Episodes
253
April 9, 2025
Old Navy Hits The Radar, San Diego Bans Digital-Only Coupons & Amazon Debuts AI Agents | Fast Five
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: Best Buy storefronts and where influencer commerce will go next (Source) Instacart’s introduction of “Will Call” Delivery (Source) Old Navy rolling out Radar’s RFID solution to 1,200 stores (Source) San Diego banning digital-only grocery store coupons (Source) And closed with a look at just how game-changing...
251
March 29, 2025
Fast Five Shorts | A Love Is Blind Lightning Round
In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five recorded live from Shoptalk 2025 in Vegas and sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: A Love Is Blind Lightning Round For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/NPi_RSCdcTE This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
250
March 29, 2025
Fast Five Shorts | Buy Or Sell: Target’s “Brown Box Delivery” Pilot?
In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five recorded live from Shoptalk 2025 in Vegas and sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Whether They're Buying Or Selling: Target’s “Brown Box Delivery” Pilot For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/NPi_RSCdcTE This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
249
March 29, 2025
Fast Five Shorts | Edible Arrangements To Sell . . . Edibles
In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five recorded live from Shoptalk 2025 in Vegas and sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Edible Arrangements Making a Shift To Sell . . . Edibles For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/NPi_RSCdcTE This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
248
March 29, 2025
Fast Five Shorts | Klarna & Doordash Bring BNPL To Meal Delivery
In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five recorded live from Shoptalk 2025 in Vegas and sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Klarna & Doordash Bringing BNPL To Meal Delivery For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/NPi_RSCdcTE This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
247
March 29, 2025
Fast Five Shorts | Amazon Haul 50% Off During Big Spring Sale
In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five recorded live from Shoptalk 2025 in Vegas and sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Amazon Haul Being Priced At 50% Off During Big Spring Sale For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/NPi_RSCdcTE This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
246
March 29, 2025
Fast Five Shorts | Best Buy Connects Retail Media With Meta
In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five recorded live from Shoptalk 2025 in Vegas and sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Best Buy Connecting Retail Media With Meta For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/NPi_RSCdcTE This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
245
March 28, 2025
Shoptalk 2025 Key Takeaways Live Podcast
The Shoptalk 2025 Key Takeaways Podcast is here! Recorded live on stage, this fast-paced episode features Omni Talk's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Shoptalk's content team — Marielle Bobo, Ben Miller, HG O’Connell, and the live conference audience — as they spin the wheel to hit the hottest themes of the show. 🎯 Key Moments & Topics: (00:54) Introduction of the “Shoptalk Dream Team” (03:00) Tariffs: Shein’s surprising openness to regulation (05:01) Data: AI, personalization, and retail ...
244
March 28, 2025
Walmart EVP Cedric Clark on Tech, Culture & the Future of Retail | Shoptalk 2025 Interview
In this Shoptalk 2025 special, recorded live from the Shoptalk TV studio, Omni Talk sits down with Cedric Clark, EVP of Stores at Walmart, to unpack the company’s people-led, tech-powered evolution. Cedric dives into Walmart’s commitment to associate experience, innovation in store technology, and why staying connected to the frontline is key to long-term retail success. 🎯 Key Moments: (00:54) Cedric on Shoptalk and innovation trends (1:45) His Walmart journey: From fishing licenses to EVP (...
243
March 27, 2025
Meta Unveils New Omnichannel Ad Platform | JP Chookaszian at Shoptalk 2025
Live from Shoptalk 2025, Meta’s JP Chookaszian joins Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga to unpack one of the show’s biggest announcements—Meta’s new omni-channel ad platform. JP walks us through the macroeconomic shifts driving this innovation, why in-store performance matters more than ever, and how AI and GenAI are shaping Meta’s future tools, from dynamic ad generation to virtual try-on. If you want to know what’s next in retail media, this is the episode to hear. Key Moments: 0:40 – Intro to J...
242
March 27, 2025
How DoorDash is Powering Omnichannel Excellence with AI & Data | Live at Shoptalk 2025
In this Shoptalk 2025 episode, recorded live from the Meta Podcast Studio,, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga chat with Jessica Lachs, Chief Analytics Officer at DoorDash, about her remarkable rise from startup GM to data leader. Jessica unveils DoorDash’s newest partnerships with DSW and Klarna, discusses the role of AI in grocery substitutions and targeted retail media, and explains why data is the foundation of customer-centric innovation. Key Moments: 0:20 – Jessica Lachs joins Omni Talk from...
241
March 27, 2025
How Five Below & Ovative Group Power Omnichannel Commerce | Shoptalk 2025 Insights
In this episode of Omni Talk Retail recorded live from the Meta Podcast Studio at Shoptalk 2025, hosts Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton welcome Five Below’s VP of Digital Marketing, Abhinav Agrawal, and Ovative Group’s SVP of Growth, Jesse Grittner, for a high-energy discussion on how omnichannel strategies are transforming retail. From the collapse of traditional retail boundaries to the rise of AI-driven personalization and measurement, this episode dives deep into what’s driving growth and inno...
241
March 27, 2025
Retail Media As A Reinvestment Tool with Sam's Club VP Harvey Ma | Live at Shoptalk 2025
In this insightful Shoptalk 2025 episode, recorded live from the Meta Podcast Studio, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Harvey Ma, VP and GM of Retail Media at Sam’s Club. Harvey explains how Sam’s Club has taken a radically different approach to retail media—reinvesting every ad dollar back into clubs, staff, and the member experience. He also breaks down how Sam’s in-house technology, like their new search engine and Scan & Go platform, prioritizes relevancy over revenue, creating a...
241
March 27, 2025
Why Retail Media Needs a Rethink | Liz Roche, Albertsons Media Collective @ Shoptalk 2025
🎧 Retail Media, Evolved: Liz Roach on KPIs, Clean Rooms & Commerce at Speed | Shoptalk 2025 Live Albertsons Media Collective's Liz Roche joins Chris and Anne live from the Meta Podcast Studio at ShopTalk 2025 to talk all things retail media—why measurement needs to be reimagined, how to think beyond channel silos, and what teams need to succeed in a data-driven world. From clean rooms to strategic continuity, Liz shares what it takes to win in the next wave of retail media. 📍 Timestamps: (0:0...
241
March 26, 2025
Amazon Haul, Best Buy Social+ & Edibles.com | Fast Five
🎧 Retail Fast Five | March 26, 2025 – Live from Shoptalk 2025 This week, Chris and Anne are back together live at Shoptalk 2025, bringing you exclusive insight and on-the-ground energy. This week's episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital and Infios, kicks off with a behind-the-scenes look at their interviews with CVS, Wayfair, and Purina (03:15), followed by their five big retail stories of the week: Best Buy Launches Social Plus – A new retail me...
240
March 26, 2025
How Kendra Scott Is Using AI to Redefine Jewelry E-Commerce | KK Kandu at Shoptalk 2025
🎧 Personalized Joy at Scale: KK Kandu of Kendra Scott | Shoptalk 2025 Live Kamanasish Kundu (aka "KK"), SVP & Head of Digital and E-Commerce at Kendra Scott, joins Omni Talk live from the Avalara podcast studio at Shoptalk 2025 to explore the art and science of emotional commerce. From building a nimble, test-driven culture to prepping for an AI-first future of intelligent shopping agents, KK lays out the future of digital retail for a personal brand in an evolving world. 📍 Timestamps: (0:09)...
241
March 26, 2025
Why Resale Is Retail’s Next Big Growth Engine | Trove CEO Terry Boyle at Shoptalk 2025
🎧 Turning Returns Into Revenue: Trove CEO Terry Boyle on Resale’s Rise at Shoptalk 2025 Terry Boyle, CEO of Trove, sits down with Omni Talk, live from the Avalara podcast studio at Shoptalk, to share how the resale revolution is changing retail. He walks through the tech, economics, and brand strategy behind resale programs that create loyalty, profits, and sustainability—while helping retailers attract new customers in the process. 📍 Timestamps: (0:05) Welcome from Shoptalk 2025 at the Avala...
242
March 26, 2025
Tariffs, Taxes & Cross-Border Growth: Avalara’s George Trantas on What Retailers Must Know in 2025
🎧 Tariff Tuesdays, Taxes & Cross-Border Success: Avalara’s George Trantas at Shoptalk 2025 Live from Shoptalk 2025, Avalara’s George Trantas shares deep insights on what’s next for global retail. From tackling tariffs and tax implications to building a smart cross-border strategy, George brings clarity to the chaos with advice rooted in years of ecommerce and logistics leadership. 📍 Timestamps: (0:05) Live from Shoptalk 2025 at Avalara Booth #1554 (0:53) George’s background and shoutout to hi...
243
March 26, 2025
How Uncommon Goods Has Survived—and Thrived—for 26 Years | CEO Dave Bolotsky at Shoptalk 2025
Chris and Anne sit down with Uncommon Goods founder and CEO Dave Bolotsky, live from the Avalara podcast studio, to talk about the company’s origin story, why curation still matters, and how they’re adapting to the latest retail trends. From light manufacturing in Brooklyn to in-house product design and a $25 loyalty program, Dave shares what it takes to thrive in today’s ecommerce world—plus his thoughts on AI, customer experience, and the future of gifting. 📍 Timestamps: (0:05) Intro from Sh...
239
March 26, 2025
CVS Chief Merchant Musab Balbale on Why the Front Store Is Its Future | Live from Shoptalk 2025
🎧 Inside CVS’s Retail Reinvention | Musab Balbale Live from Shoptalk 2025 Musab Balbale, SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer of CVS Health, sits down with Omni Talk, live from the Avalara podcast studio at Shoptalk 2025, to explore CVS’s bold new retail strategy. With 75% of store traffic coming from the front store, CVS is leaning into AI, hyperlocal formats, and the power of everyday essentials to become a community-first destination for immediate needs. 📍 Timestamps: (0:08) Welcome from Sh...
244
March 25, 2025
How Shein’s On-Demand Model is Reshaping Fashion | Live from Shoptalk 2025
Shoptalk 2025 Exclusive: Shein's Strategy Head Peter Pernot-Day on the Future of Fashion Chris and Anne sit down with Shein’s Head of Strategy & Corporate Affairs, Peter Pernot-Day, live from the Avalara podcast studio at Shoptalk 2025, to explore how Shein's radically different approach to production and customer experience sets it apart. The discussion covers everything from small-batch on-demand design to retail data engineering and personalization—plus how Shein is thinking about tariffs, t...
238
March 22, 2025
Lightning Round | $200K White Lotus Resort Tours, Irish Pub Inheritances & Ranking Sandler Movies
In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss the week's most intriguing entertainment stories in this latest episode of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital and Infios! We explore Heineken's unique campaign to find a successor for a fourth-generation Irish pub, debate dream vacations...
237
March 22, 2025
Wonder Buys Tastemade – Is Mark Lore Trying to Give Everyone Their Own Personal Chef?
In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss how Wonder has scooped up Tastemade for $90 million as part of its grand plan to become the super app of mealtime. Chris and Anne dissect the strategy behind combining streaming food content with real-time delivery via Grubhub and Blue Apron—and whether Wonder’s vision of democratizing personal chefs can actually sc...
236
March 22, 2025
Walmart Ditches Affirm for Klarna – Here's Why It’s a Big Deal
In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Walmart going all-in with Klarna as its sole Buy Now, Pay Later provider—ditching Affirm and integrating BNPL into its OnePay FinTech app. Chris and Anne explore why this is more than a simple switch, and how it positions Walmart to become a dominant force in payments. (0:03) – Walmart drops Affirm, partners exclu...