of American retail, from the dominance of brick-and-mortar chains to the rise of e-commerce platforms that allow brands to reach consumers nationwide. For Gould, a third-generation retail distribution and manufacturing expert with more than 25 years of experience, the common thread has been the business education he received in Brooklyn and the relationships he built throughout his career. His story illustrates how a foundation in traditional manufacturing and distribution can translate into opportunities across generations of American retail.
For more information about Mitch Gould, visit Mitch Gould.
