Podcast appearances and mentions of Chris Walton

In this week's Lightning Round, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by Alvarez & Marsal's Lisa Collier and Manola Soler to tackle Apple's iPhone 17 surge (Lisa's learned to wait out the upgrades!), debate Mr. Bean's comedy versus his impeccable taste in classic Jaguars, worry about OpenAI's Sora creating AI models instead of cat videos, and reveal Manola's meteor shower stargazing plans. Plus birthday shoutouts to the fly himself, Jeff Goldblum! Quick hits, hot takes, and laughs to close out the show!

DoorDash is piloting autonomous deliveries with Waymo in Metro Phoenix—but will consumers actually embrace robot deliveries? Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. Lisa Collier is skeptical: "If I'm paying for delivery, I want it handed to me." Manola Soler shares hilarious experiences with delivery robots in Jersey City that couldn't navigate stairs and blocked sidewalks. The panel debates whether this works better in suburban vs. urban environments, the logistics of restaurant employees running orders to vehicles, and whether lower delivery fees would make consumers accept the trade-off. Chris Walton points out this might succeed in suburban America first, where last-mile costs are higher and homes have driveways—not apartment buildings with elevators.

In this OmniTalk Retail Fast Five episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by Alvarez & Marsal's Lisa Collier and Manola Soler to separate retail fact from fiction across five major headlines transforming the industry. From Walmart's groundbreaking partnership with ChatGPT to Ulta's curated marketplace launch, autonomous deliveries via Waymo, and the future of luxury retail, this episode covers it all. Plus, former Walmart EVP Marybeth Hays stops by for Five Insightful Minutes on how merchandising is evolving with AI, real-time shelf intelligence, and cross-functional collaboration.

Holiday retail is heating up... but this year looks dramatically different. With order counts steady but PO values down 25%, retailers are placing smaller, more frequent bets instead of locking in big inventory buys. Total holiday spend is expected to drop 5%, and gift spending is down 11%. So how do you execute when November and December throw inevitable curve balls? In this episode of the Omni Talk Ask An Expert Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with SPS Commerce's Brandon Pierre (VP of Customer Success) and Tony DiPaolo (VP Head of Retail, Sales & Customer Success) to break down the execution risks facing retailers and suppliers this holiday season... and share five actionable tactics you can deploy right now to protect your sales. What You'll Learn: • Why retailers are frontloading inventory but keeping orders leaner than ever • The hidden costs of in-season reaction and supplier strain • How to use supplier scorecarding as your radar for demand spikes • Why OTIF (On-Time-In-Full) metrics matter more than ever this season • Collaboration strategies that help retailers and suppliers react faster • How to prepare for both hot demand and soft sales scenarios Whether you're a retailer, supplier, or brand navigating Q4, this conversation is packed with data insights and practical tactics to help you execute through uncertainty. #RetailTech #HolidayRetail #SupplyChain #RetailStrategy #OTIF #OmniChannel #RetailData #Q4Retail #BlackFriday #RetailExecution

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Grocery prices continue rising sharply, with coffee up 20.9% and ground beef hitting record highs, forcing frustrated shoppers to adapt their buying habits.ALDI offers a complete Thanksgiving feast for 10 people at just $40, undercutting competitors as grocery inflation squeezes consumer budgets.Woodman's Food Markets partners with Instacart to roll out comprehensive business-to-business e-commerce tools, targeting restaurants, offices, and healthcare facilities.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Walmart partners with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its shopping experience, aiming to transform eCommerce beyond traditional search bars and catch up to Amazon's Rufus assistant.Ulta Beauty officially launches UB Marketplace, a curated third-party platform built on Mirakl to expand its beauty and wellness assortment and compete with Sephora.Target announces a limited-time collection with outdoor lifestyle brand Woolrich, featuring 100+ items starting at $2, with early access for Target Circle 360 members.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Amazon rolls out Quick Suite, an agentic AI solution that serves as an "AI teammate" for employees and third-party users to conduct research, analyze data, and automate workflows.Weis Markets selects Cognira's PromoAI platform to optimize promotion planning and analysis across 200 stores and digital channels.Instacart becomes the first retail media network to integrate end-to-end targeting and measurement capabilities directly into TikTok's Ads Manager platform.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:OpenAI integrates ChatGPT with major food delivery players including Instacart, Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Target, giving 800 million users seamless access to grocery and restaurant ordering.Levi Strauss posts strong Q3 results with 7% sales growth and announces plans to potentially double its U.S. store count from nearly 460 locations.Walmart launches Shortboxed, a digital marketplace featuring over 75,000 comic books from thousands of sellers, escalating competition with eBay in the collectibles space.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

When Ocado CEO Tim Steiner predicted that online grocery would become more profitable than physical stores within 10 years, only 2 people out of 500 believed him. But after running the numbers on rising labor costs and e-commerce automation gains, the math reveals he might actually be right, prompting the question: Is the grocery industry prepared?Brought to you with the help and support of Mirakl - The catalyst of commerce. Over 450 retailers are opening new revenue streams with marketplaces, dropship, and retail media. Unlock more products, more partners, and more profits without the heavy lifting. Visit Mirakl.com to learn more.Hosted by Chris Walton, former Target executive and co-host of the Omnii Talk Retail Fast Five Podcast. New episodes of Walton's Weekly Wramblings drop every Friday.Subscribe now and be careful out there - the retail landscape is changing faster than ever.

Are you ready for commerce without websites? In this Omni Talk Expert Series conversation, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Jon Cleaver (CTO, Sportshoes.com) and Malte Ubl (CTO, Vercel) to explore how composable architecture and AI are reshaping retail's future. Jon shares the inside story of Sportshoes.com's aggressive 7-month website transformation... moving from a frustrating monolithic system to a flexible, composable stack. Malte reveals how modern infrastructure makes it possible to scale from zero to 100,000 compute instances instantly, and why retailers must think API-first to survive the agentic commerce revolution. Key topics covered: • Why composable commerce beats monolithic systems for AI readiness • How to transform your website in 7 months (and keep your job) • The real cost of AI in retail and how to manage it • Why your website won't disappear... but how customers will use it will • Starting your agentic AI experiments with logged-in customers • The critical role of product data enrichment for AI discovery Whether you're a CTO evaluating your tech stack or a merchant trying to understand where retail is heading, this conversation delivers practical insights you can act on today. #RetailTech #ComposableCommerce #AgenticAI #Ecommerce #RetailInnovation #APIFirst #DigitalTransformation

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Kroger expands its DoorDash partnership, leveraging DashMart Fulfillment Services to deliver groceries and household goods from over 100 warehouse locations nationwide.Gap Inc. launches a creator affiliate program across Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta, recruiting micro-influencers to strengthen cultural connections and combat AI-driven marketing fatigue.Google expands its try-on tool to shoes and rolls out to Australia, Canada, and Japan, using AI to help shoppers visualize footwear and clothing before purchasing.And, my “One Big Thought” for the day on micro-influencers.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Adobe forecasts a record-breaking $253.4 billion holiday season, with AI-powered shopping driving 520% growth in traffic and mobile devices capturing 56% of all online spend.Sam's Club launches free same-day delivery of refrigerated medications for Plus Members, including GLP-1s available at significant discounts through manufacturer copay programs.Shein makes its first permanent move into physical retail with six shop-in-shops launching across France, starting in Paris despite recent regulatory challenges.And, my “One Big Thought” for the day on Sam's Club and Walmart's impressive supply chain scale.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Rite Aid closes all remaining stores, ending 63 years in business after two bankruptcies and selling pharmacy services to CVS, Walgreens, and other rivals.Shipt partners with Perplexity to launch an AI-powered chat-to-cart feature through Comet browser.Amazon shutters four more Amazon Fresh stores in Southern California, continuing its strategic pullback from underperforming grocery locations.And, my “One Big Thought” for the day on generative AI eventual impact on grocery.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Amazon debuts a single-tap "Add to Delivery" feature for Prime members, already used over 50 million times, allowing shoppers to add items to existing orders with no extra fees.An activist investor files a shareholder proposal to block Brian Cornell's transition to Target's executive chairman role, citing sustained challenges in performance and reputation.Seven-Eleven Japan partners with Telexistence to develop AI-powered humanoid robots for in-store deployment by 2029, aiming to tackle labor shortages and reduce costs.And, my “One Big Thought” for the day on TargetThe Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Omni Talk's Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga join Groceryshop's Rocquan Lucas and Ben Miller for the official key takeaways session live from the state at Groceryshop 2025, covering the biggest themes, surprising data points, and provocative predictions from the show. In this comprehensive recap session recorded live on the final day of Groceryshop 2025, the panel share and discuss: -The Changing Consumer: Health-conscious shopping reached unprecedented levels at this year's show. Sessions on GLP-1 medications, functional foods, and better-for-you products were packed as retailers and brands grapple with how dietary preferences and wellness trends are reshaping shopping behavior and store formats. Learn why companies like Danone and Chobani are winning with health positioning and how this impacts everything from loyalty programs to main shop destination decisions. -Agentic AI & Trust: AI has moved from hype to practical application. Discover how consumer trust in AI recommendations is evolving, why the shift from SEO to generative engine optimization (GEO) matters, and what it means for investment in earned and shared media over paid channels. Walmart's mission-based homepage and the role of AI in transforming entire customer experiences take center stage. -In-Store Efficiency & Operations: The panel reveals why operational technology delivers the strongest ROI right now. From inventory visibility and shelf intelligence to electronic shelf labels and reducing associate workload, learn which technologies are making stores more productive and why the focus has shifted to backend operations before customer-facing innovations. Digital Demand Creation: Explore the evolution of how brands create awareness and drive purchases through creators, influencers, and content strategies. Understand the balance between planned campaigns and opportunistic viral response, plus why mental availability matters as much as physical availability in today's grocery landscape. -Retail Media Evolution: Enter the “Age of Reckoning” for retail media in grocery. Learn why successful networks must activate both stores and online, move beyond just converting trade spend to capturing brand dollars, and deliver full-funnel experiences rather than just lower-funnel conversion. -Automation Economics & Future Predictions: Ocado CEO Tim Steiner's provocative question sparked debate: Will automated warehouses eventually be cheaper to operate than hypermarkets? The panel discusses this prediction, third-party delivery marketplace dependencies, and whether the industry can afford to be wrong about the future of automation. -Practical Challenges: Technology integration pain points, the need for vendor consolidation, macro-economic headwinds including cautious consumers and declining units, plus the importance of associate tool UX for Gen Z employee retention. -Key Topics: Groceryshop 2025 recap, health-conscious consumer trends, agentic AI adoption, retail media networks, in-store technology, warehouse automation, digital marketing, influencer strategies, operational efficiency, technology integration, workforce technology Subscribe for comprehensive grocery and retail industry insights! Music by hooksounds.com #GroceryShop2025 #AgenticAI #GLP1 #RetailMedia #GroceryTech #HealthConsciousShopping #Automation

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Nike reports 1% Q1 revenue growth as running, North America, and wholesale show momentum, though DTC struggles continue and tariff headwinds intensify to $1.5 billion.Peloton raises membership prices across all tiers ahead of the holidays while unveiling revamped cross-training equipment and AI-powered Peloton IQ system.Walmart announces plans to eliminate synthetic dyes and 30 additional ingredients from all private label food brands by January 2027, responding to customer demand for transparency and simpler ingredients.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Kraft Heinz debuts The Cookbook, an AI agent giving workers access to 150 years of ketchup production expertise.Ahold Delhaize announces Edge, a unified retail media platform launching January 2026 that consolidates digital advertising channels to reach 26 million weekly shoppers across its U.S. banners.DoorDash launches Going Out, introducing in-app restaurant reservations and in-store rewards to expand beyond delivery and drive foot traffic to thousands of restaurant partners.Plus, Chris also shares his "One Big Thought" for the day.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Etsy shares surge 16% as OpenAI launches Instant Checkout, enabling ChatGPT users to purchase products directly through the AI chatbot, with over one million Shopify merchants coming soon.Kroger and DoorDash expand their partnership to nearly 2,700 stores nationwide, offering full grocery assortment with integrated loyalty discounts starting October 1st.Costco's Executive member early access hours successfully shift traffic patterns earlier, reduce peak congestion, and improve shopping efficiency without adding staff.Plus, Chris also shares his "One Big Thought" for the day.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Amazon agrees to pay up to $2.5 billion to settle FTC claims it tricked customers into Prime memberships using deceptive website designStarbucks closes underperforming stores and cuts 900 non-retail jobs in $1 billion restructuring under CEO Brian Niccol's turnaround strategyCostco beats earnings expectations with strong membership growth and 13.5% e-commerce sales increase, attracting younger shoppers with digital improvementsPlus, Chris also shares his "One Big Thought" for the day.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Chris Walton explains why he doesn't think grocers should be prioritizing smart cart investments.Brought to you with the help and support of Mirakl - The catalyst of commerce. Over 450 retailers are opening new revenue streams with marketplaces, dropship, and retail media. Unlock more products, more partners, and more profits without the heavy lifting. Visit Mirakl.com to learn more.Hosted by Chris Walton, former Target executive and co-host of the Omnii Talk Retail Fast Five Podcast. New episodes of Walton's Weekly Wramblings drop every Friday.Subscribe now and be careful out there - the retail landscape is changing faster than ever.

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Michaels steps up to fill the retail void left by Party City and Joann's departures, launching The Knit & Sew Shop and The Party Shop nationwide.Carter's implements a shareholder rights plan after hedge fund Roseman Wagner Wealth Management rapidly accumulates nearly 17% of the children's apparel retailer's shares.ALDI launches its largest packaging refresh in company history, putting its name on every private label product and introducing its first-ever namesake brand as part of a years-long customer-driven transformation under new CEO Atty McGrath.Plus, Chris also shares his "One Big Thought" for the day.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Amazon announces the closure of all 19 Fresh grocery stores in the UK.Sephora launches My Sephora Storefront, a new affiliate platform enabling U.S. influencers to create customizable, shoppable digital storefronts integrated into Sephora's ecosystem.Office Depot parent company ODP Corp. agrees to be acquired by private equity firm Atlas Holdings for $1 billion, taking the struggling office supply retailer private.Plus, Chris also shares his "One Big Thought" on Amazon's UK grocery exit and what it reveals about the immutable laws of grocery retail.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Nike's highly anticipated activewear collaboration with Skims launches Friday.Walmart becomes the first retailer to deliver refrigerated prescriptions nationwide, including insulin and GLP-1s, alongside groceries in a single order.Saks Global explores selling 49% of Bergdorf Goodman for $1 billion to unlock value and reduce debt following the Neiman Marcus acquisition.And, gives his new One Big Thought for the day!The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Amazon expands its grocery partnership strategy by launching online delivery of Winn-Dixie's full grocery assortment in Jacksonville and Orlando, Florida.Sam's Club overtakes longtime leader Costco as America's top wholesale club in customer satisfaction rankings, scoring 85 out of 100 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index.Private equity firm Ames Watson completes its $140 million acquisition of Claire's, saving up to 950 locations from closure.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Chris Walton explains why the rationale put forward by Gap Inc. CEO Richard Dickson to extend into the beauty business just doesn't hold up under scrutiny.Mirakl - The catalyst of commerce. Over 450 retailers are opening new revenue streams with marketplaces, dropship, and retail media. Unlock more products, more partners, and more profits without the heavy lifting. Visit Mirakl.com to learn more.Hosted by Chris Walton, former Target executive and co-host of the Omnii Talk Retail Fast Five Podcast. New episodes of Walton's Weekly Wramblings drop every Friday.Subscribe now and be careful out there - the retail landscape is changing faster than ever.

Chris Walton continues to be impressed by Best Buy, and this episode explains what stands out the most to him.This episode is brought to you by:Mirakl - The catalyst of commerce. Over 450 retailers are opening new revenue streams with marketplaces, dropship, and retail media. Unlock more products, more partners, and more profits without the heavy lifting. Visit Mirakl.com to learn more.Hosted by Chris Walton, former Target executive and co-host of the Fast Five Podcast. New episodes of Walton's Weekly Wramblings drop every Friday.Subscribe now and be careful out there - the retail landscape is changing faster than ever.To see our full lineup of interviews with Walmart executives recorded at the Summit, click here.

Chris Walton immersed himself in all things digital at Walmart's Marketplace Seller Summit this week and came away more than a little impressed.This episode is brought to you by:Mirakl - The catalyst of commerce. Over 450 retailers are opening new revenue streams with marketplaces, dropship, and retail media. Unlock more products, more partners, and more profits without the heavy lifting. Visit Mirakl.com to learn more.Hosted by Chris Walton, former Target executive and co-host of the Fast Five Podcast. New episodes of Walton's Weekly Wramblings drop every Friday.Subscribe now and be careful out there - the retail landscape is changing faster than ever.To see our full lineup of interviews with Walmart executives recorded at the Summit, click here.

Chris Walton takes the gloves off as he gives his unvarnished take on Target's recent troubles.This episode is brought to you by:Mirakl - The catalyst of commerce. Over 450 retailers are opening new revenue streams with marketplaces, dropship, and retail media. Unlock more products, more partners, and more profits without the heavy lifting. Visit Mirakl.com to learn more.Hosted by Chris Walton, former Target executive and co-host of the Fast Five Podcast. New episodes of Walton's Weekly Wramblings drop every Friday.Subscribe now and be careful out there - the retail landscape is changing faster than ever.To visit the referenced podcast, head here: November 17, 2022

In this special pre-vacation edition of Walton's Weekly Wramblings, Chris gets brutally honest about his 2025 retail predictions—the wins, the misses, and the humble pie he's serving himself.From nailing his Costco-Target prediction to completely whiffing on the Starbucks turnaround, Chris breaks down what separates real retail accountability from pundit hot takes. He dives deep into why he shouldn't have bought into Brian Niccol's java-flavored Kool-Aid hook, line, and sinker, and what the data now reveals about wait times, ceramic mugs, and sustainable change versus short-term execution.To view the reference article on Placer.ai's Anchor, head hereThis episode is brought to you by:Retail Club - The new event from the founders of Shop Talk. Join their AI Deep Dive retreat September 14-17 in Huntington Beach, California. Shop Talk helped Retail Go Digital. Retail Club will help it Go AI. Just 500 tickets available. Get yours at retailclub.com.Mirakl - The catalyst of commerce. Over 450 retailers are opening new revenue streams with marketplaces, dropship, and retail media. Unlock more products, more partners, and more profits without the heavy lifting. Visit Mirakl.com to learn more.Hosted by Chris Walton, former Target executive and co-host of the Fast Five Podcast. New episodes of Walton's Weekly Wramblings drop every Friday.Subscribe now and be careful out there - the retail landscape is changing faster than ever.

Returns are no longer just a cost center - they're a $1 trillion opportunity waiting to be unlocked. In this episode of Omni Talk's Ask An Expert series, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with David Morin, VP of Customer Strategy at Narvar, to reveal how leading retailers are transforming their returns operations from a liability into a competitive advantage. David shares exclusive data showing over 55% of retailers now charge for returns "at some point in time" - but it's not what you think. Learn how brands are using personalized return policies, leveraging customer data for fraud detection, and creating frictionless experiences that actually increase customer loyalty. Key topics covered: - Why charging for returns doesn't hurt conversion (when done right) - How retailers save 50%+ on shipping costs through smart consolidation - The shocking reality of returns fraud (52% of consumers admit to it) - Real-world examples from Urban Outfitters, Sephora, and other major brands - AI-powered tools that identify high-risk vs. high-value customers - The chandelier story that perfectly explains returns psychology Whether you're an e-commerce leader, operations manager, or retail executive, this conversation provides actionable strategies to reduce costs while improving customer experience. Music by hooksounds.com #RetailReturns #ecommerce #RetailOperations #CustomerExperience #RetailTech *Sponsored Content*

Welcome to the second edition of "Walton's Weekly Wramblings" - a brand new weekly synthesis where Chris Walton steps back from the daily headlines to identify which retail stories actually matter for your business over the long term.Chris breaks down why Walmart's decision to make Vizio TVs exclusively private label represents masterful long-term strategic thinking - and how it's really about building a connected TV retail media empire that will generate disproportionate profits for years to come. Then he contrasts this with Target's announcement to end price matching, calling it a short-sighted reactive move that weakens an already struggling brand.What You'll Learn:Why Walmart's Vizio acquisition is about ecosystem building, not just TVsHow connected TV advertising is reshaping retail media strategyThe real reasons behind Target's price matching decision (hint: it's not what they're saying)Why Target's brand is "the weakest it's ever been"The technology gap that's making these strategic differences even more pronouncedWhat these moves tell us about the future of retail competitionKey Takeaway: The retailers thinking five to ten years ahead and making intentional bets on future trends will thrive, while those making defensive, reactive moves will keep falling behind.Chris brings his signature direct commentary and insider perspective to help retail executives understand which strategies will drive long-term success and which ones are just survival tactics in disguise.This episode is brought to you by:Retail Club - The new event from the founders of Shop Talk. Join their AI Deep Dive retreat September 14-17 in Huntington Beach, California. Shop Talk helped Retail Go Digital. Retail Club will help it Go AI. Just 500 tickets available. Get yours at retailclub.com.Mirakl - The catalyst of commerce. Over 450 retailers are opening new revenue streams with marketplaces, dropship, and retail media. Unlock more products, more partners, and more profits without the heavy lifting. Visit Mirakl.com to learn more.Hosted by Chris Walton, former Target executive and co-host of the Fast Five Podcast. New episodes of Walton's Weekly Wramblings drop every Friday.Subscribe now and be careful out there - the retail landscape is changing faster than ever.

Retail Media Networks are booming—but there's a catch. As major retailers like Walmart, Target, Albertsons, and Kroger rake in billions from retail media, a growing bottleneck is emerging: campaigns are being sold to brands that can't get their products on the shelf. The result? Missed sales, empty shelves, and damaged shopper trust. In the latest Omni Talk Retail Ask An Expert Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga welcome Director of Customer Success, Joy Spiotta, and Senior Product Marketing Manager, Jenya Lawson, of SPS Commerce to dive into performance-based media access—where supply chain readiness determines who gets premium ad placement, not just who's willing to pay the most. 0:00 - Introduction to retail media bottleneck crisis 2:30 - Meet the experts: Joy Spiotta and Jenya Lawson from SPS Commerce 5:00 - What SPS Commerce does: Connecting retail supply chains 6:15 - The core problem: Ads running for out-of-stock products 8:45 - Why communication breaks down between media and supply chain teams 12:00 - Planning challenges and historical data limitations 14:50 - Real-world example: Sex and the City pearl necklace viral moment 16:30 - Store vs. digital inventory coordination challenges 19:00 - Automation and technological solutions for inventory management 21:30 - Measuring retail media ROI and transparency issues 24:00 - Actionable steps retailers and brands can take today 27:30 - Collaboration strategies and contingency planning 29:00 - Contact information and wrap-up Music by hooksounds.com #retailmedia #supplychain #inventorymanagement #retailtechnology #ecommerce #retailanalytics #merchandising #retailoperations #digitaladvertising *Sponsored Content*

Welcome to the debut of "Walton's Weekly Wramblings" - a brand new weekly synthesis where Chris Walton steps back from the daily headlines to identify which retail stories actually matter for your business over the long term.In this inaugural episode, Chris dives deep into three seemingly unrelated stories from the week that ended July 17, 2025, and reveals how they all connect to one fundamental question: Are we being intentional about the future we're building, or are we just letting it happen to us?This Week's Headlines:

In the first edition of Omni Talk's new monthly series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga team up with AWS's Daniele Stroppa to spotlight the Retail Tech Startup of the Month—and the inaugural winner is Botify. Learn how Botify helps brands improve discoverability across both traditional and generative search engines by going beyond SEO to optimize content visibility for bots and agents. Discover why Botify's approach is a big win for brands navigating the evolving consumer search landscape, and how it also helps reduce operational costs. Key moments from the interview: 00:00 – Intro to new Omni Talk segment with AWS: Retail Tech Startup of the Month 00:33 – Meet Daniele Stroppa, AWS Worldwide Technical Leader for Retail 01:01 – Daniele's role in retail innovation and partner strategy at AWS 02:07 – First award winner revealed: Botify 02:19 – What Botify does: improving brand visibility across search platforms 02:54 – Why visibility in generative search (Perplexity, ChatGPT) matters 03:37 – How Botify goes beyond traditional SEO 04:06 – Analyzing bot and agent behavior on brand websites 04:23 – Helping brands ensure critical content is discoverable 04:41 – Long-term retail implications: revenue, brand recognition, infrastructure cost savings 05:31 – Congrats to Botify and final thoughts on the startup's impact Music by hooksounds.com #retailtech #StartupOfTheMonth #aws #Botify #omnitalkretail #ecommerceseo #generativeai #retailai #discoverability #digitalcommerce Brought to you in partnership with AWS

Join Omni Talk's Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga as they sit down with JOOR CEO Kristin Savilia to explore how Joor is transforming the wholesale fashion landscape. Kristin shares exclusive insights on digitizing the buyer-brand relationship, enabling smarter assortment planning, and helping independent retailers thrive globally. Learn how JOOR;s Shopify integration, AI-powered prospecting, and strategic tariff navigation are reshaping the fashion industry for 2025 and beyond. From shrinking shipping windows to a surge in indie retailers, this conversation is a must-watch for anyone navigating fashion's evolving B2B landscape. Key Moments: 00:00 – Intro and welcome back to Kristin Savilia, CEO of JOOR 01:30 – How JOOR digitizes wholesale buying for brands and retailers 02:50 – Overview of JOOR's platform and client base (14K brands, 670K buyers) 04:15 – Surge of independent retailers: From 47% to 62% of GMV 06:00 – Shopify integration: Bridging wholesale with e-commerce and POS 07:45 – How retailers can adapt to market uncertainty using JOOR data 08:50 – Shrinking shipping windows: From 240 to 84 days and dropping 10:15 – Brands respond with curated assortments and evergreen styles 11:40 – How JOOR helps optimize product curation and minimize buyer risk 13:00 – Tariff pressures and pricing strategies: Expect 20% price increases 16:45 – JOOR's "Ready to Ship" event to offload current inventory 18:50 – Leveraging regional assortments for competitive edge 20:00 – Launch of JOOR Discover: AI matchmaking tool for brand-retailer growth 22:00 – 78% reorder rate and 9X better conversion via AI outreach 24:00 – Rise in ChatGPT/Gemini lead generation vs. traditional SEO 26:30 – How DTC brands can expand into wholesale with JOOR 27:40 – Final thoughts and where to learn more at JOOR.com For more information on JOOR, head here: https://www.joor.com/ Access a JOOR Passport Event here: https://www.jooraccess.com/r/passport/ Download the JOOR Whitepaper here: https://resources.joor.com/how-to-tackle-tariffs-and-thrive-this-coming-market-season #fashiontech #wholesaling #retailai #Joor #omnitalk #retailinnovation #fashiontech #shopifyintegration #retailtrends #b2bfashion #retailstrategy Music by hooksounds.com

Former Target executives Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga analyze this week's biggest retail stories, including Target's questionable "acceleration office" strategy amid declining sales, Sam's Club's game-changing $8.98 pizza delivery service, Lowe's strategic marketplace expansion with Mirakl, Google's AI-powered shopping checkout revolution, and Nike's return to Amazon after six years. The episode features exclusive consumer sentiment data from A&M's David Schneidman, revealing how consumers are cutting discretionary spending while embracing private label and loyalty programs. The hosts deliver sharp criticism of Target's leadership while praising innovative moves from Sam's Club and Lowe's that leverage technology and customer loyalty. This episode is brought to you in partnership with thethe A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand. Music by hooksounds.com

Target's Bold Same-Day Delivery Gamble - Will It Pay Off? Target makes a major play in the membership wars by expanding Circle 360 to include same-day delivery from 100+ partner retailers. Our expert panel is split down the middle on this strategy. Key Moments: 0:00-0:45 - Target's announcement: same-day delivery expansion with no price markups 0:47-1:25 - Chris Disa defends the move as a consumer who already subscribes 1:26-2:30 - Anne questions the financial viability and subscriber conversion potential 2:31-4:00 - Michael's scathing critique: "should never have left the innovation room" 4:01-6:30 - Chris Walton piles on: Target's strategic confusion vs marketplace investment 6:31-7:50 - Chris Disa's counterargument: widening assortment for same-day needs 7:51-8:35 - Competitive comparison to DoorDash Plus restaurant delivery 8:36-10:00 - Michael reveals hidden operational pitfalls and store labor issues The debate reveals deep strategic questions about Target's direction and competitive positioning. This week's episode was brought to you with the help and support of the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand. #target #samedaydelivery #retailstrategy #TargetEarnings #walmartplus #targetnews #RetailOperations #retailnews For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/Qx2hUtMWmTY

Dick's Sporting Goods drops a retail bombshell with the massive Foot Locker acquisition. Our expert panel dissects every angle of this game-changing deal that has Wall Street buzzing. Key Moments: 0:00-0:50 - Deal announcement: $2.4B acquisition details and market reaction 0:51-2:40 - Michael's initial hatred: "Foot Locker has issues" and Nike dependency risks 2:41-4:30 - Michael's flip: Why Dick's $20B size makes this acquisition logical 4:31-5:40 - Chris Walton's "hot take": The shutdown strategy that could work 5:41-7:15 - The Nike power dynamic: Who controls whom in this new relationship? 7:16-8:30 - JD Sports threat and competitive landscape shifts 8:31-9:10 - Mall vs standalone retail: Different customer experiences matter 9:11-11:30 - Chris Disa's strategic analysis: International expansion and operational synergies The debate reveals whether this creates retail powerhouse or dangerous concentration risk. This week's episode was brought to you with the help and support of the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand. #DicksSportingGoods #footlocker #nikesneakers #retailstrategy #sportinggoods #SneakerMarket #retailnews #jdsports #retailstrategy #omnichannelretail #retail For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/Qx2hUtMWmTY

Target's $Billion Rural Gamble - Why Experts Say It's Doomed to Fail Target drops a bombshell expansion strategy that has retail experts in complete agreement - for all the wrong reasons. A former Target executive who actually ran rural stores delivers devastating firsthand insights. Key Moments: 0:00-1:07 - Target's massive rural expansion: 300 stores, 75% to 90% market coverage goal 1:08-2:40 - Chris Disa's measured take: Location-specific success vs. systemic strategy flaws 2:41-4:40 - Michael's scathing critique: "Should never have made it out of C-level meetings" 4:41-5:55 - Why modern Walmart beats Target at their own game in rural markets 5:56-7:30 - Former Target executive Chris Walton's shocking revelation: Rural stores do 50% less volume 7:31-9:15 - The Dollar General problem and why rural markets don't need Target 9:16-10:06 - Michael's final verdict: Focus on "what we can control" instead of "bright shiny objects" A unanimous expert panel demolition of what could be retail's biggest strategic blunder. This week's episode was brought to you with the help and support of the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand. For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/Qx2hUtMWmTY #target #retailstrategy #TargetVsWalmart #RuralRetail #retailnews #retailexpansion #retailnews #dollargeneral #businessstrategy

In this deep-dive Omni Talk Spotlight, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by Rajat Nigam, Chief Product Officer at ClearDemand, to unpack the critical role of competitive intelligence in modern retail pricing. Formerly leading pricing innovation at Amazon, Rajat explains how engineering, data quality, and normalization are central to making pricing intelligence truly actionable — and profitable. From assortment gap analysis to real-time pricing enabled by electronic shelf labels, this episode explores the full retail stack of competitive data strategy. Key Moments: (1:00) Rajat's background and Amazon's secret pricing project (2:40) What makes “good” competitive intelligence (5:00) The three hardest problems in competitive data (7:30) Matching pack sizes and normalizing prices (10:00) Competitive data beyond pricing – assortment, promotions, planning (14:00) Where comp intel works best: grocery vs. luxury (17:00) Role of price elasticity in retail strategy (20:00) How to start: KVI items, category focus, and data gap analysis (23:30) Agility in pricing with ESLs and real-time data (25:00) Final thoughts and predictions for the future of pricing #RetailTech #CompetitiveIntelligence #PricingStrategy #RetailInnovation #ClearDemand #OmniTalk #GroceryTech #RetailData #amazon #PriceOptimization Music by hooksounds.com *Sponsored Content*

In this insightful analysis, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, retail experts reveal what Lowe's new AI assistant is really designed to accomplish, beyond the surface-level marketing about leaky faucets and fertilizer choices. Key Moments: 0:02 - Breaking news: Lowe's introduces MyLow Companion AI assistant for store associates 0:10 - Partnership details: Application developed with OpenAI across 1,700+ stores 0:14 - Core functionalities: Product details, project advice, and inventory information access 0:18 - Key benefit: Accelerating the employee onboarding process 0:27 - Scale achievement: "First retailer to successfully implement this type of technology at scale" 0:33 - Technical capabilities: Generative AI with natural conversational prompts and voice-to-text 0:42 - Example use cases: Fertilizer recommendations and home repair guidance 1:14 - Ben Millers's analysis: Why this is "a great use case for AI" in categories requiring expertise 1:38 - Customer service challenge: Associates' varying experience levels and knowledge gaps 1:50 - Consistency benefit: Creating uniform quality of information regardless of associate tenure 2:00 - Comparison to self-checkout: Options for customers who prefer different service models 2:22 - Anne Mezzenga's critique of the media reporting: Overlooking the more significant training use case 2:42 - Inside information: Conversation with a Lowe's executive reveals true onboarding purpose 2:56 - Real examples: New employees quickly learning shipment timing and warranty information 3:03 - Data collection value: Using interaction data to improve future associate training 3:12 - Customer perspective: Why shoppers wouldn't ask a teenage summer employee about complex repairs 3:40 - Chris Walton's agreement: "100% I'd look this up myself" rather than wait for an associate 4:00 - PR criticism 4:20 - Industry impact concern: Creating false expectations about AI tools for retail associates 4:43 - Higher-value application: Supporting complex high-consideration sales like flooring installations 4:54 - Advanced capability: Prompting associates to ask the right questions based on customer responses 5:01 - Integration potential: Connecting to loyalty programs to enhance personalized selling The experts conclude that while Lowe's marketing focuses on answering simple product questions, the real innovation is in employee training, knowledge management, and creating consistency across a large retail workforce. Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/BrQ0kfPY4LA #loweshomeimprovement #ai #retailnews #retailtech #retailstrategy #retailtrends

Morrisons Robotic Revolution: UK's First Human-Sized Grocery Aisle Robots This eye-opening segment explores how Morrisons supermarket is transforming UK grocery operations by deploying the first human-sized aisle robots in the country. Retail experts analyze what this means for the industry's automation future. Key Moments: 0:02 - Breaking news: Morrisons becomes first UK supermarket to deploy human-sized aisle robots 0:08 - Introduction to Simbe's Tally robots now operating in three northern England stores 0:27 - Ben Mille reveals he hasn't personally seen the robots but shares insider information from a colleague 0:54 - Technical details: Robots autonomously loop stores twice daily, checking 30,000 products hourly 1:07 - Comparison to similar technology already deployed by BJs and Schnucks in US markets 1:18 - Primary use cases: Inventory checking and pricing/promotion accuracy verification 1:23 - Critical ROI metric: Robots save approximately 50 labor hours weekly per store 1:32 - Expert analysis on why inventory management is "everything in grocery" and impacts P&L 1:42 - The challenge of balancing availability against waste, especially for short shelf-life products 2:01 - Anne Mezzenga highlights important insight: Even smaller-format UK stores see ROI from robot deployment 2:36 - Chris Walton confirms this validates "2025 being the year of the robot" prediction 3:03 - Additional benefit beyond inventory: Accurate pricing ensures capturing vendor promotional income Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/BrQ0kfPY4LA The discussion, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, reveals how robotic technology is proving valuable across different store formats and markets, making it a consideration for any retail executive serious about operational efficiency. #morrisons #retailnews #retailstrategy #retailtrends #robots #grocery #retailtech

In this eye-opening retail industry analysis, our expert panel examines the high-stakes partnership between Amazon and Saks Fifth Avenue that could reshape luxury shopping forever. Key Moments: 0:02 - Introduction to the new "Luxury Stores at Amazon" partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue 0:50 - Ben Miller breaks down the strategy from Amazon's perspective as they pursue luxury consumers 1:18 - The fundamental mismatch between Amazon's utility-focused model and luxury's desire-creation business 2:05 - Critical context: Amazon's previous investment in Saks Global and the acquisition's financial problems 2:36 - Revelation of Saks' massive debt and upcoming repayment challenges driving this decision 3:32 - Chris Walton explains why luxury brands may not actually participate despite the partnership 4:16 - The "death knell" theory: Why using Fifth Avenue windows to promote Amazon shopping is "asinine" 5:15 - Counterpoint: Nordstrom's success with luxury through exceptional in-store experiences 6:54 - Anne Mezzenga provides a different perspective on the value of Amazon's convenience for luxury shoppers 7:53 - The shipping speed advantage: Getting luxury items next-day versus waiting a week 8:31 - How Amazon's Rufus AI could transform luxury shopping search and recommendations 9:23 - Heated debate: Could Buy with Prime have achieved the same goals without diluting the Saks brand? Listen as our retail experts battle over whether this partnership represents a desperate financial move or a necessary evolution in luxury retail's ongoing digital transformation in this week's Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand. Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/BrQ0kfPY4LA #amazon #saksfifthavenue #LuxuryRetail #retail #ecommercestrategy #retailinnovation #luxuryshopping #RetailDebate #AmazonLuxury #retailtransformation #omnichannel #retailbusiness

In this insightful retail analysis, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, experts debate whether Walmart's new Texas Supercenter deserves its "store of the future" label or simply represents a necessary upgrade to remain competitive in 2025. Key Moments: 0:02 - Introduction to Walmart's new "store of the future" in Cypress, Texas 0:09 - Surprising revelation: This is Walmart's first ground-up Supercenter in four years 0:18 - Walmart's ambitious plans to convert 150+ stores to this model in coming years 0:24 - Feature breakdown: Fuel station, modernized pharmacy, vision center, and elevated departments 0:39 - Digital enhancements: App integration for services like TV mounting and registry management 0:49 - Technology implementation: Digital shelf labels and QR codes for expanded assortment access 1:32 - Ben Miller's surprise at the four-year gap since Walmart's last ground-up Supercenter 1:43 - Positive assessment of Walmart's operational standards and digital journey integration 2:04 - Strategic value of driving app usage to increase media sales and Walmart+ memberships 2:33 - Expert critique: This isn't truly a "store of the future" but rather a "store of now" 3:13 - Chris Walton explains it's more of a "prototype of the future" - pragmatic evolution vs. revolution 3:54 - Anne Mezzenga highlights regional competitive strategy against H-E-B with features like in-store tortillas 4:32 - What's missing: Comparison to Target's "store of the future" concept with more experimental tests 5:09 - Discussion of testing business model dynamics to improve profitability 5:36 - Reference to Walmart's unlocking of efficiencies through employee-facing technology 6:07 - Final assessment: "It's a Walmart makeover" targeting new demographics with enhanced experience The experts conclude this represents a solid strategic update rather than revolutionary retail concept, positioning Walmart effectively against regional competition while implementing proven technologies. Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/BrQ0kfPY4LA #walmart #texas #retail #retailnews #retailtrends #retailtech #storeofthefuture

In this episode of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand,Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga break down Ulta's surprising decision to pause its shop-in-shop rollout with Target. Despite Target touting strong beauty performance, Ulta CEO Kecia Steelman—an operations leader and former Target exec—has decided to hold at 610 locations, raising questions about store traffic, brand alignment, and future investments. Chris compares Target to a ‘Mike Dexter' moment in retail (3:00), while Anne explores how cultural sentiment and operational caution may be driving this pause (4:50).

In this episode of Omni Talk's Ask an Expert series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga talk with Stipe Galic, VP of Business Development & Marketing at TGW, to demystify the complexities of returns in today's omnichannel retail world. From cost savings to faster reshelving, Stipe walks us through how automation, flexible software, and a unified DC setup are transforming how retailers like Urban Outfitters manage inventory and returns. Key Moments: 1:05 – Stipe's journey from mechanical engineer to automation leader at TGW 4:59 – Why returns are such a thorn in omnichannel fulfillment 7:00 – Real-time processing of returns with mixed-SKU totes 10:00 – How software decides between single-SKU and return stock 14:36 – Case study: High-end fashion retailer consolidating DC operations 19:56 – Cutting return costs nearly in half through automation 22:00 – “Bridge vs. Ferry” analogy on warehouse responsiveness 24:35 – Seamless integration > cutting-edge tech: the new mindset Music by hooksounds.com *Sponsored Content*

The Shoptalk 2025 Key Takeaways Podcast is here! Recorded live on stage, this fast-paced episode features Omni Talk's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Shoptalk's content team — Marielle Bobo, Ben Miller, HG O'Connell, and the live conference audience — as they spin the wheel to hit the hottest themes of the show.

In this packed episode, Omni Talk hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga interview the most innovative retail technology providers attending Shoptalk 2025, giving listeners an insider's guide to the conference's must-see tech solutions. Key Moments: 1:33 – Interview with Big Sur AI's CEO Vinod Ramachandran on their AI sales agent, content marketer, and data scientist tools 17:12 – Lucky Labs' Sneh Parmar explains how they connect brands to major retailers with real-time inventory and attribution data 27:47 – Lily AI's Purva Gupta breaks down how they bridge the gap between merchant language and consumer search terms 44:33 – Syrup's James Theuerkauf discusses their AI decision support system for optimizing inventory management 56:50 – Placer.AI's Ethan Chernofsky shares insights on location analytics and understanding retail traffic patterns 1:12:34 – Treasure Data's Mark Tack on intelligent data platforms transforming retail customer experiences 1:25:01 – Mirakl's Alex Hase explains the rising trend of specialty retailers launching marketplace platforms 1:35:33 – Signifyd's Raj Ramanand reveals how AI is solving the $890 billion returns problem in retail Be careful out there, #retailtech #shoptalk #aiinretail #retailinnovation #ecommerce #retailstrategy #customerexperience #retailanalytics #digitaltransformation *Sponsored Content*

How is AI transforming retail technology? In this episode, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga talk with Jessica Grisolia from Scandit about the latest innovations in smart data capture, shelf intelligence, and workforce efficiency. Find out how AI is not replacing store associates but enhancing their productivity, and why next-best-action intelligence is coming soon to inventory management. ⏳ Key Moments: 0:08 – Intro to OmniTalk's Ask An Expert Series 1:21 – The importance of human-centric retail AI 5:41 – The $1.7 trillion inventory problem retailers face 9:25 – How AI optimizes store associates' workflows 18:52 – Staples Canada's 45% cost reduction with smart data capture 27:44 – Retail AI trends for 2026: Agentic AI and coordinated computer vision