Omni Talk Retail

In this 5 Insightful Minutes episode, Marybeth Hays — a former Walmart merchant executive, trusted board member, and colleague of Chris and Anne's at Simbe — joins Omni Talk to discuss the dramatic evolution of retail merchandising.From unified online and in-store assortments to AI-powered shelf intelligence, Marybeth breaks down how modern merchants are becoming true category experts, why trusted real-time data is finally eliminating age-old friction between merchants and operators, and how technologies like RFID, digital shelf labels, and Simbe's Tally robot are improving how retailers understand customer behavior. If you've ever wondered how merchandising is and will continue to transform, this episode is for you.🔑 Topics covered:The shift from separate online/in-store merchants to unified responsibilityHow narrower product focus creates deeper category expertiseWhy trusted, real-time data changes everything for merchantsThe Blue Moon Beer and orange slice story—and what AI would have caughtNavigating the historic tension between merchants and operatorsWhy shelf intelligence requires cross-functional executive sponsorship🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!#retailmerchants #shelfIntelligence #retailtech #omnitalk #smartretail #AIinRetail #retailinnovation #simbe #tally #retailpodcast #merchandisingThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this OmniTalk Retail Fast Five episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by Alvarez & Marsal's Lisa Collier and Manola Soler to separate retail fact from fiction across five major headlines transforming the industry.From Walmart's groundbreaking partnership with ChatGPT to Ulta's curated marketplace launch, autonomous deliveries via Waymo, and the future of luxury retail, this episode covers it all. Plus, former Walmart EVP Marybeth Hays stops by for Five Insightful Minutes on how merchandising is evolving with AI, real-time shelf intelligence, and cross-functional collaboration.🔑 Topics covered:Walmart's strategic move to offer shopping directly on ChatGPT and what it means for AmazonUlta Beauty's invitation-only marketplace strategy and the balance between curation and scaleHow Gen Z will transform Britain's high streets into social, tech-driven retail hubs by 2050Wayfair's 30,000 sq ft luxury Perigold store in West Palm Beach and the high-low merchandising opportunityDoorDash + Waymo's autonomous delivery pilot and the future of last-mile logisticsThe evolution of merchandising: from backwards-looking data to AI-powered predictive intelligence🎙️ Special guests:Lisa Collier, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail GroupManola Soler, Senior Director, Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail GroupMarybeth Hays, Former Walmart EVP and Simbe Advisory Board Member🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!#retailtech #omnitalk #walmart #ultabeauty #wayfair #doordash #waymo #retailinnovation #merchandising #retailAI #ecommerce #marketplace #autonomousdelivery #retailpodcast #genz #luxuryretail a...

Holiday retail is heating up... but this year looks dramatically different. With order counts steady but PO values down 25%, retailers are placing smaller, more frequent bets instead of locking in big inventory buys. Total holiday spend is expected to drop 5%, and gift spending is down 11%. So how do you execute when November and December throw inevitable curve balls?In this episode of the Omni Talk Ask An Expert Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with SPS Commerce's Brandon Pierre (VP of Customer Success) and Tony DiPaolo (VP Head of Retail, Sales & Customer Success) to break down the execution risks facing retailers and suppliers this holiday season... and share five actionable tactics you can deploy right now to protect your sales.What You'll Learn:• Why retailers are frontloading inventory but keeping orders leaner than ever• The hidden costs of in-season reaction and supplier strain• How to use supplier scorecarding as your radar for demand spikes• Why OTIF (On-Time-In-Full) metrics matter more than ever this season• Collaboration strategies that help retailers and suppliers react faster• How to prepare for both hot demand and soft sales scenariosWhether you're a retailer, supplier, or brand navigating Q4, this conversation is packed with data insights and practical tactics to help you execute through uncertainty.#RetailTech #HolidayRetail #SupplyChain #RetailStrategy #OTIF #OmniChannel #RetailData #Q4Retail #BlackFriday #RetailExecutionThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week's Lightning Round, Chris and Anne tackle the Body Shop's comeback (bubble bath for Chris!), debate whether Glen Powell's Running Man will beat Arnold's original, drool over JP Morgan's $3 billion office tower with 19 restaurants, and reveal their National Dessert Day celebrations. Plus birthday shoutouts to McNulty himself, Dominic West. Quick hits, hot takes, and laughs to close out the show!For the full episode head here#LightningRound #BodyShop #RunningMan #OfficeAmenities #RetailNostalgia #JPMorgan #TheWire #RetailPodcastThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Instacart, Uber, and DoorDash are among 11 partners integrating with ChatGPT later this year, making grocery shopping "as simple as having a conversation." Walmart also announced an amorphous partnership with OpenAI. Chris is gobsmacked by the pace of disruption... just two years into the AI revolution. Anne predicts this will reshape UX design and consumer journeys entirely, forcing retailers to rethink how customers discover and purchase products. The hosts discuss why we're in "mile one" of a transformation as significant as the original rise of e-commerce.For the full episode head here#ChatGPT #AIRetail #Instacart #DoorDash #UberEats #OpenAI #ConversationalCommerce #RetailDisruption #AIShopping #SuperApp #RetailTechThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Walmart plans to deploy 90 million Bluetooth sensors across its inventory by end of 2026 in partnership with Wiliot. The "pixels" work like GPS trackers on every item, dramatically enhancing supply chain efficiency and cold chain compliance. Currently in 500 locations, the technology will expand to 4,600 stores and 40+ distribution centers. Chris and Anne discuss how this solves real operational problems... from preventing listeria outbreaks to ensuring strawberries stay fresh... while providing unprecedented inventory visibility that could be crucial as AI shopping assistants reshape consumer behavior.For the full episode head here#Walmart #Wiliot #SupplyChain #InventoryTracking #RetailTech #IoT #FoodSafety #BluetoothSensors #ColdChain #RetailInnovationThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Kroger announces plans to use DoorDash's Dashmart fulfillment service for delivery, joining CVS and other retailers. This comes as Kroger re-examines its Ocado automated warehouse infrastructure and expands DoorDash delivery to all 2,700 stores. Chris worries this signals a lost e-commerce strategy, while Anne focuses on the need for in-store automation. The hosts debate whether Kroger is making the right moves or swinging the pendulum too far away from owned infrastructure toward third-party marketplaces.For the full episode head here#Kroger #DoorDash #GroceryDelivery #Ecommerce #Ocado #Instacart #RetailStrategy #OnlineGrocery #MicroFulfillmentThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Walmart opens its first Auto Care Center of the Future in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with plans to expand to 10 locations. Customers can schedule services through the Walmart app, drop their keys in a locker, and shop while receiving real-time updates on their vehicle. With 2,582 auto care centers nationwide, Walmart is transforming a traditionally frustrating experience into a seamless, convenient service. Chris and Anne discuss how this move takes costs out of operations while potentially attracting higher-income customers to Walmart stores.For the full episode head here#WalmartAutoCare #AutoService #RetailInnovation #WalmartPlus #CustomerConvenience #DigitalRetail #AutomotiveServicesThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Amazon is launching prescription pickup kiosks at One Medical locations across Los Angeles, starting December 2025. Patients can now pick up prescriptions immediately after their medical appointments using a simple QR code system. The kiosks are stocked with medications tailored to each location's prescribing patterns, and pharmacist consultations are available via video or phone. Chris and Anne debate whether this is a true convenience play or a Trojan horse for Amazon's healthcare ambitions, discussing the friction points and the future of prescription fulfillment.For the full episode head here#AmazonPharmacy #OneMedical #HealthcareInnovation #Prescriptions #AmazonHealthcare #RetailHealth #PharmacyTechThis 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, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne discussed:Amazon's new in-office prescription kiosks at One Medical locations (Source)Walmart opening an auto-care center of the future (Source)Kroger using DashMart's for online delivery (Source)Walmart partnering with Wiliot to improve inventory tracking (Source)The big 3 third-party grocery and food delivery marketplaces – DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber Eats – teaming up with ChatGPT (Source)And Nick Matthews, Wiliot's Vice President of Solutions and Architecture, will be joining the show soon to provide more details about Walmart's massive Bluetooth sensor rollout.There's all that, plus The Body Shop's return, The Running Man sequel, JP Morgan's $3 billion office tower, and whether Chris dreams of having his own executive washroom.P.S. Be sure to check out all our other podcasts from the past week here, too: omnitalk.blog/category/podcast/P.P.S. Also be sure to check out our podcast rankings on Apple Podcasts and on FeedspotMusic by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode of Investor Perspectives on Retail & the Consumer, Brett Striker, former founder of Maddy and Maize popcorn and professional EOS Implementer, joins Omni Talk to share the brutally honest truth about preparing your business for exit.From wearing every hat as a founder to successfully selling to a competitor, Brett breaks down how to transform chaos into clarity, why structure beats hustle, and how EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) turned his business from a 24/7 grind into an asset worth buying. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed running your business or wondered what it actually takes to build something scalable, this episode is for you.Topics covered:The hidden structural issues that hold businesses back (not just people problems)How to build an accountability chart that actually worksWhy 136 issues at once means you need a system, not more hoursThe difference between building a business vs. operating one How EOS set Brett up for a successful exit🎧 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail and entrepreneurship insights!#entrepreneur #businessexit #EOS #traction #retailbusiness #omnitalk #entrepreneurship #startup #businessgrowth #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, covers the quirkiest retail and consumer trends of the week.Chris proposes adding Fanatics sports gear to baby registries (Target, are you listening?), debates the merits of "zip coding" in dating, absolutely refuses to try Frank's RedHot gummy bears, and reveals his preference for yellow potato salad. Anne shares her take on each topic, from her single-parent dating radius to why she'd never eat mayo-based salads at summer barbecues. It's retail insights meets rapid-fire fun!For the full episode head here!#retailtrends #consumertrends #babyregistry #datingtrends #foodtrends #lightninground #retailpodcast #consumerinsights #retailnews #funretailThis 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, covers Shein's first permanent move into physical retail with shop-in-shops across French department stores.Chris rates this move a 6.5 out of 10, praising Shein's ability to test demand in physical locations while leveraging their fast-fashion manufacturing prowess. Anne sees additional benefits: attracting aspirational shoppers to luxury department stores, gathering in-person shopping data, and potentially addressing sustainability concerns through in-store returns and recycling. Is this the blueprint for digital-first brands entering physical retail?For the full episode head here!#shein #fastfashion #physicalretail #shopinshop #omnichannel #fashionretail #retailexpansion #departmentstores #retailstrategy #fashioninnovationThis 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 Shipt's new chat-to-cart feature powered by Perplexity's Comet browser.While Chris and Anne appreciate the innovation, they question the execution. Requiring customers to download a separate browser creates too much friction for mainstream adoption. Anne and Chris agree it's the right idea at the wrong time... a PR headline that sounds more innovative than it actually is. Will Shipt's AI gamble pay off, or is it too early for consumers to embrace?For the full episode head here#shipt #perplexityai #aishoppingassistant #chattocart #grocerydelivery #retailtech #aiinretail #shoppinginnovation #grocerytech #retailinnovationThis 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, tackles Bed Bath & Beyond's announcement of a nationwide franchise system.Chris doesn't hold back, calling this "the single dumbest idea" in the show's eight-year history. Anne tries to find potential benefits for independent retailers but struggles to justify the investment. With the company just emerging from bankruptcy and no clear competitive advantage, is this franchise opportunity a trap for unsuspecting entrepreneurs? Buyer beware!For the full episode head here!#bedbathandbeyond #retailfranchise #homegoods #franchiseopportunity #retailnews #homefurnishings #retailstrategy #businesswarning #retailfailureThis 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 PayPal's groundbreaking move to offer 5% cash back on Buy Now Pay Later purchases.Anne shares surprising data from Groceryshop revealing that consumers are using BNPL for everyday essentials like fresh groceries, not just big-ticket items. Chris reflects on his 2017 prediction that BNPL would become ubiquitous... and why this cash back offer is one of the most compelling deals in retail today. Is this the future of consumer payments?For the full episode head here!#paypal #buynowpaylater #bnpl #cashback #retailpayments #consumerfinance #holidayshopping #paymentinnovation #retailtech #shoppingtrendsThis 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 Amazon's launch of a new private label grocery brand with over 1,000 items priced under $5.Chris and Anne debate whether this move represents a strategic reset or reveals how lost Amazon's grocery strategy has become. Is the "Amazon Grocery" brand name compelling enough to attract budget-conscious shoppers, or should they have leveraged the existing 365 brand from Whole Foods? Tune in for critical analysis on Amazon's latest attempt to crack the grocery code.For the full episode head here!Amazon private label strategy, budget grocery brands, Amazon Fresh vs Whole Foods, grocery retail competition, value shopping#amazon #amazongrocery #privatelabel #groceryretail #budgetshopping #amazonfresh #retailstrategy #valuebrand #groceryshopping #retailnewsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Are you ready for commerce without websites? In this Omni Talk Expert Series conversation, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Jon Cleaver (CTO, Sportshoes.com) and Malte Ubl (CTO, Vercel) to explore how composable architecture and AI are reshaping retail's future.Jon shares the inside story of Sportshoes.com's aggressive 7-month website transformation... moving from a frustrating monolithic system to a flexible, composable stack. Malte reveals how modern infrastructure makes it possible to scale from zero to 100,000 compute instances instantly, and why retailers must think API-first to survive the agentic commerce revolution.Key topics covered:• Why composable commerce beats monolithic systems for AI readiness• How to transform your website in 7 months (and keep your job)• The real cost of AI in retail and how to manage it• Why your website won't disappear... but how customers will use it will• Starting your agentic AI experiments with logged-in customers• The critical role of product data enrichment for AI discoveryWhether you're a CTO evaluating your tech stack or a merchant trying to understand where retail is heading, this conversation delivers practical insights you can act on today.#RetailTech #ComposableCommerce #AgenticAI #Ecommerce #RetailInnovation #APIFirst #DigitalTransformation*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 launching a “price-conscious” grocery brand with most products under $5 (Source)PayPal tying 5% cash back to BNPL purchases (Source)Bed Bath & Beyond’s plans to launch a nationwide franchise system (Source)Shipt’s new chat to cart feature with Perplexity (Source)Shein making its first permanent move into physical retail (Source)And this month’s OmniStar award, in partnership with Quorso, goes to Prabash Coswatte, Chief Operating Officer at Heritage Grocers, for the true omnichannel approach he’s bringing to running a grocery chain across four distinct banners!There’s all that, plus why Chris calls Bed Bath’s franchise plan “the single dumbest idea in the history of this show,” whether Anne would eat Frank’s Red Hot gummy bears, and the surprising stat about BNPL usage for fresh grocery products.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 FeedspotMusic by hooksounds.com#RetailNews #AmazonGrocery #PayPalBNPL #BedBathBeyond #ShiptAI #SheinStores #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #RetailTech #RetailInnovation #Franchising #ChatToCartThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this Retail Technology Spotlight Series episode, John Mabe, Product Manager at Dematic, joins Omni Talk to break down the real applications of AI in warehouse operations—separating the hype from what's actually working today. From optimization algorithms to computer vision systems and LLM-powered insights, John explains the three distinct categories of warehouse AI and where each one stands in terms of real-world deployment. Learn why the smallest players struggle to adopt AI, how humanoid robots are closer than you think, and why the "lights out warehouse" might follow a logical path we can already see unfolding.🔑 Topics covered:The three categories of warehouse AI: Optimization, Vision & Perception, and LLMsWhy optimization AI is proven but underutilized by smaller playersHow computer vision is preventing costly downstream errors todayThe realistic timeline for humanoid robots at scale (hint: it's sooner than you think)Why LLMs might be the fastest-deploying AI tool in the warehouseThe crawl-walk-run approach to AI agents running warehouse operations🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!#warehouseai #retailtech #supplychain #automation #dematic #omnitalk #robotics #computervision #LLM #warehouseautomation #retailpodcastThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy