Are smart glasses the next big thing or just overhyped tech? The branding battle between fashion and technology companies reveals why adoption might be harder than anyone thinks. Apple owns smartwatches. Oura dominates smart rings. But smart glasses? That's Ray-Ban's game with Meta as the tech sidekick. This role reversal…
Should retailers put ads in their AI shopping assistants? Walmart is testing exactly that with its AI engine Sparky, and the strategic implications could reshape retail media as we know it. This isn't just about adding another ad placement. Walmart's move addresses a critical question facing every retailer: where is…
Are you using AI to research your purchases yet? If not, you might be missing out on a shopping revolution that's changing how consumers find products, compare prices, and make informed buying decisions. The battle between ChatGPT and Google's Gemini is heating up, with OpenAI declaring "code red" to stay…
What did you buy this Black Friday? Whether you shopped online or braved the stores, you were part of a record-breaking shopping event that revealed some fascinating patterns about where retail is heading. The data is in from Black Friday 2025, and it tells a compelling story. We break down…
In this Fast Five episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga break down the biggest retail stories from Black Friday 2025, including record-breaking online sales, AI's growing influence on shopping, and what it all means for the…
Watch the full video with AWS's Daniele Stroppa here: https://youtu.be/-zzCe0egauI
Advent calendars are the hot holiday trend...from Skims to fishing lures to ice cream. Chris reveals his dream: 28 days of Nikes. Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. In this Lightning Round: • Are slop bowls officially dead as sandwiches stage a…
Amazon is testing "Amazon Now," a new 30-minute delivery service in Seattle and Philadelphia, repurposing former Amazon Fresh sites into rapid delivery hubs. But is this innovation or desperation? This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, analyzes Amazon's grocery struggles. Chris…
McKinsey and Business of Fashion report predicts smart glasses are set for a breakthrough year in 2026, with Ray-Ban Meta glasses already the top-selling product in 60% of EMEA stores. But Chris and Anne aren't buying it. This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital,…
Walmart is quietly testing a new ad format called "sponsored prompts" inside its Sparky AI shopping engine and both Chris and Anne agree this is exactly the right move. This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, breaks down why retailer-owned AI…
ChatGPT just launched shopping research that does the product hunting for you, but should retailers be worried or relieved? This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores the real implications of AI-powered shopping tools. Anne is bullish, arguing that AI shopping…
Black Friday 2025 just hit $11.8 billion in online sales... up 9.1% from last year. But Chris questions whether AI's 805% traffic surge is actually impressive or concerningly slow compared to other tech adoption curves. This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and…
Watch the full video with Infios's Eugene Amigud here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OaA4ezuCg8
GAP Inc. reported a 5% surge in comparable sales for the fiscal third quarter, fueled by strong revenue from its namesake brand and a viral "Milkshake" ad campaign! Is this a turning point for the brand? Let us know what you think in the comments! #GAP #RetailNews #Marketing
Watch the full video with Infios's Eugene Amigud here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OaA4ezuCg8
Bath & Body Works is launching a small assortment of evergreen products on Amazon next year to "test and learn" and build reviews. But is this the right move right now? Chris suggests focusing on stores and preparing sites for LLM search instead of boosting Amazon's dominance. #BathAndBodyWorks #Amazon #RetailStrategy…
Kroger is closing automated fulfillment facilities in Wisconsin, Maryland, and Florida as part of a strategy to become profitable in e-commerce. The sites may have been unable to accommodate demand, especially in areas where Kroger lacks a presence. Is there a middle ground between large automated centers and in-store fulfillment?…
Target's latest earnings report was a major outlier in the retail landscape. While Walmart and other discounters did fine, and even Abercrombie, Kohl's, and Gap did better than expectations, Target's four-year Q3 stack is now negative, meaning the company has not grown in the last four years.
Watch the full video with Infios's Richard Stewart here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OaA4ezuCg8
Watch the full video with A&M's Chad Lusk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvjS9tmOP-s
