Episodes

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, Anne and Chris: Got really geeked up about Amazon selling Hyundai online Pulled the caution flag out on all the Gap turnaround headlines Lauded Walgreens for its decision to close an e-commerce fulfillment center in favor of shipping more from its stores Feared we can already start to smell the smoldering dumpster fire at Kohl’s And closed with an in-person review of the n...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, A&M’s Chris Creyts and Cassie Ryding stopped by to discuss: What to make of this week’s earning reports The new Amazon and Meta partnership Amazon Buy with Prime Assist Poshmark’s livestream Secondhand Sunday plans And the Founder of Chipotle’s new restaurant concept that runs on robots There’s all that, plus Nepalese TikTok bans, Andre 3000, and an all too intellectual d...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne discussed: Amazon calling it quits on its Amazon Style fashion store concept Google’s launch of discount search Shein’s $90 billion IPO valuation IKEA pulling back its 5% loyalty discount And DoorDash piloting a new warning to customers about bad service should they forgo tipping There’s all that, plus Tomorrow's Jordan Berke gives us 5 Insightful Minutes o...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne discussed: The recent pharmacy walkouts at CVS and Walgreens H&M enabling customers to design their own clothes with AI Schnucks taking local produce mobile merchandising to an unparalleled level The implications of Instagram and Facebook offering ad-free subscriptions in Europe Tommy Bahama opening its own coastal theme resort in, ironically, Palm Springs, ...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, A&M’s David Schneidman and Truett Horne joined Chris and Anne to discuss: Walmart’s new corporate AI guidelines Amazon’s new AI for product imagery HomeGoods calling it quits on e-commerce Kroger’s sustainable media push And the rebirth of BuyBuy Baby There’s all that, plus Mom’s favorite Tinder date, Bush Beans, and whether David is full on original recipe or extra crisp...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne discussed: Hy-Vee breathing life into microfulfillment once again by way of its recently announced implementation with Takeoff The aforementioned AR beauty experience within Walmart’s app Netflix’s new store plans Shipt’s support of a legal framework that allows gig workers to receive benefits while retaining their independent contractor status And closed wi...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne: Lauded Stop & Shop for its new coupon kiosk in-store to help the “digital hesitant” Went down the very cool rabbit hole of exploring the Ozempic craze and what makes its potential impact on retail different from other trends that have come before it Praised Scheels for answering the “why” – as in why come to a physical store – with its new 250,000 square foot...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, Avalara, TGW, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne: Discussed why the Peloton and Lululemon partnership feels like vanilla ice cream Looked at the “shrinking” list of reasons behind Walmart removing self-checkout from three New Mexico stores Highlighted Gelson’s new store concept as the potential convenience store of the future Questioned everything there is to question about Macy’s small store strategy And ...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, SPS Commerce, and Sezzle, A&M’s John Clear and Kelly Carey made their maiden podcast voyage with Chris and Anne as they debated: Whether the FTC has a legitimate case against Amazon How scared Walmart and Target should be of Kroger’s new Marketplace store concept The value of Nike getting into resale with the launch of refurbished.nike.com If Best Buy Drops is merchandising genius or just a copycat ...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, SPS Commerce, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne discuss: Which innovation we like better – Walmart late night delivery or delivery from Walmart via text? All the possible reasons why Kroger would pause its automated microfulfillment expansion plans IKEA’s recent declaration that its customers miss the seventh circle of hell maze-like design of its stores The operational efficiency gains Couche-Tard is seei...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, SPS Commerce, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne: Called Giant Foods' decision to implement receipt checks and to pull branded merchandise from its shelves a momentous moment in the history of retail. Enjoyed riffing on the seemingly best frenemies that Shopify and Amazon have become in light of their new Buy With Prime partnership. Hotly debated Under Armour's hiring of John Varvatos as its new Chief Design...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, SPS Commerce, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne had a wee delight discussing (and sometimes ranting about): How much they would use Starbucks' new scanless pay feature at the drive thru The long-term implications of the Shein and Forever 21 partnership The brilliance of Amazon combining its Just Walk Out technology with campus delivery and Grubhub Gap’s insanely ludicrous sleepwear collaboration with Macy’...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, SPS Commerce, and Sezzle, A&M's Chad Lusk and Ben Lowden joined Anne and Chris to discuss: Dick’s growing theft problem and what, if anything, the industry can do about it Aldi’s major 400 store expansion plans Etsy’s new baby registry Trader Joe’s claims that it will never put self-checkout machines in its stores And closed with a look at why Amazon would make such drastic cuts to its private labe...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, SPS Commerce, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne: Politely disagreed on whether Nike should be getting into the boutique gym business Tried to understand all the angles and reasons why Wawa would pilot a shelfless store in Philly Threw tremendous shade at JD Sports for piloting in-store AR mirrors Put themselves in the mind of a local florist (as they have always wanted to do) and asked, “Why in the world w...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, SPS Commerce, and Sezzle, Chris and Anne discuss: - Overstock going live with its Bed Bath & Beyond rebranding - The ridiculous hyperbole surrounding Amazon's "biggest grocery overhaul since Whole Foods" - Poshmark adding visual search to its mobile app - Clevon embarking on multi-parcel autonomous last-mile delivery in Texas - And closed with some skepticism surrounding Gap's new CEO hire There’s...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, SPS Commerce, and Sezzle, A&M's Abhinav Chandra and Manola Soler joined Chris and Anne to debate: The level of hyperbole in NRF’s predictions surrounding “unparalleled” Back-to-School sales Why in the world Schnucks would throw Instacart a Caper Cart lifeline? H&M’s move to sell more third-party products Whether getting into fine jewelry resale is a smart move for Signet Jewelers And closed with a l...

In this week’s Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Firework, SPS Commerce, and Sezzle, Anne and Chris: - Tipped their caps to Walmart for marketing its Back-to-School pricing as the same as last year - Discussed whether Google made the right decision in killing its online shopping marketplace - Lauded YouTube (aka Google) for placing more of an emphasis on video commerce - Argued over whether Ashley using experiential marketing events to rebrand itself is the...