Omni Talk

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest host Joe Laszlo of Shoptalk discuss: Klarna’s Bold Move: Bringing BNPL In-Store For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/XlWTHMPWRDU The partnership between Klarna and Adyen represents a revolutionary step for retail, merging the convenience of buy now, pay later (BNPL) services with the traditional shopping experience. As most purchases still occur in physical stores, Klarna's integration into over 450,000 Adyen payment terminals across key global markets could reshape how consumers approach financing their purchases. The discussion reveals insights into the current state of BNPL in retail, with only a fraction of retailers adopting this model in-store. However, the speakers express optimism about its potential growth as consumer preferences shift, particularly among younger shoppers who are gravitating toward

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest host Joe Laszlo of Shoptalk discuss: Meta's RayBans: Runway Ready or Runaway Lightning Round For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/XlWTHMPWRDU Meta's Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled new AR glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban, retailing at $299, sparking a lively discussion among the hosts about their potential success. Joe expresses a cautious optimism, noting that these glasses might solve the common problem of making users look like a "doofus." The conversation shifts to other innovative products, such as a new sneaker from Target designed to grow with the wearer, prompting a light-hearted debate about which clothing items would be most beneficial if they could also adapt to changes in size. Additionally, the hosts tackle the implications of United Airlines and Air France introducing Starlink Wi-Fi, which c

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest host Joe Laszlo of Shoptalk discuss: Doordash Releasing A New Suite Of Business Solutions For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/XlWTHMPWRDU

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest host Joe Laszlo of Shoptalk discuss: Giant Eagle Investing In Cutting Driver Wait Times For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/XlWTHMPWRDU Giant Eagle's partnership with Flyby marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of grocery delivery services, as the two companies collaborate to enhance last-mile logistics. The initiative aims to slash delivery wait times by leveraging Flyby’s sophisticated location-based technology, which not only optimizes the driver’s route but also provides real-time updates on order status. With the technology reducing average wait times to less than two and a half minutes, Giant Eagle is setting a new standard for efficiency in grocery delivery, a crucial factor as consumer expectations continue to rise. This investment reflects a broader trend in the grocery sector, where operational eff

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest host Joe Laszlo of Shoptalk discuss: If Costco & Sam’s Are The Choice Of A New Generation? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/XlWTHMPWRDU Costco and Sam's Club are successfully attracting younger generations, with a significant increase in memberships among Millennials and Gen Z. Recent statistics reveal that approximately half of Costco's new signups are under 40, while Sam's Club has seen a remarkable 68% increase in Gen Z memberships over the past two years. The discussion delves into the factors driving this trend, including the financial pressures faced by younger consumers, who prioritize value and quality in their shopping choices. Both retailers are positioned to meet these demands, but the conversation also highlights the competitive dynamics between Costco and Sam's Club, particularly regarding conv

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest host Joe Laszlo of Shoptalk discuss: Walmart Gaining Share From $200K+ Income Earners For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/XlWTHMPWRDU Walmart's online grocery growth in the first half of 2024 has been significantly influenced by affluent households, with those earning over $200,000 now representing 8% of Walmart's average monthly active users. This trend highlights a shift in consumer behavior, as higher-income shoppers are increasingly turning to Walmart for grocery purchases, even as lower-income households remain a core segment. The discussion delves into the implications of these changes, particularly how Walmart's customer experience may be driving this success compared to other retailers. Experts on the podcast explore the sticky nature of grocery shopping habits and the potential for Walmart to capture

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Ownit AI, Avalara, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, Shoptalk’s Joe Laszlo joined Chris and Anne to discuss: - The high income demographic tailwind behind Walmart’s back - If Costco and Sam’s Club are the shopping choice of a new generation - DoorDash's suite of new business solutions - Giant Eagle’s partnership with Flybuy to cut delivery driver wait times - And closed with a debate about just how momentous Klarna bringing BNPL in-store could be There’s all that, plus this month’s OmniStar (congrats Lauri Joffe of American Freight), Ray-Bans, clothes that grow with you, and A&M’s Marco Valentini stops by for 5 Insightful Minutes on private brands! To read the full report on private label brands, head here: https://alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/insight/accelerate-your-private-brand-journey-to-win-with-customers-and-shareholders/ Music by hooksounds.com

Get ready for the holiday rush with this special Omni Talk Retail Spotlight episode! Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Natalija Pavic, the Senior Product Marketing Manager at Salesforce Commerce Cloud and host of the Commerce Cloud Innovations podcast, and Melissa Dallmeyer, the Global Leader of Enterprise & Mid-market Partnerships at Avalara, to discuss how retailers can best prepare for the busy holiday season. From the benefits of composable and headless commerce to the critical importance of tax compliance, our guests break down the tools and strategies retailers need to ensure a smooth, profitable holiday season. Whether it’s optimizing site speed, managing customer personalization, or avoiding costly mistakes during peak shopping times, this episode is packed with insights to help your business succeed. Key moments from the interview include: [0:08] – Introduction [1:04] – Kicking off the holiday retail prep conversation: What retailers should expect? [5:04] – Natalija explains headless v

In this Insightful 5 Minute podcast episode, Marco Valentini, Managing Director at the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, breaks down why private label brands are essential for retailers and how they can capitalize on this growing trend. From product innovation to leadership alignment, Marco shares key strategies for fostering successful private brands that resonate with consumers and boost market share. Key Moments: [0:08] - Introduction to Marco Valentini and the topic of building private brand strategies. [0:28] - Why private brands are outgrowing national brands and capturing more market share. [1:52] - How customer perceptions of private brands are changing, with examples like Trader Joe’s and Costco’s Kirkland. [2:56] - The role of innovation, unique product ranges, and differentiation in private brand success. [3:35] - Key advice for retail executives on how to accelerate private label growth through leadership commitment and cross-functional collaboration. [5:54] - Why private brand development is an

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga discuss: A Res "ZA" me Lighting Round For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/18lMxsBIt7o

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga discuss: Walmart And Sam’s Club Merging Their Supply Chains For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/18lMxsBIt7o

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga discuss: There’s An (Amazon AI-Generated) Ad For That For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/18lMxsBIt7o

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga discuss: If They're Buying Or Selling: Walmart’s New Shop With Friends Feature For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/18lMxsBIt7o

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga discuss: Walmart Moving Up Its Holiday Promotions For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/18lMxsBIt7o

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga discuss: If Amazon’s New ‘Buy It Now’ Program Will Be Must-See TV? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/18lMxsBIt7o

In this episode of our popular 5 Insightful Minutes Podcast Series, Scott Langdoc, Global Head of Grocery, Drug, and Convenience Retail Strategy at Amazon Web Services, dives deep into the key challenges and opportunities shaping the retail landscape. From adapting to shifting consumer behaviors to leveraging cloud and AI solutions, Scott shares actionable insights for retailers looking to stay competitive. He emphasizes the importance of infrastructure, data maturity, and personalized customer engagement in boosting top-line growth and operational efficiency. Key Moments Include: [0:30] Changing consumer behaviors and the need for new retail models [1:15] Retailers’ focus on cost reduction and labor optimization [2:00] How cloud technology supports retail operations [2:55] The impact of demand forecasting and personalization in grocery retail [3:45] Case study: Hyper-personalization success in driving market basket growth [5:00] The role of generative AI and choosing the right large language models [5:45

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five weekly retail news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Ownit AI, Avalara, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, Walmart and Amazon takeover the headlines in their ongoing innovation duel, as Chris and Anne discussed: - Walmart starting its holiday promotions earlier than ever, with a digital twist - Amazon’s new Shark Tank-style TV show, “Buy It Now” - Walmart’s latest e-commerce innovation, aka “Shop with Friends” - Amazon’s new AI image generator for sellers - And closed with a look at the brilliance of merging Sam’s Club and Walmart’s supply chains There’s all that, plus AWS’s Scott Langdoc joins us for 5 Insightful Minutes, a Schwan’s song, why Chris and Anne love the Minneapolis airport, and to whom Anne would send her resume attached to a Pizza Hut pizza box. Music by hooksounds.com

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga discuss: A Laminated Croissant Lamp Lightning Round For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/rECqY8C92yE?si=4FFNfACPH31T2FJ1

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga discuss: Amazon Telling Employees To Return To The Office 5 Days A Week For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/rECqY8C92yE?si=4FFNfACPH31T2FJ1

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga discuss: If They're Buying Or Selling: Zara Pre-Owned? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/rECqY8C92yE?si=4FFNfACPH31T2FJ1