Episodes

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment explores Walmart’s expansion into GLP-1 weight management and what it could mean for the future of grocery. Chris Walton and Ben Miller break down why GLP-1 adoption may significantly shift consumer spending across food categories and how Walmart is positioning itself at the center of that change through its pharmacy and digital ecosystem. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #RetailNews, #Walmart, #GLP1, #GroceryTrends, #RetailStrategy, #HealthcareRetai...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton caught up with George Sullivan, CEO & Founder of The Sole Supplier, to unpack why culture still sits at the center of sneaker and streetwear commerce. George shares how a personal obsession with sneakers turned into one of the UK’s leading platforms for discovering and buying footwear, and why staying true to the culture has been critical to scaling the business....

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton speaks with Richard Lim, CEO and Founder of Retail Economics, about the accelerating pace of change reshaping retail. Richard shares how today’s macroeconomic environment, from inflation pressures to global energy shifts, is forcing retailers to rethink how they operate and respond to rapidly evolving consumer behavior. At the same time, AI is fundamentally chang...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton speaks with Marisa Poster, Co-Founder of PerfectTed, about how a deeply personal founder story turned into a fast-scaling global consumer brand. Marisa shares how her own experience with anxiety and ADHD shaped the creation of PerfectTed, and why leaning into that story became a turning point for the brand. What started as a personal solution evolved into a clear...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at the Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton speaks with Simone Oloman, Co-Founder and CEO of NIFT, about how instant delivery is reshaping retail expectations. Simone breaks down the idea behind “Need It For Tonight,” a platform turning stores into hyper-local fulfillment centers with 90-minute and same-day delivery. She explains why speed is no longer just a differentiator, but quickly becoming table stakes, and how NIFT is buildin...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at the Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton speaks with Nikki Baird, VP of Strategy & Product at Aptos, about what is actually shaping the future of retail. Nikki explains why every meaningful technology decision must start with the consumer, and how understanding shifts in behavior is what ultimately drives operations, strategy, and innovation. The conversation dives into AI, where Nikki offers a grounded perspective on where the ...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton is honored to talk with Archie Norman, Chairman of Marks & Spencer, about what it really takes to lead a successful business turnaround in today’s retail environment. Archie shares why struggling organizations often create internal narratives that mask reality, and explains how transformation begins by confronting the “unvarnished truth.” He outlines the importance of listening to frontline em...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton sits down with Maria Hollins, CEO of Ann Summers, to discuss what it takes to lead a bold brand in a highly restricted digital landscape. Maria shares her unconventional journey to the CEO role and explains how Ann Summers found itself losing clarity by softening its identity. She walks through the decision to return to the brand’s roots, why “going vanilla” hurt...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton speaks with Kate Hardcastle, also known as the Customer Whisperer, about what truly drives consumer behavior in today’s retail landscape. Kate shares why shopping is fundamentally emotional, not rational, and explains how brands often misread customers by relying too heavily on data without understanding the human context behind it. Drawing from her work across industries, she introduces the i...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton speaks with Meriel Neighbour, Director of Technology Delivery and Transformation at River Island, about what it really takes to execute large-scale transformation in retail today. Meriel shares her unique career journey from hospitality into retail technology, and how that foundation shaped her deeply customer-centric approach to transformation. She explains why ...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton caught up with Giles Smith, retail technology consultant and advisor, to unpack how retailers should actually be thinking about AI right now. Drawing on experience across brands like Burberry, Selfridges, and Unilever, Giles shares a grounded perspective on why AI is less about chasing the latest innovation and more about accelerating what teams can already do. ...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton catches up with with Iain Robertson, Chief Operating and Innovation Officer at Fortnum & Mason, to discuss how one of the world’s most iconic heritage retailers is approaching innovation while staying deeply rooted in human experience. Iain shares how Fortnum & Mason blends operations, technology, and innovation under one leadership structure, and why that integr...

What does it really take to build and sustain a successful retail business over 50+ years? Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton welcomes Touker Suleyman, Dragon’s Den investor and retail veteran, to break down the fundamentals that still matter most in today’s rapidly evolving retail landscape. Touker shares why brand, product, customer service, and cash flow remain the foundation of any successful business, and why too many entrepreneurs today are making the same cost...

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Duvo and Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: Best Buy CEO Corie Barry announces she will step down on October 31st, with Jason Bonfig, the company's Chief Customer, Product and Fulfillment Officer, named as her successor amid years of stagnating revenue and earnings. Dick's Sporting Goods partners with Adobe to roll out AI-powered digital coaches through its mobile app, delivering personalized pro...

Luxury retail is not about faster conversion. It is about deeper connection. At Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton sits down with Will Lockie, Global Digital Director at Noble Panacea, to explore how luxury brands approach digital differently, from storytelling and discovery to personalization and AI. Will shares why high-consideration products require more investment in education and emotion, how brands should think about AI as a tool for real-time personalization, and why th...

There is no version of modern retail where ESG, sourcing, and quality operate separately anymore. Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton sits down with Sophie Rycroft, Group ESG, Sourcing & Quality Director at Debenhams Group, to discuss how one of the UK’s largest digital retail groups is aligning sustainability, supply chain transparency, and product quality into a single strategy. Sophie explains why data is the foundation of everything from ESG reporting to operation...

How do you build a retail brand around one of the most emotional, time-sensitive moments in a customer’s life? Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton connects with Sarah Ashby, Interim CEO & COO of Mamas & Papas, to discuss how the brand is redefining the parenting retail journey through service, timing, and trust. Sarah explains why winning the first-time parent is everything, how Mamas & Papas supports customers through a highly predictable yet overwhelming journey, an...

Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Omni Talk Retail’s Chris Walton sits down with Katya Denike, Chief Product Officer at Holland & Barrett, to discuss how one of Europe’s leading wellness retailers is using technology, product thinking, and AI to transform the customer experience. Katya shares why Holland & Barrett brought its mobile app in-house, how it grew from a struggling outsourced platform into a major digital growth driver, and why retailers should own the products that cr...

How do you deliver world-class luxury service to millions of annual visitors while preserving exclusivity, personalization, and the magic of in-store retail? Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton sits down with Mark Blundell, Chief Retail Officer at Harrods, to discuss how one of the world’s most iconic retailers continues to set the standard for customer experience, service, and innovation. Mark explains how Harrods maintains exceptional standards through customer feed...

How do you scale a luxury brand without losing what made customers love it in the first place? Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton sits down with Sebastian Picardo, CEO of Monica Vinader, to discuss the future of modern luxury retail. Sebastian shares lessons from leadership roles at Alexander McQueen, Net-a-Porter, and Burberry, plus what it takes to grow Monica Vinader across the UK, US, and beyond. Key Topics Covered: • Why great luxury retail always starts with ...

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, recorded live from London and sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso and Veloq, Chris Walton and special guest Ben Miller of Shoptalk discussed: Walmart expanding its Better Care platform into GLP-1 weight management, connecting pharmacy, telehealth, nutrition, and same-day delivery into one ecosystem (Source) Starbucks launching a beta experience inside ChatGPT to recommend and build drink orders while ...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton sits down with Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, to discuss the biggest policy and economic forces shaping UK retail today. Helen explains how the BRC is helping retailers navigate inflationary pressure tied to global supply chain disruption, rising energy costs, and mounting regulatory complexity. She also shares why upcoming emp...

How do you run a global fashion marketplace serving 18 million active customers across 200 markets while keeping assortment fresh, fulfillment fast, and brand partnerships strong? Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton sits down with Shazmeen Malik, Partner Brands and Flexible Fulfillment Director at ASOS, to discuss how ASOS is evolving its marketplace model through smarter fulfillment, curated brand growth, and AI-powered merchandising. Shazmeen explains how ASOS balan...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton sits down with Jamie Kristow, CEO of Cotswold Outdoor Group, to discuss how the company is modernizing specialty outdoor retail through service, store innovation, and retail media. Jamie shares how Cotswold Outdoor is leveraging its expertise-led store model to help customers shop confidently for premium outdoor gear, while also transforming the in-store experien...