Fast Five Shorts | Walmart Tests Letting People Open Locked Display Cases With Their Mobile Devices Omni Talk Retail podcast

4:20

This week’s lightning round, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, is packed with laughs and unexpected questions. Chris and Anne start by debating what the official Omni Talk uniform would be, inspired by Starbucks’ new black-on-green dress code (0:01). Then they reminisce about epic faceplants, including Anne’s “Great Fall of Lisbon” (1:17), and react to Jewel suing Kroger over her removal from the Wellness Festival (2:09). Chris unveils his Chris-apalooza music lineup—Elvis, the Beatles, and the Jackson 5 (2:37)—while Anne keeps things grounded with crosswalk tech that talks like Lil Jon (3:25). It’s retail banter with a side of absurd. For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/US96EqI2Bnk #RetailPodcast #lightninground #retailhumor #jewel #kroger #jeffbezos #jackson5 #starbucks #retailnews #blueorigin…

Omni Talk Retail

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Hy-Vee Shuts Down In-Store Bars | Is Experiential Retail Dying? 8:52

3 дня назад8:52

8:52

In this Omni Talk Retail Fast Five discussion, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne explore Hy-Vee’s decision to shutter most in-store bars and eliminate full-service dining in favor of counter-only service (0:02). Chris critiques the overuse of “experiential retail” as a vague, unscalable buzzword (1:00), calling Hy-Vee’s move a necessary correction in an era where operational simplicity and consistency matter more than novelty. He shares a personal anecdote from his days at Gap about the hidden complexity of over-segmentation in retail (2:59) and warns about the challenges of managing stores with differing formats. Anne supports the shift as a logical step for maximizing floor space and profitability, citing successful models like Aldi and Sprouts that keep formats tightly controlled (4:50). The episode closes with a spirited debate on whether experiential retail ever really worked—and if retailers should let go of the fantasy altogether (7:40). For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/US96EqI2Bnk #hyvee #retailstrategy #grocery…

Omni Talk Retail

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DoorDash Empowers Restaurants with AI Tools | Better Photos, Menus & Visibility 5:49

3 дня назад5:49

5:49

In this Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne dig into DoorDash’s latest AI feature rollout for restaurant partners (0:02). The tools include an AI-powered camera for high-quality food photos, an item description generator, and instant visual enhancements to improve online menus (0:08). Anne shares how these tools will help small, independent restaurants like La Bodega Taco Shop compete with larger chains (1:04), while Chris highlights the risk of all AI descriptions sounding the same (3:13). They both agree photography is the most impactful feature—it's what drives clicks and cravings (4:00). The discussion wraps with some food fun and a reminder that good burritos matter more than buzzwords (5:28). For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/US96EqI2Bnk #doordash #restauranttech #fooddelivery #smallbusinesssupport #foodphotography…

Omni Talk Retail

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Is Sam’s Club Being Too Optimistic About Its Growth Potential? 5:21

3 дня назад5:21

5:21

In this Omni Talk Retail Fast Five episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne dive into Sam’s Club’s bold plan to open 15 clubs annually and remodel all 600 existing locations in the U.S. (0:02). Backed by strong performance and growing online sales, Sam’s Club hopes to double its membership over the next 8–10 years, according to CEO Chris Nicholas (0:21). Chris lays out three reasons he’s bullish: impressive comp sales growth (0:56), rising app adoption like Scan & Go (1:24), and soaring popularity among Gen Z and millennials (2:04). Anne agrees with the momentum but flags a continued awareness gap compared to Costco and emphasizes the importance of tapping Walmart Plus to attract new members (3:04). The episode wraps with a discussion of retail media advantages and the potential to unify Walmart and Sam’s Club memberships under one banner (4:59). For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/US96EqI2Bnk #samsclub #walmart #costco #retailstrategy #scanandgo #retailtech #MembershipGrowth #retailnews…

Omni Talk Retail

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Walmart’s AI Fashion Tool | Trend to Product Speeds Up Design by 18 Weeks 6:39

3 дня назад6:39

6:39

In this episode of Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne dive into Walmart’s latest AI-powered innovation: the Trend-to-Product tool (0:03). The duo explains how the tool uses generative AI to produce trend-driven mood boards, shorten design timelines by up to 18 weeks (1:10), and assist Walmart in appealing to newer, more affluent shoppers through trendier fashion options (2:44). Anne shares her experience working on similar product development teams at Target and emphasizes how this tool eliminates the tedious manual design process (1:26). Chris voices caution around AI fatigue and the importance of maintaining focus on big-picture strategies in stores versus chasing shiny objects online (3:36). The episode closes with thoughtful reminders about managing open-to-buy limits and making smarter decisions amid the flood of trend data (6:30). For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/US96EqI2Bnk #walmart #retailinnovation #aiinfashion #generativeai #retailtech #walmartfashion #merchandising…

Omni Talk Retail

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Why In The World Would Ulta Pause Its Target Expansion? 8:36

3 дня назад8:36

8:36

In this episode of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand,Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga break down Ulta's surprising decision to pause its shop-in-shop rollout with Target. Despite Target touting strong beauty performance, Ulta CEO Kecia Steelman—an operations leader and former Target exec—has decided to hold at 610 locations, raising questions about store traffic, brand alignment, and future investments. Chris compares Target to a ‘Mike Dexter’ moment in retail (3:00), while Anne explores how cultural sentiment and operational caution may be driving this pause (4:50). 📌 Key Moments: (0:00) Ulta pauses shop-in-shop expansion at Target (1:18) Target’s beauty sales vs. Ulta’s decision (2:00) Placer.ai data and Target foot traffic (3:00) Chris compares Target to “Mike Dexter” (4:50) Anne discusses Kecia Steelman’s operational mindset (7:00) Target’s unusual pullback on a major partnership (8:00) Implications for Target’s brand and comp sales For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/US96EqI2Bnk #ultabeauty #target #retailnews #retailstrategy…

Omni Talk Retail

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Walmart’s Trend-to-Product AI, Sam’s Club’s Expansion & Ulta’s Pregnant Pause At Target | Fast Five 45:50

4 дня назад45:50

45:50

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne discussed: - Ulta Beauty’s decision to pause its Target shop-in-shop expansion Walmart’s new Trend-to-Product AI tool to speed up product development - Sam’s Club’s expansion plans - DoorDash’s AI enhancements to help its quick-service restaurant partners - And closed with a look at what Hy-Vee’s decision to close its bars and to end its full-service dining offering means for the “experiential” retail trend There’s all that, plus faceplants, crosswalk hacks, and Anne also asks Chris to design his very own Omni Talk uniform. Music by hooksounds.com…

Omni Talk Retail

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What A True Omnichannel Returns Process Looks Like With TGW’s Stipe Galic | Ask An Expert 26:16

5 дней назад26:16

26:16

In this episode of Omni Talk’s Ask an Expert series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga talk with Stipe Galic, VP of Business Development & Marketing at TGW, to demystify the complexities of returns in today’s omnichannel retail world. From cost savings to faster reshelving, Stipe walks us through how automation, flexible software, and a unified DC setup are transforming how retailers like Urban Outfitters manage inventory and returns. Key Moments: 1:05 – Stipe’s journey from mechanical engineer to automation leader at TGW 4:59 – Why returns are such a thorn in omnichannel fulfillment 7:00 – Real-time processing of returns with mixed-SKU totes 10:00 – How software decides between single-SKU and return stock 14:36 – Case study: High-end fashion retailer consolidating DC operations 19:56 – Cutting return costs nearly in half through automation 22:00 – “Bridge vs. Ferry” analogy on warehouse responsiveness 24:35 – Seamless integration > cutting-edge tech: the new mindset Music by hooksounds.com *Sponsored Content*…

Omni Talk Retail

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Lightning Round | Burritos, "Best Of" White Lotus Awards, and Tariff Product Hoarding 6:21

10 дней назад6:21

6:21

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, ClearDemand, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: A Lightning Round of Burritos, "Best Of" White Lotus Awards, and Tariff Product Hoarding For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/xZ2R3c0ZxsU…

Omni Talk Retail

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Fast Five Shorts | Pro Or Con: Amazon AI Shopping Agents? 8:15

10 дней назад8:15

8:15

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, ClearDemand, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: The Pros & Cons of Amazon AI Shopping Agents For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/xZ2R3c0ZxsU…

Omni Talk Retail

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Fast Five Shorts | San Diego Bans Digital-Only Coupons 4:17

10 дней назад4:17

4:17

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, ClearDemand, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: San Diego Banning Digital-Only Coupons For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/xZ2R3c0ZxsU

Omni Talk Retail

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Fast Five Shorts | Instacart Debuts New “Will Call” Delivery Service 4:44

10 дней назад4:44

4:44

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, ClearDemand, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Instacart Debuting A New “Will Call” Delivery Service For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/xZ2R3c0ZxsU…

Omni Talk Retail

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Fast Five Shorts | Is Old Navy’s 1,200 Store Radar RFID Rollout Too Aggressive? 6:58

10 дней назад6:58

6:58

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, ClearDemand, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: If Old Navy’s 1,200 Store Radar RFID Rollout Is Too Aggressive? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/xZ2R3c0ZxsU…

Omni Talk Retail

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Fast Five Shorts | Buy Or Sell: Best Buy Storefronts? 8:06

10 дней назад8:06

8:06

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, ClearDemand, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss Whether they're buying or selling Best Buy Creator Storefronts For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/xZ2R3c0ZxsU…

Omni Talk Retail

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Old Navy Hits The Radar, San Diego Bans Digital-Only Coupons & Amazon Debuts AI Agents | Fast Five 54:54

12 дней назад54:54