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, Quorso, and Veloq, features Chris and Anne closing out the show with rapid-fire takes on the lighter (and weirder) side of retail and culture. The conversation jumps from LEGO’s smart brick ambitions to the rise of toxic mom groups online, plus the internet’s obsession with five-gallon popcorn buckets.Chris and Anne also weigh in on whether the Stranger Things finale deserves a do-over because no Lightning Round is complete without a strong pop culture opinion. ⏩ Watch the full episode here.#LightningRound #RetailFastFive #OmniTalk #RetailCulture #PopCulture #ConsumerTrends #StrangerThings #LEGOThis 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, Quorso, and Veloq, dives into Schnucks’ reported 100% success rate stopping gift card fraud using Digimarc technology. Chris and Anne explain why gift card fraud is exploding, why this solution actually works, and what other retailers can learn from Schnucks’ approach. ⏩ Watch the full episode here.#GiftCardFraud #RetailSecurity #Digimarc #Schnucks #RetailTech #FraudPrevention #OmniTalkThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, looks at Save Mart’s rollout of Amazon Returns kiosks across more than 140 stores. Chris and Anne discuss what returns-as-traffic really means for grocers, whether this partnership helps or hurts store economics, and how physical retail keeps getting pulled deeper into Amazon’s ecosystem. ⏩ Watch the full episode here.#SaveMart #AmazonReturns #RetailPartnerships #BrickAndMortar #RetailStrategy #OmniTalkThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, the team unpacks Amazon’s integration of instant meal shopping into browser-based Alexa+. Chris and Anne debate whether this is true convenience or just more friction hiding behind AI, and what it signals about Amazon’s long-term grocery and agentic commerce ambitions. ⏩ Watch the full episode here.#Amazon #AlexaPlus #AIShopping #MealPlanning #GroceryTech #AgenticCommerce #OmniTalkThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This clip from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, explores Kroger’s new discount initiative for SNAP recipients. Chris and Anne discuss why affordability strategies matter more than ever, how grocers are approaching value differently, and whether programs like this can drive both loyalty and impact at scale. ⏩ Watch the full episode here.#Kroger #SNAP #GroceryRetail #RetailStrategy #FoodAccess #RetailNews #OmniTalkThis 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, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Instacart’s decision to shut down its AI-driven pricing tests after consumer backlash. Chris and Anne dig into why pricing transparency still matters, how quickly trust can erode, and what this means for AI-powered pricing across grocery and retail. A sharp conversation on where experimentation crosses the line. ⏩ Watch the full episode here.#Instacart #AIPricing #RetailAI #GroceryDelivery #PricingTransparency #RetailTech #OmniTalkThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this 5 Insightful Minutes episode, Richard McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer at Veloq (a division of the Rohlik Group), joins Omni Talk to reveal how they've cracked the code on profitable online grocery delivery. From achieving 30% annual growth to maintaining an 88 NPS score, Richard breaks down how Rohlik delivers full-basket grocery in 3 hours profitably, why their automation approach succeeds where others have failed, and how building technology "customer backwards" creates operational excellence.If you've ever wondered what actually makes online grocery work financially, this episode is for you.🔑 Topics covered:✅ How to achieve profitability in online grocery delivery✅ Why full-basket strategy drives sustainable unit economics✅ The importance of right-sizing automated fulfillment centers✅ Building grocery-first technology vs. adapting warehouse solutions✅ Managing complexity across 7 picking zones in 30 minutes or less🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!#onlinegrocery #retailtech #grocerydelivery #fulfillmentautomation #omnitalk #ecommerce #supplychain #retailinnovation #Rohlik #veloq #retailpodcast*Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Join Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga for their second annual NRF must-see tech preview, showcasing five breakthrough retail technologies solving critical operational challenges. From AI employees autonomously negotiating supplier contracts to overhead RFID achieving 99% inventory accuracy, discover the solutions delivering measurable ROI and transforming how retailers operate in 2026.Featured companies and innovations:Gain - AI employees Natalie and Bob executing end-to-end supplier negotiations and replenishment, closing deals from repair parts to $2-3M agreementsESW - Cross-border commerce platform reducing international duties by 60% and enabling launches across 200+ countries without the $2.5-4.5M per-country build costPervasID - Overhead RFID technology (Trackmaster 3X) delivering 98-99% stock accuracy with 6-8 month ROI and 5-10% sales increases through improved on-shelf availabilityDiebold Nixdorf - Visual AI at checkout reducing shrink from 3% to under 1% through intelligent nudging, with 80% of shoppers self-rectifying when prompted about missed scansCleveron - Robotic parcel lockers deployed in 300+ Zara stores across 38 countries, eliminating click-and-collect friction with QR code scan delivery in secondsWhether you're a retail technology executive planning your NRF booth strategy, building your 2026 technology roadmap, or looking to move beyond pilots to production deployments, this preview delivers real deployment data, ROI calculations, and operational insights from retailers like Zara, H & M, Calvin Klein, and other major CPG companies already scaling these solutions.#RetailTechnology #NRF2026 #AgenticAI #CrossBorderCommerce #RFID #ComputerVision #RetailAutomationThis 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, Quorso, and Veloq, Chris and Anne discussed:Instacart ending its controversial price testing program (Source)Kroger launching a new discount program for SNAP recipients (Source)Amazon integrating instant meal shopping into browser-based Alexa Plus (Source)Save Mart placing Amazon Returns kiosks across 140+ stores (Source)Schnucks seeing 100% success preventing gift card fraud with Digimarc (Source)And Veloq CEO Richard McKenzie stopped by to give us five insightful minutes on how the Rohlik Group does E-commerce grocery profitably - and how they're bringing that technology to other grocers.There's all that, plus LEGO smart bricks, toxic mom groups, five-gallon buckets of popcorn, and whether the Stranger Things finale needs a do-over.Music by hooksounds.com#RetailNews #Instacart #KrogerGrocery #AlexaPlus #AmazonMealPlanning #RetailTech #GiftCardFraud #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #GroceryDelivery #EcommerceGrocery #VeloqThis 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, 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