Omni Talk Retail

This segment of 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 tackle the fun side of retail as we head into NRF 2026. Ryan Reynolds keynotes NRF this January... Chris shares the one question he'd ask about Blake Lively's best film role. Anne reveals her son's elaborate Google Slides pitch for an F1B goldendoodle and her puppy yoga compromise. The hosts preview Calvin Klein's new SoHo flagship as a must-see NRF store tour stop, and pay tribute to the late Rob Reiner with their Mount Rushmore picks: Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Stand By Me, A Few Good Men, and Spinal Tap. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #RyanReynolds #NRF2026 #retailconference #keynote #retailmarketingThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, examines Ashley Furniture's groundbreaking partnership with Perplexity that enables complete transactions—from product recommendations to payment—in one conversation. Chris loves this move, calling it brilliant because Ashley can bypass marketplaces and leverage its brand recognition directly in AI search. Anne agrees but criticizes retailers for announcing features that don't work yet, sharing her frustration trying to actually use the Ashley-Perplexity integration. A must-watch for understanding agentic commerce strategy! ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #AshleyFurniture #PerplexityAI #agenticcommerce #AIshop ping #answerengines #retailstrategy #furniture #ecommerceThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, analyzes Target's new permanent Soho store featuring "The Drop" rotating seasonal styles, a Broadway Beauty Bar, and influencer-curated selections. Anne sees potential if Target can solve the technology and operational challenges needed to scale this concept, especially as Ulta departs Target stores. Chris pushes back hard, calling it "pure PR sizzle" that's designed for Instagram photos rather than operational scalability. The debate gets heated as they discuss whether New York City is the right testing ground. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #Target #TargetSoho #retailinnovation #storeconcept #experientialretail #retailstrategy #omnichannelThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, unpacks November's stunning $12.3 billion in online grocery sales—the second time monthly sales topped $12 billion. Chris is gobsmacked by consumers choosing the more expensive delivery option despite budget constraints, while Anne attributes growth to improved curbside pickup experiences and loyalty incentives. Both hosts agree this signals that agentic AI will explode in grocery first, as UBS predicts, given consumers' growing comfort with repeat ordering and price transparency. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #onlinegrocery #grocerydelivery #ecommerce #curbsidepickup #Walmart #Target #agenticAI #consumertrendsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, examines Consumer Reports' investigation revealing Instacart's AI-powered pricing experiments that resulted in price variations up to 23% between customers. Chris and Anne debate whether algorithmic pricing is acceptable for essential categories like grocery, especially as consumers gain access to AI tools that can instantly compare prices across platforms. Anne sees the business case for convenience-based pricing, while Chris questions the ethics of dynamic pricing on necessities. Plus, the A&M Put You on the Spot Question explores whether pricing algorithms feel different for groceries versus travel. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #Instacart #dynamicpricing #AIpricing #grocery #consumerrights #algorithmicpricing #retailtech #transparencyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores Amazon's reported plans to launch a Rush pickup service enabling one-hour order collection at Amazon-owned stores. According to Business Insider, the service would let shoppers place unified orders from Amazon's marketplace and physical store inventory. Chris argues this is a road to nowhere given Whole Foods' operational constraints and Walmart's superior store network, while Anne sees potential if Amazon can solve the logistics puzzle. Is this Amazon's answer to Walmart's pickup dominance or an operational overreach? ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #Amazon #AmazonRush #WholeFoods #retailpickup #lastmile #Walmart #omnichannel #retailoperationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this 5 Insightful Minutes episode, David Dorf, Head of Retail Industry Solutions at AWS, joins Omni Talk to cut through the AI hype and reveal what's actually coming for retail in 2026.From LLM limitations to agentic commerce reality checks, David breaks down why domain-specific models are replacing frontier model fantasies, how answer engines will reshape search, and why shopping agents will start with your grocery delivery. If you've ever wondered what AI predictions are worth believing, this episode delivers the clarity you need.🔑 Topics covered:Why LLMs hit a plateau and what comes nextDomain-specific models and AWS Nova ForgeThe real state of agentic commerce Answer engines vs. search: advertising, trust, and optimizationShopping agents with Instacart and DoorDash leading the chargeInternal retail AI agents transforming merchandising and supply chainAgentic payments with Visa's B2B breakthrough🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!#retailai #AWS #generativeai #retailtech #omnitalk #agenticcommerce #answerengines #retailinnovation #DavidDorf #retailpodcast #LLM #shoppingagents #retailoperationsMusic by hooksounds.com*Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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’s planned “rush” pickup service for one-hour order collection (Source)Instacart’s AI-enabled pricing experiments that may be inflating grocery bills (Source)November’s record-breaking $12.3 billion in online grocery sales (Source)Target’s new SoHo store concept featuring curated beauty and apparel (Source)Ashley’s partnership with Perplexity and PayPal for agentic commerce (Source)And special guest David Dorf of AWS, one of our favorite recurring guests, dropped by to share his insightful predictions on AI for 2026.There’s all that, plus Ryan Reynolds at NRF, the world’s largest golden retriever gathering, and whether Chris would smuggle Calvin Klein underwear from a store tour.Music by hooksounds.com#RetailNews #AmazonRush #InstacartPricing #OnlineGrocery #AgenticCommerce #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #TargetSoHo #AshleyFurniture #PerplexityAI #RetailInnovationThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Specialty retailers keep asking us: handheld scanners or overhead readers? So we settled it the only way we know how: with a knockdown, dragout debate between two RFID experts.In this Retail Technology Spotlight, Anne Mezzenga moderates as Madalynn Lauria (Team Handheld) and Pareiya Gupta (Team Overhead) from GreyOrange make their cases for the best RFID solution. From proving ROI on a tight budget to cutting inventory counts from hours to minutes, this conversation tackles the real questions retailers are wrestling with as they decide how to track inventory in 2026.The verdict? It's not as simple as picking a side. Whether you're testing RFID for the first time or scaling across hundreds of stores, the right answer depends on your velocity, your budget, and what you're actually trying to solve. But one thing's clear: manual counts and mystery stockrooms aren't going to cut it anymore.Key Topics covered:• How to test RFID with minimal budget and staff• Cutting inventory counts from hours to under 20 minutes• Why some retailers are going hybrid (overhead + handheld)• Real-time shrink visibility and where product actually disappears• Tracking TikTok trends and moving inventory between stores in hours• The smart fitting room problem nobody talks aboutMusic by hooksounds.com*Sponsored Content*#RFID #retailtech #inventorymanagement #omnitalk #retailinnovation #smartretail #retailpodcast #omnichannelretail #retailoperations #supplychainThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group close with bold 2026 predictions sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Chad predicts OpenAI will launch its own payment platform for agent commerce, Chris forecasts Starbucks will abandon seating for mobile-focused ghost cafes, while Anne expects agent-influenced shopping to triple during 2026 holiday season. Which prediction will prove most accurate?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY#retail2026 #retailpredictions #openai #agentcommerce #starbucksstrategy #retailfuture #AIshoppingThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group call out 2025's most ridiculous retail headlines in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Anne demolishes Starbucks' claim that mobile pickup stores lack "warmth and connection," Chad laughs at Liquid Death's viral pit diaper incident, while Chris questions Target's small town expansion as desperate PR. Which headline showed the worst strategic thinking?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY#starbucksfails #liquiddeath #targetstrategy #laughableheadlines #retailfails #retailstrategy #mobilepickupThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group debate 2025's smartest retail partnerships in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Chad highlights Walmart's Rebag luxury resale partnership as perfectly timed for cross-income shopping trends, Chris praises Walmart and Avery Dennison's perishables tracking as the "holy grail" for grocery margins, while Anne champions IKEA's Best Buy kitchen installations as brilliant real estate utilization. Which partnership model works best for expansion?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY#retailpartnerships #walmartrebag #ikeabestbuy #luxuryresale #inventorytracking #retailcollaboration #marketplacestrategyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group recognize 2025's best retail turnarounds in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Both Anne and Chris praise Macy's focus on core stores, private brand investment, and Tony Spring's shoe department service improvements, while Chad celebrates Gap's viral marketing comeback with KATSEYE bringing cultural relevance. Can advertising alone save a struggling brand, or does execution matter more?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY#macysturnaround #gapmarketing #tonyspring #strugglingretailers #brandrevival #retailstrategy #KATSEYEThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group pitch their retail movie ideas in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Chris envisions "Shein: Sac le blue!!!" featuring Paris protests, Chad creates a Black Mirror-style thriller about Neo's terrifying robot servant with human controllers, while Anne wants true crime investigations of mysterious CEO departures at Kohl's and Kroger. Which retail headline belongs on the big screen?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY#retailmovie #shein #neorobot #kohlsCEO #krogerCEO #retaildrama #retailheadlinesThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group call out 2025's most overhyped retail technologies in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Anne criticizes smart carts' misleading deployment numbers and questionable ROI, while both Chad and Chris agree agentic AI commerce is overhyped despite being transformative… pointing to Target's rushed ChatGPT integration as proof retailers are moving too fast without strategy. Can technology be both the future and overhyped simultaneously?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY#overhypedtech #smartcarts #agenticai #targetchatgpt #retailtech #technologyhype #retailstrategyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group crown their CEO of the Year in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Chad surprises with Fidji Simo's bold move from Instacart to OpenAI Applications as a signal of commerce's future direction, while both Chris and Anne recognize Doug McMillon's decade-long transformation of Walmart from legacy retailer to omnichannel powerhouse. Was 2025 about execution or strategic positioning?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY#retailCEO #dougmcmillan #fidjisimo #openai #walmarttransformation #retailleadership #executivemovesThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris, Anne, and Chad reveal their Technology of the Year picks in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Chad champions pricing transparency tools like Grocery Dealz that could disrupt grocery economics, Anne argues electronic shelf labels finally reached mainstream adoption after Walmart's chain-wide rollout, while Chris focuses on operational agentic AI transforming warehouses and inventory management. Which technology truly moved the needle?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY#retailtech #electronicshelflabels #agenticai #pricingtransparency #grocerytech #warehouseautomation #retailinnovationThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Chris, and Anne debate 2025's most significant retail headline sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Chris picks Walmart's ChatGPT integration as a potential Amazon disruptor, Anne highlights Etsy and OpenAI's transactional partnership as commerce's pivotal moment, while Chad argues Doug McMillon's retirement marks the end of retail's post-Amazon era. Which headline will define retail's next decade?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY#headlineoftheyear #dougmcmillan #walmartchatgpt #etsyopenai #retailleadership #agenticcommerce #johnfurnerThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Chris, and Anne debate Retailer of the Year in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Chad champions Aldi's unprecedented 225-store expansion and perfect timing with value-conscious consumers, while Anne argues Walmart's technology leadership and fashion momentum earned them the crown. Chris makes the case for Costco's operational discipline and traffic growth despite stock challenges. Who deserves 2025's top retail honor?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY#retaileroftheyear #aldi #walmart #costco #groceryretail #retailexpansion #privatelabel #valueretailThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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 teamed up with Chad Lusk from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group to hand out our 2025 Omni Awards across the following categories:Retailer of the YearHeadline of the YearRetail Technology of the YearMost Overhyped Retail TechBest Strategic Move from a Struggling RetailerAnd so much more, including 2026 predictionsThere’s all that, plus liquid death pit diapers, the Aldi Aisle of Shame Facebook group, and whether robots watching you do chores is the stuff of nightmares.Music by hooksounds.com#RetailAwards #WalmartChatGPT #AldiGrowth #RetailTech #AgenticAI #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #DougMcMillan #2026Predictions #RetailInnovation #ElectronicShelfLabels #RetailCEOThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy