This week on the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, we cover the biggest retail stories shaping the industry. Doug McMillon announces his retirement as Walmart CEO, handing the reins to John Furner... hear our take…
Watch the full video with Wiliot's Nick Matthews here: https://youtu.be/uuh-fGX0q5k?si=7d4bvoied71NYNlM
In this 5 Insightful Minutes episode, Chad Lusk, Partner and Managing Director at A&M Consumer and Retail Group, joins Omni Talk to break down their latest consumer sentiment survey results that every retailer needs to understand. From cautious spending increases to the explosive rise of private label brands, Chad reveals…
Watch the full video with Wiliot's Nick Matthews here: https://youtu.be/uuh-fGX0q5k?si=7d4bvoied71NYNlM
Watch the full video with Wiliot's Nick Matthews here: https://youtu.be/uuh-fGX0q5k?si=7d4bvoied71NYNlM
Watch the full video with HTEC's Daniel Horton here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7SoAxD7ors
Heading to NRF? Or perhaps you wish you were? Well, Chris and Anne have got you covered. They have looked back on 2025, and ahead to the tech that will have retailers buzzing in 2026, and put together their handpicked collection of the technology solutions providers that deserve your attention…
What pasta would you hoard if Italian-made noodles really vanished from U.S. shelves? The Wall Street Journal reported that Italian-made pasta could soon disappear from US grocery shelves, prompting the Omni Talk team and A&M experts to reveal which pasta they'd miss most. Kelly Carey declares DeCecco brand rigatoni irreplaceable…
Where do middle-aged men really spend their holiday budgets… when life happens? According to an Ingenico study, middle-aged men over 40 will be the biggest holiday spenders. So where is A&M's Waqas Khan spending his budget? His dishwasher broke yesterday. What follows is a relatable discussion about German vs. Korean…
What’s the best Andy Garcia movie… if you can’t pick The Godfather or Ocean’s? With Andy Garcia reprising his role for Ocean's 14, A&M Managing Director Waqas Khan surprises with his favorite Garcia film: the cult classic "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead," where Garcia plays a reformed…
What retailer would you hand over all your personal data to… if it meant a big holiday discount? When asked which retailer she'd give all her personal information to in exchange for a healthy holiday discount, A&M's Kelly Carey doesn't hesitate: Ulta Beauty. With three sisters, a mom, mother-in-law, sister-in-law,…
If Chief Digital Officers disappeared in two years… are Chief AI Officers next? Waqas Khan draws parallels between today's Chief AI Officer trend and the Chief Digital Officer role that mostly disappeared within two years, warning that standalone AI executives face the same fundamental challenge: they don't own the infrastructure,…
What does it say about Target’s culture if employees now need a script... and exact footage... to greet customers? Former Target store manager Chris Walton shares insider perspective on why Target's new "10-4" customer service policy... requiring employees to wave at 10 feet and greet at 4 feet—reveals how far…
What happens when a retailer brings its signature holiday scent straight into Grand Central Station? Beauty expert and A&M Director Kelly Carey declares Bath & Body Works' scented holiday campaign her "favorite marketing of the year," explaining why bringing Fresh Balsam to Grand Central Terminal, movie theaters, and mall kiosks…
Is Amazon’s lawsuit against Perplexity really about “misuse”… or about protecting its most profitable business? Waqas Khan from the A&M Consumer and Retail Group breaks down why Amazon’s legal move is a defensive play aimed squarely at safeguarding its multibillion-dollar advertising engine... and why it exposes the classic incumbent vs.…
What does a 16% conversion surge tell us about the future of AI commerce? Kelly Carey from the A&M Consumer and Retail Group breaks down why Adobe's data showing AI traffic converting 16% better marks the moment retailers have been waiting for—and why executives need to start planning for an…
Watch the full video with HTEC's Joe Serrano here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7SoAxD7ors
Watch the full video with Amazon's Wayne Purboo here:https://youtu.be/3K131E1xaxg?si=2sxvX4WkOGWhKpAv
The lightning round gets personal as Kelly reveals she'd trade her data to Ulta for holiday discounts (with three sisters and multiple gift exchanges, who can blame her?), Waqas picks "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead" as his favorite Andy Garcia film, and the panel mourns the potential…
Dollar General has appointed Travis Nixon as SVP of Artificial Intelligence, tasking him with using AI to optimize supply chain, store operations, and merchandising. But how long before every retailer has a Chief AI Officer—and is this even the right approach? Waqas Khan delivers a masterclass on why standalone AI…
Target's new "10-4" policy requires employees to smile and wave at customers within 10 feet, and personally greet them within 4 feet. Is this explicit instruction necessary for today's workforce, or a forced, performative approach that signals deeper cultural problems? Former Target store manager Chris Walton shares insider perspective on…
Bath & Body Works is bringing Fresh Balsam to Grand Central Terminal, movie theaters, and interactive mall kiosks in what beauty expert Kelly Carey calls "my favorite marketing campaign of the year." But is piping fragrance into public spaces genius brand awareness or an invasive marketing tactic? Kelly breaks down…
Amazon is suing Perplexity AI over its Comet shopping agent, claiming it "covertly accesses Amazon customer accounts" and interferes with the curated shopping experience Amazon built over decades. But is this defensive move from the e-commerce giant actually a sign of things to come? Waqas Khan from A&M breaks down…
Adobe's October data reveals a game-changing milestone: generative AI traffic is now converting 16% BETTER than traditional sources—a complete 180 from three months ago when AI traffic converted 9% WORSE. This episode breaks down what Kelly Carey and Waqas Khan from the A&M Consumer and Retail Group think retailers need…