Omni Talk Retail

Advent calendars are the hot holiday trend...from Skims to fishing lures to ice cream. Chris reveals his dream: 28 days of Nikes. Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.In this Lightning Round:• Are slop bowls officially dead as sandwiches stage a comeback?• The White House drops 120 pounds of gingerbread• And how Mariah Carey turned one song into $60MFor the full episode head here     #adventcalendar #nike #holidaytrends #specialtyretailThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Amazon is testing "Amazon Now," a new 30-minute delivery service in Seattle and Philadelphia, repurposing former Amazon Fresh sites into rapid delivery hubs. But is this innovation or desperation? This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, analyzes Amazon's grocery struggles.Chris reveals the shocking stat: Despite owning Whole Foods and having Amazon's infrastructure, Amazon's grocery share is still only 4%. He sees this as a defensive move more than offensive strategy. Anne questions the economics. Prime members pay $3.99 per delivery, but after two orders you could subscribe to DoorDash and get access to better quality groceries from trusted regional stores.For the full episode head here     #amazon #amazonnow #grocerydelivery #rapiddelivery #amazonfresh #retailstrategy #lastmile #quickcommerceThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

McKinsey and Business of Fashion report predicts smart glasses are set for a breakthrough year in 2026, with Ray-Ban Meta glasses already the top-selling product in 60% of EMEA stores. But Chris and Anne aren't buying it. This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, questions the hype around smart eyewear.Anne argues that smart glasses are too visible and fashion-forward for mass adoption—unlike discrete smartwatches and rings. Chris, who owns Meta's Ray-Bans, admits they mostly collect dust and warns fashion retailers to stay away from tech partnerships that could leave them holding markdown bags.For the full episode head here     #smartglasses #raybanmeta #wearabletech #fashiontech #retailtech #metaclasses #techtrends #retailinnovationThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Walmart is quietly testing a new ad format called "sponsored prompts" inside its Sparky AI shopping engine and both Chris and Anne agree this is exactly the right move. This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, breaks down why retailer-owned AI is the smart play.According to Wall Street Journal reporting, Walmart's new ad format integrates sponsored content directly into Sparky conversations with click-to-buy options. Anne loves it because it captures consumers at the perfect moment with relevant offers. Chris sees it as proof that retailers should focus on their own AI experiences rather than chasing ChatGPT integration—especially since Walmart's ad business is already growing at nearly 100% per year.For the full episode head here     #walmart #retailmedia #aishopping #sparky #retailstrategy #advertising #ecommerce #retailtechThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

ChatGPT just launched shopping research that does the product hunting for you, but should retailers be worried or relieved? This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores the real implications of AI-powered shopping tools.Anne is bullish, arguing that AI shopping tools provide unprecedented price transparency and will change how consumers shop for everything from snacks to electronics. Chris pushes back hard: only 30% of searches are actually research-intensive, and Amazon already dominates product search without needing ChatGPT. The debate gets heated as they question whether these platforms are truly game-changing or just incremental improvements to search.For the full episode head here     #chatgpt #aishopping #openai #productresearch #retailtech #generativeai #ecommerce #shoppingtrendsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Black Friday 2025 just hit $11.8 billion in online sales... up 9.1% from last year. But Chris questions whether AI's 805% traffic surge is actually impressive or concerningly slow compared to other tech adoption curves. This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, dives deep into what the numbers really mean.Anne argues that 25% of purchases involving AI agents shows tremendous growth potential, especially since we can't even transact in these platforms yet. Chris counters by comparing AI adoption to buy-now-pay-later's 970% growth over three years, suggesting retailers should slow their roll on AI investments. Plus: Why are club stores crushing Black Friday traffic? And why is mobile still only 55% of purchases?For the full episode head here     #blackfriday #retailanalytics #aishopping #ecommerce #retaildata #holidayshopping #mobilecommerce #retailtrendsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this Fast Five episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga break down the biggest retail stories from Black Friday 2025, including record-breaking online sales, AI's growing influence on shopping, and what it all means for the future of retail.From ChatGPT's new shopping research tool to Walmart's bold move to monetize Sparky with ads, Chris and Anne debate where retailers should focus their AI investments. Plus, they tackle smart glasses' potential breakthrough year, Amazon's 30-minute delivery test, and whether the industry is moving too fast on agentic commerce.🔑 Topics covered:Black Friday's $11.8 billion in online sales and what the numbers really mean (Source)ChatGPT introducing shopping research (Source)Walmart's smart play bringing ads to Sparky (Source)The reality check on smart glasses adoption (Source)Amazon's expensive 30-minute delivery experiment (Source)🎧 Don't forget to like, leave a review, and subscribe for more weekly retail insights!Music by hooksounds.com#blackfriday #retailai #agenticcommerce #chatgpt #walmart #retailtech #omnitalk #smartretail #ecommerce #retailpodcastThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This Lightning Round segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, gets personal with the Omni Talk crew's Thanksgiving and Black Friday plans!Anne and producer Ella gang up on Chris's love of jarred gravy (spoiler: they're both anti-gravy). The team shares their Black Friday shopping strategies from Banana Republic to luxury consignment pop-ups. Plus, Anne weighs in on Bianca Censori's Kanye-funded fashion brand launch… is it ironic that someone famous for barely wearing clothes is launching a clothing line? Tune in for the fun, unfiltered takes!#thanksgiving #blackfriday #holidayshopping #shopssmallsaturday #retailpodcast #biancacensori #kanyewest #fashion #lightninground #thanksgivingfoodThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, examines Bath & Body Works' decision to launch on Amazon early next year.With $60-80M in unauthorized gray market sales already happening, the company will test a curated assortment to control its brand and capture revenue. Anne argues LLM search makes marketplace presence essential for discovery and conversion. Chris believes Bath & Body Works should wait, perfect their own site experience first, and avoid feeding Amazon's dominance. Who has the better long-term strategy?#bathandbodyworks #amazon #marketplace #graymarket #ecommerce #brandstrategy #retailstrategy #thirdpartysellers #beautyretail #amazonmarketplaceThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, celebrates Gap's 7% comparable sales surge after its viral "Better in Denim" campaign featuring KATSEYE.Anne praises Richard Dickson's entertainment-first approach for making Gap culturally relevant again with Gen Z and millennials. Chris remains cautiously optimistic, questioning whether flashy marketing alone can drive repeat purchases if the product quality doesn't deliver. #gap #richarddickson #katseye #gapdenim #retailmarketing #fashion #genz #viralmarketing #gapcomeback #retailsalesThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, analyzes Kroger's decision to shut down three automated fulfillment centers with a staggering $2.6 billion write-off.The grocer is pivoting to in-store fulfillment and third-party delivery partnerships to improve digital profitability by $400M in 2026. Chris questions the scale of the initial investment error, while Anne explores how evolving customer demand for fresh products may impact automation ROI. Is this the end of the CFC era, or just a course correction? #kroger #automation #CFC #grocerytech #ecommerce #retailautomation #Ocado #supplychain #digitalcommerce #grocerydeliveryThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores Target's bold move to enable shopping through ChatGPT just days before Black Friday.Anne sees it as a necessary first step into LLM-powered commerce and applauds Target for testing publicly. Chris calls it a "big nothing burger"... questioning why Target launched an incomplete beta feature during their busiest week, especially when their own site search isn't optimized yet. Who's right? #target #chatgpt #aicommerce #llmsearch #conversationalcommerce #retailtech #targetapp #innovation #retailAI #voiceshoppingThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, dives into Target's disastrous Q3 earnings.While Walmart, TJX, Ross, and Best Buy raised their outlooks, Target's four-year sales stack turned negative—meaning zero growth since 2021. Chris argues Target is the "real turkey" of earnings season, while Anne questions what anyone expected during a CEO transition and 1,800-person layoff. Is this rock bottom or just the beginning of a longer turnaround? Tune in for the heated debate!#target #retailearnings #walmart #targetvswalmart #discountretail #retailnews #earnings #retailanalysisThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

For this month's Retail Tech Startup of the Month, AWS's Daniele Stroppa returns to spotlight SymphonyAI, a groundbreaking computer vision solution that's improving how retailers tackle the costly out-of-stock problem.SymphonyAI leverages existing in-store cameras to deliver something retailers have been missing: actionable, prioritized worklists that tell associates exactly what to fix first to maximize sales impact. No more drowning in dashboards, just clear direction that drives results. Daniele breaks down how retailers are achieving 25% increases in labor productivity and 5-7% improvements in on-shelf availability, proving this isn't just another tech demo, it's a boon for physical retail operations.🔑 Topics covered:How SymphonyAI turns existing cameras into intelligent inventory systemsThe critical difference between insights and actionable intelligenceWhy prioritization matters more than detectionReal results: 20% lower infrastructure costs, 25% productivity gainsThe shift from reactive to predictive AI-driven store operations🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!#computervision #retailtech #symphonyai #aws #retailinnovation #smartstores #inventorymanagement #omnitalk #retailpodcast #retailaiSponsored ContentThis 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:A roundup of the latest retail earnings announcementsTarget enabling mobile app shopping within ChatGPT (Source)Kroger closing some of its automated fulfillment centers (Source)Gap's recent sales surge after viral 'Milkshake' denim ad with Katseye (Source)Bath & Body Works planning to launch on Amazon early next year (Source)And AWS's Daniele Stroppa dropped by to help us hand out November's Retail Tech Startup of the Month AwardThere's all that, plus Thanksgiving shelf-stable food rankings, Black Friday shopping plans, and whether Chris is going turkey trotting or sofa surfing this holiday.Music by hooksounds.com#retailearnings #target #chatgpt #kroger #gap #bathandbodyworks #omnitalk #retailtech #retailinnovation #ecommerce #retailpodcastThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this inaugural episode of Confessions of a Supply Chain Executive, host Chris Walton teams up with Richard Stewart (EVP of Product & Industry Strategy) and Eugene Amigud (Chief Innovation Officer) from Infios to conduct a forensic deep dive into retail's most persistent challenge: out-of-stocks.Despite billions spent on technology, the average retailer still faces an 8-10% out-of-stock rate. But here's the truth most won't admit: the problem isn't getting better. It's just getting different. This episode walks through every breakdown point in the supply chain, from forecasting failures to the infamous backroom problem, and delivers a practical framework to diagnose what's really happening inside your operations.🔑 Topics covered:- Why out-of-stocks are a connectivity problem, not just an inventory problem- The difference between warehouse accuracy (98%+) and store accuracy (97-99%)- How machine learning is transforming demand forecasting- The phantom inventory problem and what causes it- Why you need a centralized decisioning "brain" across OMS, WMS, and TMS- The role of AI in solving out-of-stock situations- Why perfection isn't the goal . . . resilience is- How to start small with purposeful innovation🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more brutally honest retail supply chain insights!Music by hooksounds.com#outofstock #retailsupplychain #retailtech #omnitalk #inventorymanagement #supplychain #retailinnovation #Infios #retailpodcast #supplychainexecution*Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

The lightning round brings holiday cheer and nostalgia to close this episode! Sponsored A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Chris reveals he'll use "Santa GPT" (ChatGPT for holiday shopping) to find gifts for his mom, though she already told him she wants a Brita water pitcher. Anne shares her family's Black Friday strategy: setting alarms for discounted ski passes rather than shopping for traditional items.Celebrating Dick Van Dyke's upcoming 100th birthday, Anne reminisces about his role as the chimney sweep in Mary Poppins. The conversation turns to hot chocolate preferences... Chris keeps it basic with mini marshmallows and a "Swiss Miss" approach, while Anne declares that quality marshmallows make or break the experience.For the full episode head here#SantaGPT #ChatGPT #holidayshopping #DickVanDyke #hotchocolate #Sizzler #restaurantrevival #nostalgia #retailfun #holidaytraditionsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Target and Starbucks have partnered to create an exclusive frozen peppermint hot chocolate available only at Starbucks cafes inside Target stores nationwide. This episode, Sponsored A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores why this seemingly small move could signal Target's merchandising mojo is returning.Chris loves this idea, calling it "smart merchandising that leverages a true differentiation point." Target Circle 360 members get 24-hour early access. While the impact may be small potatoes compared to Target's larger challenges, it's exactly the kind of creative thinking Target used to do well.Anne highlights an additional experience: select Target stores are featuring weekend hot cocoa bars where kids can customize drinks creating memories and driving foot traffic. Both hosts wonder if this could become Target's next "pumpkin spice latte" moment. Producer Ella agrees this is brilliant... adding a Starbucks drink to her hand means even longer browsing time in Target.For the full episode head here#Target #Starbucks #retailcollaboration #exclusivedrink #Targetstores #holidayshopping #retailmerchandising #Targetcircle360 #coffeeshopretail #retailstrategyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Google is rolling out major AI shopping features including conversational search, agentic checkout, and an AI that calls stores for you. This episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, sparks a fascinating debate about the future of shopping search.Anne argues Google's comprehensive data ecosystem... from Gmail to Maps to Calendar, gives it an edge over ChatGPT and Perplexity. She believes Google could leapfrog competitors by leveraging existing consumer relationships. Chris pushes back, citing Google Shopping's historical struggles and questioning whether Google's legacy interface might actually hinder innovation.For the full episode head here#GoogleAI #AIshopping #conversationalsearch #agenticAI #ChatGPT #Gemini #retailtech #ecommerce #shoppinginnovation #AIretail #GoogleSearchThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Primark has introduced Buy Now Pay Later options through Klarna and Clearpay... marking a major milestone in BNPL's journey from innovation to mass adoption. This episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores what this means for retailers.Chris declares that BNPL has officially "crossed the chasm", seven years after it first emerged at Shop.org in 2018. When you can buy $4 shirts on installments, there's no turning back. Anne shares shocking data: 25% of Americans now use BNPL for groceries, up from 14% just a year ago.For the full episode head here#primark #buynowpaylater #klarna #clearpay #bnpl #retailpayments #paymentinnovation #retailtech #affordablefashion #retailnewsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy