Episodes

298
March 2, 2026

Walmart Gives Suppliers Eyes On Every Shelf | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, examines Walmart’s launch of Scintilla In Store, giving suppliers real time store level data. Chris and Anne explain why this move could redefine supplier collaboration and unlock faster store execution at scale. ⏩ Watch the full episode here. #Walmart #RetailData #RetailAI #SupplyChain #OmniTalk
297
March 2, 2026

Kohl's Bets On The Deal Bar To Win Back Shoppers | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Kohl’s rollout of its new Deal Bar to all 1100 plus stores. Chris and Anne debate whether this value forward merchandising move can meaningfully impact performance or if it is simply table stakes in today’s retail environment. ⏩ Watch the full episode here. #Kohls #RetailTurnaround #StoreStrategy #RetailNews #OmniTalk
296
March 2, 2026

Smart Stores Get Real as Carrefour Teams with Vusion | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, looks at Carrefour’s major partnership to digitize stores across France as part of its 2030 strategy. Chris and Anne discuss whether smart stores are finally becoming reality and what US retailers should be doing to keep pace. ⏩ Watch the full episode here. #Carrefour #SmartStores #RetailTech #RetailInnovation #OmniTalk
295
Feb. 25, 2026

BK PR Stunts, Kohl’s Deal Bars & Why You Should Learn How To Say ‘Smart Store’ In French | Fast Five

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, Chris and Anne were live from eTail West in Palm Springs as they discussed: Carrefour signing a sweeping strategic partnership with Vusion to digitize all of its hypermarkets and supermarkets in France by 2030 (Source) Kohl’s rolling out its new Deal Bar concept to all 1,100+ stores nationwide (Source) Walmart launching Scintilla In-Store, a new real-ti...
294
Feb. 23, 2026

Lightning Round: Fashion Week Trends, 2016 Throwbacks, Robert Duvall & Curling | Fast Five Shorts

This Lightning Round segment of the Omni Talk 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 Fashion Week trends, 2016 nostalgia, Robert Duvall’s Mount Rushmore, and unexpected Olympic curling drama. From the cultural ripple effects of Fashion Week to the one thing our hosts would bring back from 2016, plus strong opinions on Robert Duvall and the intensity of Olympic curling, Chri...
293
Feb. 23, 2026

5,200 Stores Turn to AI Voice | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, looks at independent convenience stores deploying AI-powered voice insights across 5,200 locations. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by Jenn Hahn, break down how real-time AI analytics are transforming store operations, workforce monitoring, and frontline decision-making. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #ConvenienceStore #RetailAI #VoiceAnalytic...
294
Feb. 23, 2026

American Eagle Scales Micro-Influencers | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, examines American Eagle building its largest creator community yet through a rewards-based micro-influencer program. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside Jenn Hahn, discuss how this move reflects shifting influencer economics and why smaller creators may deliver outsized engagement. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #AmericanEagle #MicroInfluencer ...
292
Feb. 23, 2026

Are ChatGPT Ads the Next Retail Channel? | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, dives into Target and Albertsons testing conversational advertising inside ChatGPT. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by Jenn Hahn, debate whether AI-driven conversations could become a scalable retail media platform or remain an experimental marketing play. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #Target #Albertsons #ChatGPTAds #ConversationalCommerce #...
291
Feb. 23, 2026

Is Pay Transparency the New Standard? | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, explores Co-op launching a gender pay gap toolkit ahead of new UK regulations. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside Jenn Hahn, discuss whether proactive compliance can become a competitive advantage and how transparency may reshape retail leadership strategy. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #GenderPayGap #RetailLeadership #Coop #RetailHR #Workfor...
291
Feb. 23, 2026

Nike’s Brand Reset Hits Converse | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, examines Converse employees being instructed to work from home ahead of anticipated layoffs as Nike continues its broader restructuring efforts. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by Jenn Hahn of J Recruiting Services, unpack what this signals about Nike’s long-term brand strategy, workforce management, and competitive positioning. ⏩ Tune in for the fu...
290
Feb. 18, 2026

Converse In Crisis, Target Trials ChatGPT Ads & C-Stores Push The In-Store AI Envelope | Fast Five

In this week's Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, guest host and resident talent expert Jenn Hahn, joined Chris and Anne to discuss: Converse employees being instructed to work from home ahead of layoffs and restructuring at the struggling Nike brand (Source) Co-op launching a gender pay gap toolkit ahead of new UK regulations (Source) Target and Albertsons testing conversational advertising inside Cha...
289
Feb. 16, 2026

Lightning Round: Luxury Hotels, Valentine’s Spending & McNugget Caviar | Fast Five Shorts

This Lightning Round segment of the Omni Talk 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 luxury travel, Valentine’s Day spending, and one very unexpected McNugget caviar moment. From the continued boom in luxury hotels to billions in Valentine’s retail projections and the internet’s obsession with fast food meets fine dining, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by Shoptalk’s...
288
Feb. 16, 2026

Spotify Is Now Selling Physical Books? | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, explores Spotify’s partnership with Bookshop.org to sell physical books. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside Shoptalk’s Joe Laszlo, unpack why this move feels like a natural extension of Spotify’s ecosystem and what it means for omnichannel reading behavior. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #Spotify #BookshopOrg #RetailStrategy #Omnichannel #Reta...
287
Feb. 16, 2026

Albertsons Wants to Measure Your Dwell Time | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Albertsons’ expansion of cart tracking technology to measure retail media effectiveness. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside Shoptalk’s Joe Laszlo, discuss whether dwell time truly correlates with incremental sales and what this signals for the evolution of in-store retail media. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #Albertsons #RetailMed...
286
Feb. 16, 2026

Anthropic’s $8M Shot at OpenAI | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, explores Anthropic’s Super Bowl campaign pledging that Claude AI will remain ad-free. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside Shoptalk’s Joe Laszlo, debate whether ad-free AI is sustainable, what it means for monetization models, and how AI platforms may shape retail and commerce. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #Anthropic #ClaudeAI #OpenAI #AIAdver...
285
Feb. 16, 2026

Inside Target’s 500 Job Decision | Fast Five shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, examines Target’s decision to cut 500 roles while increasing investment in frontline store staffing. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside Shoptalk’s Joe Laszlo, break down the labor math behind the move and debate whether this represents meaningful operational change or a strategic reset. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #Target #RetailLabor #Stor...
284
Feb. 16, 2026

Can Greg Foran Transform Kroger? | Fast Five Shorts

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, explores Kroger’s appointment of former Walmart executive Greg Foran as CEO. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside Shoptalk’s Joe Laszlo, unpack what this leadership change signals for Kroger’s competitive positioning, ecommerce ambitions, and long-term strategy against Walmart. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #Kroger #GregForan #GroceryIndustry #...
283
Feb. 11, 2026

Kroger's New Boss, The AI Ad War & Target's Smoke-Filled Plans To Reinvest In Stores | Fast Five

In this week's Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, Shoptalk's Joe Laszlo joined Chris and Anne to discuss: Kroger's appointment of former Walmart executive Greg Forin as new CEO (Source) Target cutting 500 jobs while investing in frontline store staffing (Source) Anthropic's Super Bowl ad campaign pledging Claude AI will remain ad-free (Source) Albertsons expanding cart tracking technology to measure r...
282
Feb. 9, 2026

Lightning Round: Olympic Style, Comfort Food Rules & Kelly Clarkson | Fast Five Shorts

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 dining rules to winter travel escapes and Kelly Clarkson nostalgia, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by A&M’s Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar, keep things moving with quick...
281
Feb. 9, 2026

BJ’s Shrinks the Club | Fast Five Shorts

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 missions, who should be most concerned, and how this move could reshape regional grocery competition. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #BJsWholesale #ClubSto...
280
Feb. 9, 2026

eBay Draws the Line on AI | Fast Five Shorts

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 collectibles marketplaces may need tighter controls, and whether other retailers will follow eBay’s lead. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #eBay #RetailAI #AgenticCo...
279
Feb. 9, 2026

Walmart Goes Global with Marketplace Shipping | Fast Five Shorts

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, expands retail media opportunities, and positions Walmart as a true competitor to Amazon’s FBA ecosystem. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #Walm...
278
Feb. 9, 2026

Why 19% Changes Everything for Grocers | Fast Five Shorts

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, curbside economics, and whether grocery leaders are underestimating how fast digital adoption is accelerating. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #GroceryEc...
277
Feb. 9, 2026

Amazon Pulls the Plug on Palm Payments | Fast Five Shorts

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 Malankar, debate why biometric payments failed to gain traction, whether consumers were ever ready for palm-based checkout, and what Amazon’s renewed focus on Whole Foods signals abou...