In this special OmniStars of the Omni Talk Retail Spotlight Series, brought to you in partnership with Quorso, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Best Buy's EVP and Chief Customer Officer Allison Peterson to discuss what her role entails and how she aims to keep Best Buy on the cutting edge of omnichannel retailing.

Together they discuss:

- The premise behind the role of Chief Customer Officer
- Digital vs. physical store innovation
- The role of field and store leaders in helping Best Buy to transform

Music by hooksounds.com

2022 OmniStars Spotlight | Allison Peterson Best Buy EVP & Chief Customer Officer

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Northern Tool + Equipment Chief Marketing Officer Frank Crowson.

Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

Live From NRF 2024 | Northern Tool + Equipment Chief Marketing Officer Frank Crowson

In this exclusive Omni Talk interview from Shoptalk 2023, sponsored by Meta, Kathryn Mazza, the newly-appointed SVP of Red Media at Hy-Vee, shares her insights on the rapidly-evolving world of retail media networks. With an impressive 18-year career at Dick's Sporting Goods, where she launched and scaled their retail media network, Mazza brings a wealth of experience to her new role at Hy-Vee.

Discover how Hy-Vee's Red Media stands out in the competitive landscape, leveraging the company's diverse portfolio across grocery, banking, pharmacy, construction, and distribution to offer unique opportunities for advertisers. Mazza emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with CPG brands and delivering best-in-class customer service and white glove support.

Learn about Red Media's focus on innovation, including their impressive network of 10,000 high-impact digital screens and in-store audio advertising capabilities. Mazza also discusses the significance of establishing industry-wide reporting standards, championed by the IAB, to help advertisers compare performance and optimize their ad spend across various retail media networks.

With Mazza at the helm, Hy-Vee's Red Media is poised to elevate the retail media experience for advertisers, driving growth and setting new standards in the industry.

#KatherineMaza #SVPRedMedia #HyVee #RetailMediaNetwork #HyVeePortfolio #Grocery #Banking #Pharmacy #Construction #Distribution #CPGRelationships #BestInClassCustomerService #WhiteGloveService #Data #Innovation #DigitalScreens #InStoreAdvertising #InStoreAudioAdvertising #IABReportingStandards #OptimizingAdDollars #Shoptalk2023 #DicksSportingGoods #Meta #OmniTalk

Live From Shoptalk | Hy-Vee's SVP Of Red Media Kathryn Mazza On Retail Media Innovation & Service

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, and Scratch Event DJs, Chris and Anne discussed:

- Walmart accelerating its rollout of digital shelf labels to all stores 
- Cantaloupe’s innovations in smart vending for grocery stores 
- Simbe augmenting its Tally Robot with fixed-positioned sensors 
- DoorDash and Ibotta teaming up to offer DoorDash users better pricing 
- And closed by debating whether or not “community spaces,” like the one recently launched by Giant Food, are ever a good idea 

There’s all that, plus Todd Barentine of The Barcode Group stopped by for Five Insightful Minutes on Costco’s 2025 strategy, and we also discussed Waymo, Peter, Paul, and Mary, and which member of the X-Men Anne would most want to go on a date with.

Music by hooksounds.com

#OmniTalkRetail #RetailInnovation #DigitalShelfLabels #SmartVending #RetailPodcast #Costco2025 #GroceryTech #DoorDash #Ibotta #CommunitySpaces

Walmart Expands ESLs To All Stores, DoorDash Teams With Ibotta & Simbe Hits The Spot | Fast Five

Omni Talk sits down with Krystina Gustafson, co-founder of RetailClub and former Shoptalk content chief, to talk about the new AI Deep Dive Retreat launching this September in Huntington Beach. In this candid conversation, Krystina explains how RetailClub is reinventing the retail event experience—ditching the booths and buzzwords in favor of real conversations, collaborative learning, and hands-on AI training.

🔥 What to expect:
– A sneak peek into RetailClub’s first AI-focused retreat
– How the team behind Shoptalk is flipping the traditional conference model
– Who should attend: From AI curious to retail change-makers
– Why now is the moment for building an AI-native retail community
– And how retailers and brands can attend for free and get up to $1,250 in travel reimbursement!

📅 Registration deadline: August 22
🌐 Learn more: https://retailclub.com

Music by hooksounds.com

#RetailClub #aiinretail  #retailinnovation  #omnitalk #RetailRetreat #retailleadership  #generativeai  #RetailEvents

*Sponsored Content*

Inside RetailClub: A Bold New Vision for AI and Retail

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne discussed:

- SpartanNash’s merger with C&S Wholesale Grocers
- Whatnot, the $5 billion shopping app you probably haven’t heard of 
- Walmart equipping its store associates with mobile AI tools 
- H-E-B piloting autonomous deliveries in Austin, TX 
- Amazon testing tighter grocery bundling for same-day deliveries 
- And AWS’s Daniele Stroppa also dropped by to help us hand out a new award we are giving out each month in partnership with AWS, and we are calling it the Retail Startup of the Month

There’s all that, plus french fry pizza, steamy romance novels, and whether Chris prefers bar soap or body wash in the shower.

P.S. Be sure to check out all our other podcasts from the past week here, too: https://omnitalk.blog/category/podcast/

P.P.S. Also be sure to check out our podcast rankings on Apple Podcasts and on Feedspot

Music by hooksounds.com

#RetailNews #WalmartAI #WhatnotApp #RetailTech #GroceryDelivery #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #AmazonGrocery #LivestreamShopping #RetailInnovation #SpartanNash #Botify

Walmart, Whatnot & WTF Is H-E-B Doing With Robots? | Fast Five

In this week's Fast Five Podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, our rapid-fire lightning round covers the week's quirkiest retail stories: Ollipop's 5-cent VIP boxes, Jimmy John's steamy romance novel promotion, Unilever acquiring Dr. Squatch, and Tombstone's wild French fry crust pizza experiment.

Timestamps:
32:19 - Ollipop Amazon partnership
32:53 - Jimmy John romance audiobook
34:54 - Dr Squatch acquisition
35:34 - Tombstone French fry pizza

Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/3lsaTBvBuMs

#RetailNews #FoodInnovation #BrandMarketing #ConsumerTrends #LightningRound

Lightning Round: Romance Novels, Soap Wars & French Fry Pizza

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne discussed:

Walmart testing dark stores
Wegmans piloting Instacart’s smart carts
Target exploring factory-direct shipping models similar to Shein and Temu
Hibbett’s launch of a kid-focused app and website 
Starbucks retooling its hiring process for baristas

And gStore from GreyOrange’s General Manager, Troy Siwek stopped by for 5 Insightful Minutes to give us the lowdown on what technologies he thinks retailers should be evaluating for their next generation of smart stores.

There’s all that, plus alien bodies, AI mode, the Bezos wedding, and Arnold Schwarzenegger movie rankings.

Music by hooksounds.com

#RetailNews #WalmartDarkStores #InstacartSmartCarts #RetailTech #TargetFactoryDirect #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #StarbucksHiring #HibbettKids #RetailInnovation #GroceryTech #RetailStrategy

Target Goes Factory-Direct, Walmart Goes Dark & Starbucks Revamps Its Hiring Process | Fast Five

This segment on the Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Infios, Clear Demand, and Ocampo Capital, covers rapid-fire retail takes.

Quick hits on General Dynamics buying Macy's anchor space (Chris suggests hiding alien bodies), Google's AI mode for fashion try-ons (Anne loves how flattering it is), and Jeff Bezos' celebrity-packed wedding. Plus Anne's controversial Arnold Schwarzenegger movie rankings with Kindergarten Cop at #1!

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/-J5sCVAKsfQ

🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights!

⏩ Topics Covered:

📌 44:30 – Dead Mall Spaces & Government Use
📌 45:37 – Google AI Mode Fashion Experience
📌 47:16 – Celebrity Wedding Guest Lists
📌 48:34 – Arnold Schwarzenegger Movie Rankings

#lightninground #deadmalls #googleAI #celebrityweddings #retailrealestate #AIfashion #arnoldschwarzenegger #retailentertainment

Lightning Round: Mall Makeovers, AI Mode & Our Thoughts On Tom Brady Macking On Sydney Sweeney

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne discussed:

- Walmart’s “Dinner Tonight” platform launch – The retail giant’s one-stop meal solution that lets customers type “Dinner Tonight” or “easy dinner” to access one-click baskets, recipe hubs, and shoppable lists, complete with deli and bakery delivery options. 
- Amazon’s 15-minute grocery delivery partnership with GoPuff in the UK – - The ultra-fast service has expanded from Birmingham and Salford to major cities including London, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Cardiff, Bristol and Sheffield, offering 24/7 grocery delivery through GoPuff’s micro-fulfillment network. 
- Staples pivoting to services for business relevance – The office supply retailer is driving foot traffic through printing, shipping, passport services, and a new Verizon partnership to sell phones and devices in-store, with about 945 locations serving roughly 90% of the U.S. population. (Source)
- Sephora’s “Delivered to Beauty” partnership with Lyft – The beauty retailer offered $20 Lyft credits for rides to select stores in NYC, LA, San Francisco, Chicago, and Seattle during July 7-10, with customers receiving in-store guidance and $10 off purchases over $50. 
- Grocery Dealz app launch as the “Gas Buddy of grocery” – The new Dallas-Fort Worth based app allows shoppers to compare grocery prices across supermarkets and build carts, with plans for statewide Texas expansion and eventual national rollout. 

Plus: This month’s OmniStar award goes to Tracey Brown, EVP and Chief Customer Officer at Walgreens, for becoming a licensed pharmacy tech and working weekend shifts to better understand operations and accelerate change.

There’s all that, plus spicy McMuffins, furniture eulogies, and the new dating trend called “Banksying.”

Music by hooksounds.com

Walmart’s ‘Dinner Tonight’, Sephora & Lyft, Plus A New Grocery App That May Disrupt All | Fast Five

Placer.ai’s Chief Marketing Officer Ethan Chernofsky delivers his highly anticipated retail grades for the first half of 2024! Discover which retailers are crushing it (Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts) and which ones need improvement (Target, Lululemon). This data-driven analysis uses real foot traffic and location analytics to reveal surprising retail trends, from the movie theater comeback to department store resurgences. Essential insights for retail professionals, investors, and anyone interested in consumer behavior and retail performance trends.

0:00 – Introduction: Omni Talk hosts welcome Placer AI’s newly promoted CMO Ethan Chernowski for summer retail grades
1:50 – What is Placer.ai: Location data company tracking tens of millions of devices to analyze retail foot traffic
3:25 – “A’s As Expected”: Top performers including Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, TJX/Marshalls – retailers with clear reason for being
8:30 – “Holding Onto Newfound Momentum”: Chili’s remarkable turnaround through menu simplification and value focus, plus department store recovery (Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s)
17:10 – “Blockbuster Mindset”: Movie theaters showing improvement when big films release, but need year-round merchandising strategy
25:00 – “Shaky But Promising”: Hobby Lobby benefiting from Jo-Ann closures, Home Depot tariff impact, Ulta recovery, and B-class mall resurgence
33:00 – “Needs Improvement”: Lululemon facing saturation challenges, Target’s operational issues beyond DEI controversy, Dave & Busters pricing problems
40:00 – Key takeaway: Success comes from knowing your “reason for being” and focusing on retail fundamentals over flashy technology
Music by hooksounds.com

#retailanalytics #retailtrends #walmart #target #lululemon #consumerbehavior #retailstrategy #omnitalk #locationdata

Sponsored Content

Retail’s Mid-Year Report Card With Ethan Chernofsky Of Placer.ai | Ask An Expert

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, A&M’s Chad Lusk and David Brown joined Chris and Anne to discuss:

Kraft Heinz’s breakup plans – The food giant is preparing to spin off a large chunk of its grocery business into a new $20 billion entity, a decade after the infamous Warren Buffett-orchestrated merger
Return to office mandates – Both Starbucks and Target issued new in-person work requirements, with Starbucks mandating four days (Monday-Thursday) and Target requiring three flexible days per week 
Tariff-driven inflation concerns – Consumer prices rose 2.7% in June as President Trump’s tariffs push up costs on furniture, clothing, and appliances, potentially impacting holiday shopping 
Supermarkets losing younger shoppers – Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X increasingly favor Walmart and Aldi over traditional supermarkets, with 22% of Gen Z shoppers choosing each retailer for their most recent grocery trip 
Shopify sets AI boundaries – The e-commerce platform is blocking agentic AI bots from completing purchases without human review, adding new restrictions to protect merchants from unauthorized automation

And AWS’s Daniele Stroppa also dropped by to help us hand out a new award we are giving out each month in partnership with AWS, and we are calling it the Retail Startup of the Month – this month’s winner is Bria AI, a visual generative AI platform that helps brands create compliant, on-brand content at scale.

There’s all that, plus discussions on AI influencers taking Wimbledon by storm, cranky Nextdoor neighbors, and whether Alex Cooper was rightly booed at Wrigley Field last week.

Music by hooksounds.com

#RetailNews #KraftHeinzBreakup #ReturnToOffice #TariffInflation #SupermarketTrends #ShopifyAI #AgenticAI #BriaAI #RetailTech #OmniTalk #RetailPodcast #AWSTechStartup

Starbucks Returns To Office, Shopify Blocks Bots & Kraft Heinz Seeks Couples Therapy | Fast Five

This week on the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, we rapid-fire through the week's quirkiest retail stories.

Morrison's limits colleague access to stock rooms to prevent "idling," Call Her Daddy's Alex Cooper gets booed at Wrigley Field, Nextdoor replatforms to cut cranky neighbor posts, and an AI influencer with 150K followers fools everyone at Wimbledon. 

🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights!
⏩ Topics Covered:

📌 00:00  – Morrison's Stock Room Crackdown
📌 03:20 – Chad's Panini King Confession
📌 05:10 – Alex Cooper's Wrigley Field Disaster
📌 07:25 – David's Nextdoor Drama (Using Wife's Account!)
📌 10:30 – AI Influencer Tennis Sensation
📌 12:45 – When Will AI Models Hit Retail Stores?
📌 15:20 – Will Ferrell Birthday Celebration

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/sgweq_AtMms

#lightninground #morrisons #alexcooper #nextdoor #aiinfluencer #retailstories #workplaceproductivity #omnitalk

Lightning Round: Alex Cooper Drama, AI Influencers & Cranky Neighbors | Fast Five Shorts

This week on the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, we examine Shopify's proactive stance on AI agent regulation.

Shopify is drawing boundaries around agentic AI with new language in merchant websites' robots.txt files, stating "scraping, buy from me agents, or any end-to-end flow that completes payment without a final review step is not permitted." The move shows Shopify thinking ahead to protect its ecosystem while directing legitimate integrators to use official APIs.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights!

⏩ Topics Covered:
📌 00:00 – Headline Details
📌 01:50 – Understanding Shopify's robots.txt Changes
📌 04:25 – David Brown: Why This Is Great News
📌 07:40 – The Bot Problem in Concert Tickets & Restaurants
📌 10:15 – Boardroom Attention to Agentic AI
📌 13:30 – Chad Lusk on AI Risk Management
📌 16:45 – The Talent War for AI Skills
📌 19:20 – Chris Walton: Lobbying for Bot Regulation
📌 22:10 – Marketplace 2.0 Predictions

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/sgweq_AtMms

#shopify #agenticai #aiagents #botregulation #ecommerce #retailautomation #aiethics #retailtech #omnitalk

The Implications Of Shopify's Bold Move to Block AI Shopping Bots | Fast Five Shorts

Returns are no longer just a cost center - they're a $1 trillion opportunity waiting to be unlocked. In this episode of Omni Talk's Ask An Expert series, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with David Morin, VP of Customer Strategy at Narvar, to reveal how leading retailers are transforming their returns operations from a liability into a competitive advantage.

David shares exclusive data showing over 55% of retailers now charge for returns "at some point in time" - but it's not what you think. Learn how brands are using personalized return policies, leveraging customer data for fraud detection, and creating frictionless experiences that actually increase customer loyalty.

Key topics covered:

- Why charging for returns doesn't hurt conversion (when done right)
- How retailers save 50%+ on shipping costs through smart consolidation
- The shocking reality of returns fraud (52% of consumers admit to it)
- Real-world examples from Urban Outfitters, Sephora, and other major brands
- AI-powered tools that identify high-risk vs. high-value customers
- The chandelier story that perfectly explains returns psychology

Whether you're an e-commerce leader, operations manager, or retail executive, this conversation provides actionable strategies to reduce costs while improving customer experience.

Music by hooksounds.com

#RetailReturns #ecommerce #RetailOperations #CustomerExperience #RetailTech

*Sponsored Content*

How Smart Retailers Are Tackling The $1 Trillion Returns Problem | Ask An Expert

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand:

Walmart’s plan to sell Vizio TVs exclusively as a private brand 
Tesla’s Supercharger Diner officially opening in Los Angeles 
Mall of America expanding car-counting video analytics across its campus
Tesco launching early delivery slots for families during the summer 
Target ending its price matching policy starting July 28

And A&M’s Chris Creyts and Brandon Pezely also dropped by to help us hand out insights on how grocers should be thinking about space allocation for their future success and store development plans in this week’s 5 Insightful Minutes segment.

There’s all that, plus Southwest Airlines new seating policy, Midwestern In-N-Out dreams, and a tribute to the dearly departed Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

P.S. Also be sure to check out our podcast rankings on Feedspot

Music by hooksounds.com

#RetailNews #WalmartVizio #TeslaDiner #RetailTech #TargetPricing #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #MallofAmerica #TescoDelivery #RetailInnovation #PrivateLabel #ConnectedTV

Walmart Takes Vizio Private Label & Target Gives People A Big Reason To Go To Costco | Fast Five

This week on the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Clear Demand, Chris and Anne tackle rapid-fire retail topics in their signature Lightning Round.

From influencer marketing apps to airline policy changes and restaurant relocations, get quick takes on the week's most interesting retail and consumer stories that are shaping industry trends.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights!

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/A11X6MXWL9U 

#retailnews #lightninground #consumertreads #brandstrategy #retailinsights

Lightning Round: Neon Coat, Southwest Airlines & A Salute To Theo Huxtable | Fast Five Shorts

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne discussed:

Walmart’s overhaul of its AI agent strategy, consolidating dozens of agents into four “super agents” for different user groups 
Vogue magazine’s AI model backlash after featuring an AI-generated model in a Guess advertisement 
Bed Bath & Beyond’s brick-and-mortar return on August 8th in Nashville, complete with legacy coupon acceptance 
Ty Haney’s comeback at Outdoor Voices with a “confident, bold and sexy” relaunch strategy 
Macy’s partnership with Abercrombie Kids for back-to-school merchandising 

There’s all that, plus Buffalo wings, which Halloween candy they would most like to see in stores year-round, and who leveled up more – Katy Perry or Justin Trudeau?

Music by hooksounds.com

#RetailNews #WalmartAI #VogueAI #BedBathBeyond #OutdoorVoices #AbercrombieMacys #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #RetailTech #AIAgents #RetailInnovation

Walmart’s Super Agents, Vogue’s AI Models & Bed Bath’s Rebirth (Discounted, Of Course) | Fast Five

She's back! In this segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Infios, Clear Demand, and Ocampo Capital, Chris and Anne dive into Ty Haney's dramatic return to Outdoor Voices with a "confident, bold, and sexy" rebrand.

From wiping Instagram clean to positioning the brand as the "uniform for doing things," is this founder comeback genuine innovation or just marketing spectacle? Plus, learn when it's the right time to bring back a founder and when it's time to move on.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights!
For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/pB45J7EFcCI 

#TyHaney #OutdoorVoices #FounderComeback #Activewear #DTC #BrandRevival #Athleisure

Ty Haney's Bold Outdoor Voices Revival | Fast Five Shorts

Strategic partnerships are reshaping retail! In this segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Infios, Clear Demand, and Ocampo Capital, Chris and Anne explore Macy's new partnership with Abercrombie Kids for back-to-school season.

With 3x the distribution for Abercrombie and a traffic driver for Macy's, this partnership could signal a new trend of department stores becoming "mini malls." Discover why both hosts love this strategic move and what it could mean for the future of retail.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights!
For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/pB45J7EFcCI 

#Macys #AbercrombieKids #BackToSchool #RetailPartnership #DepartmentStore #RetailStrategy

Macy's Strategic Abercrombie Partnership | Fast Five Shorts

The home goods giant is back! In this segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Infios, Clear Demand, and Ocampo Capital, Chris and Anne analyze Bed Bath & Beyond's return to Brick x Mortar retail, complete with their iconic coupons.

But is nostalgia enough to succeed in today's crowded home furnishing market? Hear why Chris is "selling hard" on this comeback and Anne's take on whether there's still room for middle-tier home goods retailers.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights!
For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/pB45J7EFcCI 

#BedBathBeyond #RetailComeback #HomeGoods #RetailNostalgia #BrickAndMortar #RetailStrategy

Bed Bath & Beyond's Nostalgic Comeback | Fast Five Shorts

The fun finale! In this Lightning Round from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Infios, Clear Demand, and Ocampo Capital, Chris and Anne rapid-fire through the week's quirkiest stories.

From Aldi's "Summerween" products and chicken wing preferences to party attendance data and celebrity gossip, discover the lighter side of retail trends and consumer behavior. Plus, find out which host prefers drumsticks vs. flats and who they think "leveled up" in the Katy Perry-Justin Trudeau dinner drama!

🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights!
For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/pB45J7EFcCI 

#Summerween #ChickenWings #PartyTrends #CelebrityGossip #RetailTrends #LightningRound

Lightning Round: Halloween in July, Wing Day, & Katy Perry’s Canadian Rebound | Fast Five Shorts

Walmart is revolutionizing retail AI with their new "super agent" strategy! In this segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Infios, Clear Demand, and Ocampo Capital, Chris and Anne dive deep into how Walmart is consolidating dozens of AI agents into four specialized "super agents" for customers, employees, engineers, and suppliers.

Discover why this consolidation strategy could be the future of retail AI and how Walmart's CEO-level commitment sets them apart from competitors. Plus, hear Chris's take on whether four agents is too many or just the right stepping stone to the ultimate single super agent.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights!
For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/pB45J7EFcCI 

#WalmartAI #SuperAgents #RetailTech #AIinRetail #CustomerService #RetailInnovation

Walmart's AI Super Agent Revolution | Fast Five Shorts

Fashion meets artificial intelligence in the most controversial way possible! This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Infios, Clear Demand, and Ocampo Capital, explores the backlash Vogue faced for featuring AI-generated models in a Guess advertisement.

Chris and Anne debate whether critics need to "take a chill pill" or if high fashion magazines should draw the line at artificial beauty. Discover the complex ethics of AI in fashion and what it means for brand authenticity in the digital age.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights!
For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/pB45J7EFcCI 

#VogueAI #FashionAI #AIModels #FashionControversy #DigitalModels #RetailEthics

Vogue’s AI Model Sparks Backlash | Fast Five Shorts

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, Chris and Anne discussed:

Amazon adding perishable foods to its same-day delivery offering across 1,000+ U.S. cities (Source)
Starbucks abandoning its mobile order, pickup-only store format due to lack of “warmth and human connection” (Source)
Warby Parker ending its home try-on program as most users live within 30 minutes of a store (Source)
IKEA opening mini-showrooms inside select Best Buy locations in Florida and Texas (Source)
The conclusion of Target and Ulta Beauty’s shop-in-shop partnership in August 2026 (Source)
Chris and Anne also handed out our monthly OmniStar award to Scott Casciato, VP of Global Logistics and Omnichannel Fulfillment at Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Ben Miller from Shoptalk dropped by for 5 Insightful Minutes on what to expect at this year’s Shoptalk Fall and Groceryshop conferences.

There’s all that, plus NFL Crocs, Harry Potter doughnuts, pawn shop back-to-school shopping, and whether Chris will ever upgrade from his OOFOS slides.

P.S. Get your discounted admission now with Omni Talk! 

Retailers and brands save 20% with codes:

- For Shoptalk Fall, use code RBOMNIT20 (Link: https://stfall25-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=cmJvbW5pdDIw)
- For Groceryshop, use code RBOMNIT510 (Link: https://gs25-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=cmJvbW5pdDUxMA==)

Or save 20% off General Admission with codes:

- For Shoptalk Fall, use code GAOMNIT20 (Link: https://stfall25-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=Z2FvbW5pdDIw)
- For Groceryshop, use code GAOMNIT799 (Link: https://gs25-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=Z2FvbW5pdDc5OQ==)

Music by hooksounds.com

#RetailNews #AmazonFresh #StarbucksStrategy #WarbyParker #IkeaBestBuy #TargetUlta #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #SameDayDelivery #RetailInnovation #ShopInShop #RetailPartnerships

Amazon’s Same-Day Push, Warby & Why Ulta Won’t Be Target’s Last Shop-In-Shop Regret | Fast Five

Target and Ulta Beauty are ending their successful shop-in-shop partnership in August 2026, shocking the retail world. Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.

Chris delivers harsh criticism of Target's strategy while Anne worries about the retailer's future without one of its biggest traffic drivers. A must-watch analysis of retail's biggest breakup.

For the full episode head here: youtu.be/wKzV_5mqg64

Topics: Target Ulta partnership, retail strategy, beauty category, shop-in-shop concepts

#Target #Ulta #beauty #retail #partnership #strategy

Target & Ulta Beauty Partnership ENDS in 2026 - Retail's Biggest Breakup | Fast Five Shorts

Chris and Anne tackle the week's quirkiest retail stories in rapid-fire format! Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.

From NFL-themed Crocs to Harry Potter donuts and pawn shops becoming back-to-school destinations, discover the unexpected retail trends shaping consumer behavior.

For the full episode head here: youtu.be/wKzV_5mqg64

Topics: NFL merchandise, specialty donuts, alternative shopping, fair food trends

#retail #trends #NFL #Crocs #HarryPotter #KrispyKreme #backtoschool

Lightning Round: Crocs Go Pro, Harry Potter Donuts & Back-to-School Pawn Shopping | Fast Five Shorts

In this episode, Karl Bracken, CEO and founder of Ocampo Capital, joins Omni Talk to share his journey to become a venture capitalist and reveals what it really takes to close an investment round in today's challenging market.

From his 16-year career at Target to founding his own VC fund, Karl breaks down the brutal realities of fundraising, why consumer brands are struggling to get funding, and how AI is creating a bubble while crowding out other investments. He also shares exclusive details about his portfolio companies that he believes are ones to watch in health, wellness, and sustainability.

🔑 Topics covered:

The 15-month journey to close his first VC fund
Why consumer venture funding is down 90% from three years ago
How his small fund still represents an astounding 6% of all US consumer VC dollars raised by first-time investors (this statistics shows just how tough the market is right now)
Portfolio spotlights: ZBiotics (hangover-curing probiotics), Small Wonder (powder shampoo), and Shameless Pets (upcycled pet treats)
Karl;s Investment thesis focused on decade-long trends vs. short-term fads
Why leadership teams matter more than business models

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#ventureCapital #retailinvesting #consumerbrand #entrepreneurship #omnitalk #startupfunding #retailtech #vcpodcast #investmentstrategies #retailinnovation

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The Brutal Truth About Raising Your First Investment Fund With VC Karl Bracken Of Ocampo Capital

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, Shoptalk’s Ben Miller joined Chris and Anne to discuss:

Target’s CEO Succession – Michael Fiddelke named as next CEO, sparking debate about internal vs. external leadership choices (Source)
Hertz Car Sales on Amazon Autos – Fleet dealer partnership expands used car marketplace with thousands of pre-owned vehicles in major markets (Source)
Best Buy’s Third-Party Marketplace Launch – 500 vetted sellers bring tech accessories and seasonal items to expand product selection (Source)
Walmart Canada BNPL with Klarna – Buy now, pay later comes to 400+ Canadian stores for purchases over $50 CAD (Source)
Fabletics RFID Rollout – Gray Orange’s G Store solution achieves 95-97% fill rates and 20% sales boost across 100+ locations (Source: Retail Touchpoints)
And AWS’s Daniele Stroppa also dropped by to help us hand hand August’s award for Retail Startup of the Month to Vody for its AI-optimized e-commerce data solutions.

There’s all that, plus Ben Miller’s Oasis concert review, Arsenal’s 15-year-old phenom Max Dohman, and whether coffee should always be “small and purposeful.”

P.S. Be sure to check out all our other podcasts from the past week here, too: https://omnitalk.blog/category/podcast/

P.P.S. Also be sure to check out our podcast rankings on Feedspot

P.P.P.S. Get your discounted admission now with Omni Talk!

Retailers and brands save 20% with codes:

For Shoptalk Fall, use code RBOMNIT20 (Link: https://stfall25-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=cmJvbW5pdDIw)

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Or save 20% off General Admission with codes:

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Amazon Autos, Best Buy’s Marketplace & The Potential Target Fiddelke Faux Pas | Fast Five

The lightning round covers fashion films, Ariana Grande's talent level, and AI-generated movies, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.

From Chris's surprising Zoolander pick over Devil Wears Prada to Anne's rating of Ariana Grande as a perfect 10, plus discussion of OpenAI's $30 million AI movie "Critters" and the upcoming Spinal Tap sequel. Quick-hit entertainment takes that connect back to retail and culture.

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For the full #fastfive episode head here: https://youtu.be/1E4Lsj0iSMc 

#retailnews #retailtech #arianagrande #zoolander #retailmedia #ecommerce #retailinnovation #omnichannel #customerexperience #retailtrends #aiinretail

Lightning Round: AI Movies, Ariana Grande’s Star Power & NY Fashion Week | Fast Five Shorts

Go behind the scenes at Walmart’s New York Fashion Week pop-up with Denise Incandela, EVP of Fashion at Walmart, and designer Brandon Maxwell, Creative Director for Scoop and Free Assembly, and the designer behind his own celebrated luxury brand.			

Discover how Walmart is democratizing fashion through elevated private brands, exclusive collaborations, and experiential retail moments in the heart of NYC.							

From 100% inventory growth this season to Free Assembly rolling out in every Walmart store nationwide and Scoop expanding to half the fleet, Walmart’s fashion transformation is reaching millions more customers than ever before - all at price points 3–4x lower than comparable brands.

Key highlights include: the story behind Brandon Maxwell’s limited-edition $98 blazer, Walmart’s strategy to double store exposure for Scoop and Free Assembly, and how fashion at Walmart is redefining perceptions… making style accessible to all.		
			
Recorded live in the Meatpacking District during NYFW SS25.		
	
#WalmartFashion #WalmartStyle #NYFW2025 #BrandonMaxwell #ScoopStyle #FreeAssembly #AccessibleLuxury #StyleForAll #DemocratizingFashion #RetailInnovation #FutureOfRetail #AmericanFashion

Fashion for All: Brandon Maxwell & Walmart’s Denise Incandela On Why Walmart Belongs At NYFW

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, Chris and Anne discussed:

Kroger’s evaluation of its automated e-commerce fulfillment network (Source)
Walgreens dedicating in-store space to party supplies and expanding assortment (Source)
Starbucks deploying computer vision technology to track in-store inventory (Source)
Pacsun announcing the formation of an industry-first youth advisory council (Source)
Nearly half of AI search users preferring AI tools over Google (Source)
There’s all that, plus croissants versus pain au chocolat, escargot versus languostines, and whether the Paris Metro beats the London Tube.

#RetailNews #KrogerAutomation #WalgreensPartySupplies #StarbucksAI #PacsunYouth #AISearch #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #RetailTech #ComputerVision #AutomatedFulfillment

Kroger’s Automation Reset, Starbucks & Why There Ain’t No Party Like A Walgreens Party | Fast Five

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, dives into Kroger's strategic review of its automated fulfillment network. Chris and Anne discuss why interim CEO Ron Sargent is conducting a site-by-site analysis of Ocado-powered facilities and what this means for the future of grocery automation in America.

06:18 – Kroger's automated fulfillment challenges 
07:48 – Urban density vs. rural viability analysis 
08:54 – Implications for Amazon's grocery strategy

For the full #fastfive episode head here: https://youtu.be/xSLvyg5Sze4

#kroger #groceryautomation #ocado #ecommerce #retailfulfillment


Kroger's Automation Reckoning | Fast Five Shorts

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores survey data showing nearly half of AI search users prefer these tools over Google. Chris and Anne discuss implications for retail discovery and the coming agentic AI revolution.

25:56 – 45% prefer AI tools over Google for clarity and speed 
27:11 – Agentic AI's potential amplification effect 
28:19 – Holiday shopping behavior predictions

For the full #fastfive episode head here: https://youtu.be/xSLvyg5Sze4

#aisearch #google #chatgpt #ecommerce #consumertrends


The AI Search Revolution | Fast Five Shorts

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, examines Starbucks' deployment of computer vision technology to track inventory and improve order fulfillment. Chris and Anne discuss how this addresses the chain's persistent speed and stock-out challenges.

15:28 – Computer vision deployment across North America 
17:17 – The four-minute order fulfillment challenge 
18:07 – Reliability as Starbucks' core value proposition

For the full #fastfive episode head here: https://youtu.be/xSLvyg5Sze4

#starbucks #computervision #AI #inventory #efficiency


Starbucks' Vision for Efficiency | Fast Five Shorts

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores Walgreens' strategic move into party supplies following Party City's closure. Chris and Anne analyze the $2 billion market opportunity and why former Party City executive Tracey Koller's merchandising expertise makes this expansion particularly smart.

10:22 – The $2 billion party supply opportunity 
11:17 – Emergency shopping use cases and convenience factor 
13:01 – Tracy Kolder's merchandising background advantage

For the full #fastfive episode head here: https://youtu.be/xSLvyg5Sze4

#walgreens #partysupplies #partycity #convenience #retail


Walgreens' Party Supply Power Play | Fast Five Shorts

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, analyzes PacSun's groundbreaking Youth Advisory Council featuring top influencers. Chris and Anne debate whether this represents genuine youth engagement or clever marketing, and what it means for retail's future.

20:16 – Industry-first youth advisory structure 
22:13 – Influencer-as-advisor model advantages 
24:20 – CEO Brieane Olson's culture-building success

For the full #fastfive episode head here: https://youtu.be/xSLvyg5Sze4

#pacsun #youthmarketing #influencers #genz #retail


PacSun's Youth Advisory Council | Fast Five Shorts

The lightning round from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, features Chris and Anne's French-themed rapid-fire preferences while broadcasting live from Paris. From pastry choices to historical emperors, it's a fun cultural exploration.

29:21 – Croissant vs pain au chocolat debate 
30:02 – Langoustines vs escargot preferences
30:49 – Paris Metro vs London Tube comparison 
31:22 – Napoleon vs Genghis Khan emperor choice

For the full #fastfive episode head here: https://youtu.be/xSLvyg5Sze4

#paris #nrfeurope #french #culture #travel


Lightning Round: French Pastries, Emperor Face-Offs & Metro Showdowns | Fast Five Shorts

In this week's Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern discuss more feel good stories in one week than they can ever remember.

They talk Mall of America dedicating retail space to local Minneapolis businesses disrupted by the pandemic and the social unrest following the killing of George Floyd, the first-ever Jeff Bezos Academy preschool for students from low income families, Walmart's Plus Up marketing campaign, GOAT's latest $100 million Series E funding round, and the mall operator Centennial's brilliant move to create an online marketplace for all its tenants this upcoming October.

It is an episode guaranteed to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy and maybe even a little nostalgic for 80's movies featuring animatronic ducks.

To learn more about FastSensor, visit: https://www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo

To learn more about Takeoff, visit: https://www.takeoff.com/

Fast Five | Warm Fuzzies From Jeff Bezos & Howard The Duck

Omni Talk Retail provides news, analysis, and commentary on the latest trends and issues in the retail industry. It covers a wide range of topics related to retail, including e-commerce, technology, marketing, and consumer behavior. The podcast regularly features industry experts, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, as well as retail thought leaders who all share their insights and perspectives on the latest developments in retail.

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