Episodes

Walmart is piloting a digital badge to help Medicare Advantage members identify "food-as-medicine" eligible items — a move blending AI, healthcare, and retail. As always, this segment is brought to you by our friends at the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Clear Demand — the companies helping retailers win smarter, faster. For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/rJh3sY4_BsU #walmart #foodasmedicine #medicareadvantage #retailnews This podcast ...

In this 5 Insightful Minutes episode, Eugene Amigud Chief Innovation Officer at Infios, joins Omni Talk to separate AI fact from fiction when it comes to transforming the supply chain. From predictive analytics to agentic AI, Eugene breaks down how to spot purposeful innovation, how to deploy modular decision engines that adapt to change, and why the future of execution is about real-time intelligence — not black-box systems. If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually worth adopting in retail AI, ...

Fresh from the buzzing halls of Shoptalk Europe in Barcelona, the Omni Talk team delivers a rapid-fire breakdown of the biggest retail trends shaping the future live from the conference stage with Shoptalk's very own Ben Miller and Adam Plom. From TikTok Shop's explosive growth (seriously, it's everywhere) to the rise of agentic AI that's already saving Amazon $200 million annually, this episode covers the tech, strategies, and insights that had everyone talking while eating tapas down the aisl...

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 helping Medicare Advantage members identify items to buy with their OTC benefits ( Source ) E.l.f.’s acquisition of Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand for $1 Billion ( Source ) Victoria’s Secret’s website shutdown last week ( Source ) Aldi’s new digital work experience program for teens in the UK...

Takeaways: The nostalgia surrounding Pizza Hut's summer Book It program evokes strong emotional responses among participants. The discussion on personal pan pizzas reveals individual preferences, particularly for meat toppings like sausage and pepperoni. Concerns about artificial intelligence and its potential harmful actions were highlighted in relation to Anthropic's Clot Opus 4. A TikTok travel hack involving the use of a pillowcase for clothing was shared, illustrating creative packing s...

Takeaways: Nike's decision to resume sales on Amazon marks a significant shift in their strategy, emphasizing direct consumer engagement. The brand's previous focus on maintaining a direct relationship with consumers is now seemingly compromised through this partnership. Concerns arise regarding the potential dilution of Nike's brand equity with the mass availability of their products on Amazon. Experts believe that this move could lead to increased competition and a loss of exclusivity for ...

Takeaways: Google is introducing a new AI enhanced shopping experience called AI Mode to improve online shopping. The AI Mode integrates the Gemini Generative AI chatbot with the Google Shopping Graph, providing real-time product data. Customers will soon be able to search for products using conversational language and receive tailored recommendations. The agentic AI checkout will allow users to confirm purchases securely and receive notifications about price drops. Shoppers can set prefere...

Takeaways: Lowe's is collaborating with Miracle to enhance its online marketplace capabilities significantly. This partnership enables Lowe's to accelerate its e-commerce business while improving customer service. The expansion of Lowe's Marketplace now includes a diverse range of products from third-party sellers. Members of the Milo's Rewards loyalty program can earn points on Marketplace purchases. All Marketplace items are available for home delivery and can be returned to Lowe's stores...

Takeaways: Sam's Club has introduced delivery for their Members Mark hot baked pizza, enhancing convenience for customers. The price of Members Mark hot baked pizza is competitively set at $8.98, making it an appealing option. Delivery of the pizza is available in most Sam's Clubs nationwide, with full rollout expected soon. Customers can select from a variety of toppings, including pepperoni, cheese, and four meat options. The express delivery service promises arrival within three hours, c...

Takeaways: Target has initiated a new enterprise acceleration office with the intention of enhancing decision-making speed to facilitate growth. The company's recent performance indicates a concerning trend, marked by a decline in net and comparable store sales for three consecutive quarters. The establishment of the acceleration office has been met with skepticism, particularly regarding the effectiveness of leadership in driving growth strategies. Critics express that the creation of the a...

In this Ask An Expert episode, Chris and Anne welcome Dave Steck, former VP of IT and Store Innovations at Schnucks, to explore how Digimarc’s invisible watermark technology is reshaping the future of retail operations. Learn how weighted items like salads and hot wings are being protected against theft, how retailers can collaborate with vendors to adopt this tech, and how gift card fraud could become a thing of the past. Key Moments: 0:28 – What is an invisible watermark? 3:00 – Real-worl...

🎧 In this episode, Chris and Anne break down the latest survey from A&M Consumer and Retail Group with David Schneidman, which offers a clear look into how U.S. shoppers are adjusting their habits amid economic uncertainty. Key Highlights: [01:05] Why private label is booming [03:20] The collapse of traditional brand loyalty [06:45] How inflation is reshaping grocery budgets [09:10] What role loyalty and subscription programs really play [12:00] How retailers should react — strategic tech ...

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: The utter absurdity of Target’s Acceleration Office ( Source ) Sam’s Club’s new pizza delivery play ( Source ) Lowe’s third-party marketplace initiative with Mirakl ( Source ) Google’s advances in agentic AI checkout ( Source ) And closed with at look at why they both think Nike sel...

🎙️ In this special Omni Talk Retail Technology Spotlight episode, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Bryan Chan, Senior Director at E Ink, to explore the journey of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) and why they're finally catching fire in the U.S. Key Moments: [ 01:03 ] What is E Ink? — Origins as an MIT spinout and Kindle beginnings [ 2:52 ] Why ESLs weren’t the original goal — from newspapers to shelf labels [ 4:45 ] Learning from “belly loaders” and how real-world store oper...

Time to let loose! Our retail experts drop their serious analyst personas for a fun lightning round that covers everything from podcast awards to NFL legends to coffee obsessions. Key Moments: 0:00-0:20 - Golden Globes adds podcast category: Which shows deserve recognition? 0:21-1:50 - Michael's surprising praise for Call Her Daddy's business genius and target audience mastery 1:51-2:35 - Unexpected Tucker Carlson podcast recommendation and educational content praise 2:36-4:07 - Brett Favre...

Target's $Billion Rural Gamble - Why Experts Say It's Doomed to Fail Target drops a bombshell expansion strategy that has retail experts in complete agreement - for all the wrong reasons. A former Target executive who actually ran rural stores delivers devastating firsthand insights. Key Moments: 0:00-1:07 - Target's massive rural expansion: 300 stores, 75% to 90% market coverage goal 1:08-2:40 - Chris Disa's measured take: Location-specific success vs. systemic strategy flaws 2:41-4:40 - M...

URGENT: Cyber Criminals Target US Retailers After UK Rampage The cyber attack wave that devastated UK retail is crossing the Atlantic. Our panel, including a former retail CEO with firsthand cyber security experience, breaks down the alarming reality of retail vulnerability. Key Moments: 0:00-1:00 - Breaking news: UK retail hackers now targeting major US brands 1:01-1:15 - Marks & Spencer, Co-op, and Harrods attack details 1:16-3:00 - Michael's shocking revelation: Only 20% of US retailers ...

Dick's Sporting Goods drops a retail bombshell with the massive Foot Locker acquisition. Our expert panel dissects every angle of this game-changing deal that has Wall Street buzzing. Key Moments: 0:00-0:50 - Deal announcement: $2.4B acquisition details and market reaction 0:51-2:40 - Michael's initial hatred: "Foot Locker has issues" and Nike dependency risks 2:41-4:30 - Michael's flip: Why Dick's $20B size makes this acquisition logical 4:31-5:40 - Chris Walton's "hot take": The shutdown ...

Target's Bold Same-Day Delivery Gamble - Will It Pay Off? Target makes a major play in the membership wars by expanding Circle 360 to include same-day delivery from 100+ partner retailers. Our expert panel is split down the middle on this strategy. Key Moments: 0:00-0:45 - Target's announcement: same-day delivery expansion with no price markups 0:47-1:25 - Chris Disa defends the move as a consumer who already subscribes 1:26-2:30 - Anne questions the financial viability and subscriber conve...

Walmart's CFO John David Rainey drops a bombshell announcement about upcoming price increases, sending shockwaves through the retail industry. Our expert panel dives deep into what this means for consumers and competitors alike. Key Moments: 0:00-0:35 - Walmart CFO's full statement on price increases starting late January 0:50-2:20 - Michael analyzes the "absolute free-for-all" in retail pricing strategies 2:22-3:28 - Chris Disa warns about surgical pricing and long-term customer training ef...

In this Five Insightful Minutes episode, Omni Talk Retail catches up with Spencer Hewett, founder and CEO of Radar, to dig into the retailer’s growing RFID rollout with Old Navy and American Eagle. Key Moments: ( 0:13 ) Spencer responds to Fast Five’s rollout skepticism 🎤 ( 1:02 ) $1,000 Old Navy bet?! Chris and Spencer wager on RFID’s future 💸 ( 2:01 ) What makes Radar’s RFID solution different ( 3:40 ) Tech behind Radar’s real-time tracking ( 4:00 ) Number of stores and rollout...

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 , A&M’s Michael Prendergast and Christopher Disa join Chris and Anne to discuss: Walmart signaling that price hikes could begin later this month ( Source ) Target Circle 360 members receiving free same-day delivery from 100+ other retailers via Shipt ( Source ) Dick’s Sporting Goods acquiring Foot Locker ( Source ...

In this episode of Omni Talk Retail’s Ask an Expert series, Chris and Anne welcome SPS Commerce’s Emily Curran and Rob Schiefelbein for a deep dive into how retailers and suppliers should respond to shifting tariffs and trade conditions. Key Moments: (1:20) Meet the experts: Emily and Rob from SPS Commerce (2:11) SPS Commerce’s role in simplifying supply chain connections (6:00) Advice for startups in retail pilot programs (8:05) Transparent communication strategies with retailers (10:00) ...

Chris and Anne debate who would dominate in a viral “100 Brits vs. 100 Americans” TikTok battle, confess their sitcom obsessions, and open up about the little joys of pet companionship. Plus, they brace for the final season of Stranger Things—with some strong opinions on what must happen before the credits roll-- in this latest clip from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand. It’s the end-of-sho...