Videos

In this Retail Technology Spotlight Series episode, Chris Walton sits down with Experion Technologies' Mahesh Vijayaraghavan (VP of Retail & Consumer Goods) and Siraj Alimohamed (Global Head of Data & AI) to cut through the AI hype. Drawing on Experion Technologies’ work across global retail, manufacturing, and consumer ecosystems, Mahesh…

With Kelly Clarkson’s daytime talk show coming to an end after seven years, the conversation turned to her music legacy. Jon Malankar went nostalgic, choosing “A Moment Like This” and recalling her emotional American Idol win. Ken Cochran leaned motivational, picking “Stronger” for its life mantra energy, though “Since You’ve…

Winter weather has been relentless across the U.S., which sparked a travel question for Jon Malankar. His go-to escape? Snowbird Ski Resort, a destination he says brings back plenty of great memories, especially with its combo access to Alta. While recent snow conditions may not be ideal, it still sits…

Cracker Barrel reportedly expects traveling employees to dine at its stores for most meals, which sparked a fun debate. When asked what national chain he’d choose under a similar mandate, Ken Cochran first joked Taco Bell before pivoting to a more “refined” pick: Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The exchange turns…

With Ralph Lauren designing Team USA’s Winter Olympic uniforms again, Ken Cochran shares his favorite pieces from the collection. From nostalgic ear flap hats to the iconic Polo Bear tees, Ken walks through the items he’d actually wear, while admitting some looks might be for a “cooler” generation. He also…

If smaller-format club stores succeed, who should actually be worried? Jon Malankar isn’t fully sold on the long-term upside, arguing the format targets a narrow slice of shoppers focused on quick staple replenishment, not discovery. With limited assortment, low impulse buying, and built-in e-commerce fulfillment, he says the model may…

Do eBay’s latest strategy moves make sense and will other retailers follow? Ken Cochran says the answer depends on one key distinction: marketplace vs. retailer. With marketplaces generating massive advertising revenue and controlling search and marketing ecosystems, the play looks logical for eBay, but far less transferable to single-brand retailers.…

Is Walmart exports a smart play or a stretch? Ken Cochran is buying in bulk on the idea, pointing to Walmart’s distribution scale and marketplace power as key advantages. He explains why the move strengthens Walmart’s position against Amazon and makes the platform even more attractive to sellers looking for…

Online grocery penetration has climbed to 19%, and Ken Cochran says it happened faster than many expected. From delivery logistics to digital shopability, Ken explains why regional grocers have to be in the game, even if fresh selection still makes some shoppers hesitate. He also points to costly fulfillment missteps…

Is the bigger headline Amazon ending Palm Payments or shutting down its standalone grocery stores? Jon Malankar says the real story is the Amazon Fresh pullback, comparing it to past experiments like the Fire Phone. For Jon, this is Amazon doing what it does best: testing bold retail concepts, learning…

"To automate, or not to automate, that is the question" - deciding where and when to invest in automation across the retail supply chain can sometimes be hard to wrap your head around and to know where to start, even for Shakespeare. So Omni Talk is pleased to announce that…

This Lightning Round segment of the OmniTalk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, closes out the show with rapid-fire takes on culture, fashion, and the lighter side of retail. From Ralph Lauren’s Olympic uniforms and Cracker Barrel’s employee…

This OmniTalk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, looks at BJ’s Wholesale Club’s experiment with smaller-format stores. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by A&M’s Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar, discuss whether clubs can win quick-trip shopping…

This OmniTalk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, examines eBay’s decision to ban AI-powered shopping bots. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside A&M’s Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar, debate the risks and rewards of agentic commerce, why…

This OmniTalk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Walmart’s launch of cross-border marketplace shipping. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by A&M’s Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar, explain why this move strengthens Walmart’s marketplace flywheel,…

This OmniTalk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, explores why grocery ecommerce has quietly reached 19% penetration. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside A&M’s Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar, unpack what this milestone means for regional grocers,…

This OmniTalk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Amazon’s decision to shut down its palm payment technology and close select Amazon Fresh stores. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by A&M’s Ken Cochran and Jon…

This week on the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by A&M’s Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar to break down the biggest retail stories shaping early 2026. Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, the conversation…