Omni Talk Retail

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five retail news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, Shoptalk VP of Original Content & Strategy Ben Miller joined Chris and Anne to discuss:

• The rash of recent layoffs across retail and what they mean for how the average retail executive is thinking about 2024
• Walmart’s big announcement this week that its store managers can make over $400K per year
• Some absolutely startling statistics on self-checkout from Everseen’s survey of over 1 billion transactions
• Instacart’s desire to make your average grocery shopping trip feel more like Pokemon Go
• And closed with a look at whether TikTok’s attempt to make all its video content shoppable will actually work

There’s all that, plus Wizard of Oz favorites, Super Bowl vices, and the most unusual things to do while jogging.

Music by hooksounds.com

Placer.ai’s SVP of Marketing Ethan Chernofsky is back once again to help Chris and Anne kick off 2024 as part of their ongoing live Ask An Expert Interview Series on LinkedIn.

Chris and Anne go in depth with Ethan as he discusses the big questions that will drive retailers’ strategies in the coming year.

Questions like:

• Will the economic pressures continue?
• How concerned should we all still be about inflation?
• Are the top performing segments in retail heading for what he calls a “pull forward moment?”
• And, ultimately, who stands to win and who stands to lose depending upon how you answer any of the questions above, too!

Music by hooksounds.com

*Sponsored Content*

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Wiliot, TGW, and Sezzle, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group Manola Soler and Michael Prendergast discussed: How Retailers Should Merchandise To Generation Alpha

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/fZMYBMWRPSo

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Wiliot, TGW, and Sezzle, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group Manola Soler and Michael Prendergast discussed: If Plan & Order Stores Work For IKEA

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/fZMYBMWRPSo

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Wiliot, TGW, and Sezzle, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group Manola Soler and Michael Prendergast discussed: If Wayfair's CEO Remove The Egg From His Face After The Most Recent Layoffs

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/fZMYBMWRPSo

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Wiliot, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group Manola Soler and Michael Prendergast discussed: If Innovation Labs: Right or Wrong Way To Spur Innovation based on the latest Walmart Store No. 8 Closure and Shipt's opening of an innovation lab

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/fZMYBMWRPSo

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Wiliot, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group Manola Soler and Michael Prendergast discuss: If Macy's Was Wrong For Rejecting The Buyout Bid?

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/fZMYBMWRPSo

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five retail news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, A&M's Michael Prendergast and Manola Soler joined Chris and Anne to discuss:

• If Macy's made the right move rejecting its buyout offer this week
• Whether innovation labs, like Walmart's Store No. 8, are ever a good idea
• How Wayfair's CEO can ever get the egg off his face in light of recent leaks and layoffs
• Estimated the viability of IKEA's new plan and order store concept
• And closed with a look at the #SephoraKids phenomenon and what it means for how retailers and brands should be thinking about Generation Alpha

There's all that, plus grills that are way too hot to handle, how carb-laden a last meal at In-N-Out should be, and Chris somehow manages to spell "OMNITALK" correctly this week.

P.S. Don't forget to use our promo code "OMNITALK" to save on your Shoptalk registration.

P.P.S. Chris and Anne are also headed to eTail West in Palm Springs in February, and you can join them and save by using code "OMNITALK20" on your registration.

Music by hooksounds.com

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Sam's Club Applying AI For Receipt Checkout

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/BJpkXIQqRtQ

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: What Impact CVS Closures Will Have On Target

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/BJpkXIQqRtQ

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Walmart Expanding DFW Drone Delivery Pilot

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/BJpkXIQqRtQ

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Amazon Bringing Just Walk Out To Healthcare

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/BJpkXIQqRtQ

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Walmart Deploying GenAI Search Across Site

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/BJpkXIQqRtQ

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five retail news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne discussed:

• Walmart’s new Gen AI search announcement at CES
• Amazon implementing its Just Walk Out technology at hospitals
• Walmart’s Texas drone expansion plans
• CVS closing “dozens” of pharmacies inside Target stores
• And closed with a look at Sam’s Club’s brilliant new use case for computer vision, i.e. for exit receipt checks

There’s all that, plus grocery store spas, whether executives should give out their cell phone numbers, and the tech question Anne asks Google the most.

Music by hooksounds.com

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Live From NRF 2024 Office Depot's Sr. Director Of Omnichannel Jonas Stillman joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Sam's Club's Chief Growth Officer Diana Marshall talking about their newly launched #seamless receipt check at exit, #personalization, #scanandgo, and more.

Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Northern Tool + Equipment Chief Marketing Officer Frank Crowson

Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Captana VP Pierre-Marie Rallu and Blue Yonder's VP of Retail Shannon Wu-Lebron.

Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Wegmans Food Markets SVP of Technology and Data Smita Katakwar.

Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Walmart Offering Mammograms

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/IeBVjU9IiQ8

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Sizing Up Amazon's AI Fashion Fit Tech

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/IeBVjU9IiQ8

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Starbucks Launching Bring Your Own Cup Nationwide

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/IeBVjU9IiQ8

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Amazon #JWOT Vice President Jon Jenkins.

Jon Jenkins went into detail on their latest announcement deploying #JWOT for #healthcare workers, their #RFID-enabled #JWOT activations in stadiums like Lumen Field, and what the #retailindustry should anticipate from Amazon, and #checkoutfree experiences in the future.

Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Prathibha Rajashekhar SVP Automation & Innovation, Stores & Supply Chain at Walmart .

Prathibha talks #drone delivery, #esl deployment to 500 #walmart stores, and what we in the #retailindustry can get excited about in 2024 from the retailer.

Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Stop & Shop SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Karen Mitchell talking about "Marty" the robot by Jabil, and the importance of taking into consideration the human side of #robotics.

Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton are joined by The Vitamin Shoppe Chief Operating Officer Andrew Laudato.

Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton, joined by Tractor Supply Company's SVP of Information Technology Al Lettera. Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton are joined by AutoZone's Calandra Cleveland from their podcast studio inside the VusionGroup booth #5420.

Thanks to VusionGroup (formerly SES-imagotag) for their support of all of our National Retail Federation Big Show Coverage.

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Peloton Launching On TikTok

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/IeBVjU9IiQ8

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: If Instacart's Smart Carts Are A Smart Investment?

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/IeBVjU9IiQ8

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Walmart CEO and President John Furner from their podcast studio inside the VusionGroup booth #5420.

John covered Walmart+, what we can expect from Walmart stores this year, new fulfillment centers, and more.

Thanks to VusionGroup (formerly SES-imagotag) for their support of all of our National Retail Federation Big Show Coverage.

DICK'S Sporting Goods VP Scott Casciato LIVE FROM #NRF2024 witj Omni Talk Retail’s Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton from their video studio inside the VusionGroup booth #5420.

Thanks to VusionGroup (formerly SES-imagotag for their support of all of our National Retail Federation Big Show Coverage.

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Walmart's EVP of Supply Chain David Guggina.

Hear David discuss Next Generation Fulfillment Centers, Walmart+, and how he uses Gen AI as a management tool.

Thanks to VusionGroup (formerly SES-imagotag) for their support of all of our National Retail Federation Big Show Coverage. Come stop by and check out the Omni Talk Retail studio in booth #5420.

Are we there yet? Is inflation over and finally coming down? Who the heck knows?

And that is exactly the point – there is no way to be sure but there are things retailers and brands can do to maximize their performance amid these economic conditions.

So we are pleased to announce that Ben Reich, the CEO of Datasembly, joined Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga for the latest installment of Omni Talk’s Live Ask An Expert Series on LinkedIn to discuss the role pricing transparency across retailers and brands can play in everyone’s shared success.

Chris and Anne went deep with Ben on:

• Whether the inflationary environment is cooling down and, if so, what it implies retailers and brands should do?
• Pricing transparency: what does it really mean and why is it so important?
• The finer points of pricing data collection, both from the perspective of one’s own data to that of one’s competitors
• And, perhaps most importantly, they will discuss real-life examples that highlight the power of being able to correlate pricing and assortment size to performance by locale

*Sponsored Content*

Eagle Eye CEO and former Tesco executive Tim Mason joined Anne and Chris to share his thoughts on how retailers can leverage customer data, personalized promotions, and new technologies to strengthen loyalty and drive incremental sales.

In this podcast, Chris and Anne go deep with Tim on:

• The history of Tesco’s clubcard
• Omnichannel personalization
• AI analytics
• Actionable tips on winning through customer relationships
• Point-of-Sale integrations
• Optimal product assortments
• And how to create long-term strategic retail partnerships

*Sponsored Content*

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five retail news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Wiliot, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne:

• Discussed Instacart serving up advertisements on its smart carts
• Split on Peloton and TikTok’s new partnership
• Lauded Starbucks for allowing customers to bring their own cups
• Debated the merits of fit tech through the lens of Amazon's new fashion AI enhancements
• And closed with another salute to Walmart for piloting mammograms in a Delaware store

There’s all that, plus bifocal issues, Taco Bell chalupas, and why Costco should never get rid of its $1.49 churros.

Music by hooksounds.com

We have all heard about the operational benefits of robots in stores but not enough attention has been paid to the impact they could have on the human side of a retail operation.

Everyone from customers to employees could be impacted by robots moving down an aisle.

It is a question no retailer should take lightly, and so we are pleased to announce that Stop & Shop Chief Marketing Officer Karen Mitchell will join Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga for the latest installment of Omni Talk’s Live Ask An Expert Series on LinkedIn to share the successful and leading approach Stop & Shop has taken to make “Marty the Robot” an irreplaceable part of its store operations.

Chris and Anne will go deep with Karen on:

– Stop & Shop’s history and background with robotics in-store

– How personalizing the robot with the name, “Marty,” came to be

– What Marty the Robot does and does not do in-store

– And, perhaps most importantly, how Stop & Shop came to understand that Marty’s success was dependent on its human touch

*Sponsored Content*

Onebeat VP of Retail Strategy, Greg Arthur, joined Chris and Anne to share how leveraging AI for inventory optimization can help retailers maximize sell-through rates and profitability.

In this podcast, Chris and Anne go deep with Greg on:

• Self-adjusting, short-term algorithms for granular inventory level predictions
• Allocating the right inventory across stores and channels
• Reducing markdowns and carryover stock with data-driven replenishment
• Achieving higher sales velocities and sell-through rates
• Streamlining onboarding with quick proof of value simulations
• Real Success stories of boosted sales and margins with less total inventory

This video highlights smart approaches to retail inventory planning using AI and machine learning for better results.

To learn more about Onebeat, visit 1beat.com

*Sponsored Content*

In this episode of the Omni Talk Retail Technology Spotlight Series, Chris and Anne discuss an innovative approach to improving last-mile delivery with Buncha CEO Bharat Pulgam.

They explore how Buncha leverages scheduled time windows, refrigerated vehicles, and W-2 drivers to drive value, quality of service, and sustainability in last mile grocery delivery.

Bharat outlines Buncha's milkman-style model, order aggregation technology, and white-label partnerships with retailers seeking reliability, affordability and delighted customers.

Tune in to learn how thoughtful consolidation and scheduling could unlock a win-win for both consumers and retailers.

*Sponsored Content*

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: If Target Will Soon Have Some Explaining To Do Around Theft

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/gvA1lq3ngrA

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Google Releasing New Shopping Features For Holiday Procrastinators

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/gvA1lq3ngrA

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: If Macy's Shareholders Should Take The Money And Run

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/gvA1lq3ngrA

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Amazon Prime Testing $9.99 Per Month Grocery Delivery

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/gvA1lq3ngrA

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Walmart Expanding BNPL With Affirm At Self Checkout

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/gvA1lq3ngrA

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five retail news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne discussed:

• Walmart’s bold and beautiful move to put BNPL via Affirm at self-checkout
• Amazon’s confounding decision to test an additional $9.99 per month fee on top of Amazon Prime for grocery delivery
• Why Macy’s shareholders should take a hard look at their buyout offer on the table
• Google’s second brilliant move over the last two months in search commerce
• And closed with a look at why CNBC may have gotten it right on the money when it questioned Target’s claims about theft

There’s all that, plus tastes we would rather eat than drink, DNA data storage, and an allusion to Vera Farmiga in The Departed saying why “honesty is not always synonymous with truth.”

Music by hooksounds.com

Undoubtedly, 2023 was a year of retail challenges – inflation, shrink, sustainability, and, let’s also not forget, the always increasing demands of the everyday consumer.

But, at the same time, 2023 was also a year of extraordinary technological breakthroughs, with AI, and particularly GenAI, showing us new ways to run our operations and inspire our end customers.

So we are pleased to highlight the juxtaposition of these two ideas with Philippe Bottine, CEO North America, SES-imagotag. Philippe joined Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga for the latest installment of Omni Talk’s Live Ask An Expert Series on LinkedIn to discuss how this confluence will shape the evolution of physical retail stores in 2024.

Chris and Anne go deep with Philippe on:

– Which macroeconomic factors he predicts will most impact retail in the coming year

– How he thinks AI will impact store operations

– How he predicts the role of the store associate will continue to change and evolve

– How he believes technology will further shape consumer expectations

– And, perhaps most importantly, why, amid everything, Philippe sees physical stores becoming the focal points for a more sustainable economy

*Sponsored Content*

The latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five was our annual Retail Awards Show sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle where Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group David Ritter and David Brown gave the award for: 2024 Top Retail Headline Predictions

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/PVSuISOz41k

The latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five was our annual Retail Awards Show sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle where Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group David Ritter and David Brown gave the award for: 2023 Retail Concept You Wish You Had In Your Neighborhood But Don't

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/PVSuISOz41k

The latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five was our annual Retail Awards Show sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle where Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group David Ritter and David Brown gave the award for: 2023's Retail Headline That Made You LOL

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/PVSuISOz41k

The latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five was our annual Retail Awards Show sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle where Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group David Ritter and David Brown gave the award for: 2023's Best New Retail Partnership

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/PVSuISOz41k