Omni Talk

Walmart launches "Dinner Tonight" - a new meal solution platform that combines recipes, ready-made meals, and one-click ordering with same-day delivery. Chris and Anne analyze why this could be the meal kit killer and how Walmart's AI integration positions them ahead of competitors. Brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital. 📌 Walmart's meal solution innovation 📌 Why meal kits are like "stylus on palm pilot" 📌 How AI integration amplifies the platform 📌 Competitive advantages over traditional meal delivery For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/IHX4xxVvFJs #walmart #dinnertonight #mealkit #retailtech #groceryinnovation #omnitalk

Amazon teams up with Gopuff for 15-minute grocery delivery across major UK cities. Our hosts debate whether this signals Amazon's retreat from direct grocery or a strategic setup for agentic AI shopping experiences that could revolutionize how consumers buy groceries. Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital. 📌 Amazon's UK grocery marketplace approach 📌 Gopuff's white-label delivery strategy 📌 Implications for direct grocery competition 📌 Future agentic AI shopping possibilities For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/IHX4xxVvFJs #amazon #gouff #ukretail #grocerydelivery #marketplace #retailstrategy

Staples pivots to services like TSA pre-check, passport photos, and Verizon device sales as core printing business declines. Chris and Anne debate whether this services salvation story can sustain the 945-location chain or if it's just delaying the inevitable. Brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital. 📌 Staples' services diversification strategy 📌 Verizon partnership expansion plans 📌 TSA pre-check and passport services growth 📌 Long-term viability concerns For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/IHX4xxVvFJs #staples #retailservices #officemaxdepot #businessservices #retailpivot

Sephora offers $20 Lyft credits to drive customers to stores during Prime Day week. Our hosts analyze whether this "delivered to beauty" campaign represents innovative omnichannel thinking or just smart marketing spin that luxury retailers have done for decades. Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital. 📌 Sephora's Prime Day counter-strategy 📌 Historical context of luxury retail car services 📌 Target audience and marketing effectiveness 📌 Sustainability of the approach For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/IHX4xxVvFJs #sephora #lyft #luxuryretail #primeday #marketingstrategy #beautyretail

New app Grocery Dealz allows real-time price comparison across grocery stores, potentially triggering massive industry disruption. Chris warns this could herald the age of agentic AI grocery shopping that threatens traditional retailers' margin structures and survival. Brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital. 📌 Real-time grocery price comparison 📌 Agentic AI shopping implications 📌 Threat to high-low pricing strategies 📌 Winners and losers in pricing transparency For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/IHX4xxVvFJs #grocerydeals #pricingtech #groceryinnovation #aiinretail #retaildisruption

Our lightning round covers McDonald's spicy breakfast innovation, Bob's Furniture's quirky "Furniture Eulogies" social campaign, and the new dating trend "Banksying." Plus Chris shares his furniture design advice and grocery shopping habits. Brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital. 📌 McDonald's spicy pepper sauce breakfast 📌 Bob's Furniture social programming 📌 Consumer behavior trends 📌 Personal shopping insights For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/IHX4xxVvFJs #mcdonalds #breakfast #furniture #consumertrends #lightninground

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

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

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, dives into Walmart's dark store pilot program. Walmart is testing dark stores in Dallas for faster online fulfillment, with plans for Bentonville. Chris calls it a smart defensive and offensive move that could eliminate out-of-stocks online, while Anne questions whether this accelerates competition with Amazon and what Target's response will be. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights! For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/-J5sCVAKsfQ #walmart #darkstores #retailtech #onlinefulfillment #ecommerce #retailautomation #omnichannel #warehouseinnovation

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, explores Wegmans' smart cart pilot. Wegmans pilots Instacart's AI-powered Caper Carts at their Syracuse store for seamless checkout and spending tracking. Anne remains "mid" on smart carts, seeing them as a retail media play rather than essential retail tech, while Chris questions if this expensive capital investment will ever scale effectively. For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/-J5sCVAKsfQ 🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights! #wegmans #smartcarts #instacart #capercarts #grocerytech #retailmedia #AIretail #loyaltyprograms

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, breaks down Target's factory direct shipping test. Target explores factory direct shipping similar to Temu and Shein's model for apparel and home goods. Chris loves the defensive move and believes Target's brand credibility can win, while Anne questions if Target has lost its design edge and worries about competing on price against Walmart and Amazon. For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/-J5sCVAKsfQ 🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights! #target #factorydirect #temu #shein #retailsourcing #directshipping #retailstrategy #brandcredibility

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, examines Hibbett's kids-focused digital strategy. Hibbett launches a standalone kids app and website under new owner JD Sports for ages 13 and younger. Both Chris and Anne question this approach, suggesting resources would be better spent on TikTok influencers and content creation where kids actually discover products, rather than building separate apps. For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/-J5sCVAKsfQ 🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights! #hibbitt #kidsapp #JDsports #athleticretail #mobilecommerce #retailapps #kidsecommerce #influencermarketing

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, analyzes Starbucks' hiring transformation under CEO Brian Niccol. Starbucks adds district managers to barista hiring decisions as part of experience improvements. Chris sees it as a culture message but fears operational issues remain unsolved, while Anne advocates for automation first, comparing it to Chick-fil-A's efficient model where human interaction focuses on key moments. For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/-J5sCVAKsfQ 🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail insights! #starbucks #brianniccol #retailhiring #customerexperience #baristas #retailstaffing #operationaldesign #retailautomation

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

In this 5 Insightful Minutes episode, gStore by GregyOrange’s General Manager Troy Sewek joins Omni Talk to share his tried-and-true tips on tech for the world’s smartest stores. From RFID foundations to computer vision innovations, Troy breaks down what technology is truly critical for retailers facing market uncertainty, how to build smart store pilots that actually change behavior (not just showcase tech), and why the future is all about orchestration — where all your store systems work together like a central nervous system. If you’ve ever wondered what smart store tech is worth adopting and how to implement it fast, this episode is for you. 🔑 Topics covered: Critical tech stack for agile retail operations (RFID, computer vision, predictive alerts) How to layer new technology on existing systems without throwing away investments Smart store pilot strategies that deliver results in 60-90 days Why behavior-changing labs beat tech showcases every time The orchestration era: How merchandising, inventory, staffing and fulfillment unite Real solutions for mass retailers with mixed RFID environments 🎧 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights! #smartstores #retailtech #RFID #computervision #omnitalk #retailinnovation #storeoperations #retailpodcast #gstore #retailexecution #smartretail Music by hooksounds.com Sponsored Content

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*

In this week's Fast Five Podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Amazon is testing aggressive grocery bundling by showing 100+ food items during regular checkout flows. We analyze whether this interstitial approach can change deeply ingrained shopping habits and why Walmart has a massive advantage in the grocery recommendation game. Timestamps: 29:28 - Bundling strategy details 30:08 - Intent vs behavior mismatch 31:03 - Walmart's positioning advantage 31:43 - Recommendation engine comparison Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/3lsaTBvBuMs #AmazonGrocery #GroceryDelivery #OnlineGrocery #AmazonFresh #RetailStrategy

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

In this week's Fast Five Podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, we break down the massive $1.77B merger between SpartanNash and C&S Wholesale Grocers that will service 10,000+ retail locations. We analyze why wholesale consolidation is accelerating and what it means for independent grocers fighting against Walmart and Kroger's dominance. Timestamps: 5:28 - Merger announcement details 6:09 - Why scale matters in wholesale 7:11 - Pressure on independent grocers 7:51 - Can this stop big retailer market grab? Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/3lsaTBvBuMs #Grocery #retailnews #SpartanNash #WholesaleGrocers #RetailConsolidation #IndependentGrocers

In this week's Fast Five Podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, we deep dive into Whatnot, the live streaming shopping app that hit $3B in sales selling trading cards, sneakers, and collectibles. We explore whether this QVC-meets-Twitch model can expand beyond niche markets and why video commerce is finally taking off in America. Timestamps: 8:28 - What is Whatnot? 9:47 - US vs China video commerce 10:44 - Niche vs mass market potential 13:05 - eBay 2.0 comparison 14:30 - Platform distribution challenges Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/3lsaTBvBuMs #Whatnot #LiveShopping #VideoCommerce #CollectiblesTrading #SocialCommerce #LiveStreaming