Podcasts about Fast Five

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 OpenAI's move to begin testing ads on ChatGPT — a major shift in how AI-powered search may monetize. Live from FMI, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga debate whether users will care about ads at all, why UI and buying friction matter more than privacy fears, and what this signals about the escalating battle between OpenAI and Google. They also explore how brands may respond as AI-driven searches continue to convert at higher rates. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #ChatGPT #AIAdvertising #RetailMedia #SearchWars #AgenticCommerce #OmniTalk #FMI2026

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 Kroger's nationwide rollout of grocery delivery through Uber Eats, Uber, and Postmates... putting nearly 2,700 stores on yet another major platform. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss why Kroger is embracing every delivery channel, how this strategy compares to Walmart and Amazon's owned networks, and whether expanding third-party delivery is a smart hedge in a post-Ocado world or a long-term road to being squeezed. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #Kroger #UberEats #GroceryDelivery #RetailStrategy #OmniChannel #RetailTech #RetailFastFive #OmniTalk

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 Walmart's push into trendier, more upscale home goods as it looks to attract higher-income shoppers and take share from Amazon. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss why home is ultimately a price-and-search-driven category, how Walmart's scale, returns, and Walmart+ advantages change the game, and why selling high-end items may be far less risky than it appears. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #Walmart #HomeGoods #RetailStrategy #Ecommerce #RetailTrends #RetailFastFive #OmniTalk

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 why entertainment has become retail's latest buzzword... from Fanatics launching Fanatics Studios to Gap appointing its first-ever Chief Entertainment Officer. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga debate whether retail entertainment is a true growth engine or just modern marketing, why Fanatics' sports flywheel gives it a massive edge, and whether Gap's LA-based “fashiontainment” strategy will drive ROI or simply add cost. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #Fanatics #Gap #RetailEntertainment #Retailtainment #BrandMarketing #RetailStrategy #RetailFastFive #OmniTalk

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 culture, fashion, and the lighter side of retail. From retro love letters and typewriter nostalgia to celebrity wedding drama, fashion legacy, and Broadway's Magic Mike Live, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga keep things fast, fun, and unpredictable. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #LightningRound #RetailCulture #PopCulture #OmniTalk #FMI2026

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 Simbe's launch of Tally 4.0, the most advanced generation of its autonomous shelf-scanning robot. Live from FMI, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss why expanded coverage across produce, freezers, and top stock is a game-changer, how real-time shelf data becomes the foundation for the connected store, and why in-store robotics may offer one of the clearest ROIs in retail heading into 2026. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #Simbe #Tally40 #RetailRobotics #ConnectedStore #RetailTech #GroceryRetail #RetailFastFive #OmniTalk

Send us a textInterpersonal communication is what our students want most… and what many of us struggle to make happen without it turning into their common language in 10 seconds

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 discussed: ChatGPT beginning to test ads for logged-in users (Source) Kroger launching on Uber nationwide across 2,700 stores (Source) Walmart leaning into trendier, upscale home goods (Source) Fanatics launching an entertainment studio while Gap creates a Chief Entertainment Officer role (Source) Simbe unveiling Tally 4.0 with advanced AI capabilities (Source) There's all that, plus graduation speech confessions, Magic Mike on Broadway, and whether Victoria Beckham should've hijacked her son's first dance. P.S. Be sure to check out all our other podcasts from the past week here, too: https://omnitalk.blog/category/podcast/ P.P.S. Also be sure to check out our podcast rankings on Apple Podcasts and on Feedspot Music by hooksounds.com #RetailNews #ChatGPTAds #WalmartHome #RetailTech #FanaticsStudio #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #SimbeTally #RetailInnovation #KrogerUber

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 discussed: Amazon's plans to build a 225,000 square foot retail store in Orland Park, Illinois (Source) Google's launch of a Universal Commerce Protocol with backing from major retailers (Source) Circle K expanding its partnership with Corso to over 7,800 US locations (Source) Small merchants upset over Amazon's Buy for Me AI feature listing products without permission (Source) Walmart and Wing scaling drone delivery to 270 stores by 2027 (Source) And Ulta Beauty's SVP of Digital and E-Commerce, Josh Friedman, also stopped by to share five insightful minutes about Ulta's marketplace plans. There's all that, plus banana water, birthday drone deliveries, and why Chris thinks Amazon's supercenter concept might be their last retail experiment. Music by hooksounds.com #RetailNews #GoogleUCP #AmazonRetail #WalmartDrones #AgenticCommerce #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #CircleK #UltaBeauty #RetailTech #DroneDelivery #RetailInnovation

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, dives into Schnucks' reported 100% success rate stopping gift card fraud using Digimarc technology. Chris and Anne explain why gift card fraud is exploding, why this solution actually works, and what other retailers can learn from Schnucks' approach. ⏩ Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/j0UulTYE5_8 #GiftCardFraud #RetailSecurity #Digimarc #Schnucks #RetailTech #FraudPrevention #OmniTalk

In this segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, the team unpacks Amazon's integration of instant meal shopping into browser-based Alexa+. Chris and Anne debate whether this is true convenience or just more friction hiding behind AI, and what it signals about Amazon's long-term grocery and agentic commerce ambitions. ⏩ Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/j0UulTYE5_8 #Amazon #AlexaPlus #AIShopping #MealPlanning #GroceryTech #AgenticCommerce #OmniTalk

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Instacart's decision to shut down its AI-driven pricing tests after consumer backlash. Chris and Anne dig into why pricing transparency still matters, how quickly trust can erode, and what this means for AI-powered pricing across grocery and retail. A sharp conversation on where experimentation crosses the line. ⏩ Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/j0UulTYE5_8 #Instacart #AIPricing #RetailAI #GroceryDelivery #PricingTransparency #RetailTech #OmniTalk

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 Save Mart's rollout of Amazon Returns kiosks across more than 140 stores. Chris and Anne discuss what returns-as-traffic really means for grocers, whether this partnership helps or hurts store economics, and how physical retail keeps getting pulled deeper into Amazon's ecosystem. ⏩ Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/j0UulTYE5_8 #SaveMart #AmazonReturns #RetailPartnerships #BrickAndMortar #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, features Chris and Anne closing out the show with rapid-fire takes on the lighter (and weirder) side of retail and culture. The conversation jumps from LEGO's smart brick ambitions to the rise of toxic mom groups online, plus the internet's obsession with five-gallon popcorn buckets. Chris and Anne also weigh in on whether the Stranger Things finale deserves a do-over because no Lightning Round is complete without a strong pop culture opinion. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/j0UulTYE5_8 #LightningRound #RetailFastFive #OmniTalk #RetailCulture #PopCulture #ConsumerTrends #StrangerThings #LEGO

This clip from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, explores Kroger's new discount initiative for SNAP recipients. Chris and Anne discuss why affordability strategies matter more than ever, how grocers are approaching value differently, and whether programs like this can drive both loyalty and impact at scale. ⏩ Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/j0UulTYE5_8 #Kroger #SNAP #GroceryRetail #RetailStrategy #FoodAccess #RetailNews #OmniTalk

In this week's Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Quorso, Infios, Ocampo Capital, and Veloq, Chris and Anne discussed: Instacart ending its controversial price testing program (Source) Kroger launching a new discount program for SNAP recipients (Source) Amazon integrating instant meal shopping into browser-based Alexa Plus (Source) Save Mart placing Amazon Returns kiosks across 140+ stores (Source) Schnucks seeing 100% success preventing gift card fraud with Digimarc (Source) And Veloq CEO Richard McKenzie stopped by to give us five insightful minutes on how the Rohlik Group does E-commerce grocery profitably - and how they're bringing that technology to other grocers. There's all that, plus LEGO smart bricks, toxic mom groups, five-gallon buckets of popcorn, and whether the Stranger Things finale needs a do-over. Music by hooksounds.com #RetailNews #Instacart #KrogerGrocery #AlexaPlus #AmazonMealPlanning #RetailTech #GiftCardFraud #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #GroceryDelivery #EcommerceGrocery #Veloq

It's time for the peak installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise, or at least the first peak of several, and it's always hard to talk about good films but we do our best.Support us at our podcasting network, Podcastio Podcastius at https://www.patreon.com/podcastiopodcastius.  You'll get early episodes of this and out other podcasts, along with a live chat here and there.Speaking of our other podcasts - seriously, you could only listen to various other configurations of us:Luke Loves Pokemon: https://lukelovespkmn.transistor.fm/Time Enough Podcast (Twilight Zone): https://timeenoughpodcast.transistor.fm/Game Game Show (a game show gaming games): https://gamegameshow.transistor.fm/Occult Disney: https://occultdisney.transistor.fm/Podcast: 1999 (where Mark and Matt rap about 70's tv sci-fi): https://podcast1999.transistor.fm/And Matt makes music here:https://rovingsagemedia.bandcamp.com/Coming Soon: The Fast and The Furious (1954) Fast & Furious 6Furious 7

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, analyzes Target's new permanent Soho store featuring "The Drop" rotating seasonal styles, a Broadway Beauty Bar, and influencer-curated selections. Anne sees potential if Target can solve the technology and operational challenges needed to scale this concept, especially as Ulta departs Target stores. Chris pushes back hard, calling it "pure PR sizzle" that's designed for Instagram photos rather than operational scalability. The debate gets heated as they discuss whether New York City is the right testing ground. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #Target #TargetSoho #retailinnovation #storeconcept #experientialretail #retailstrategy #omnichannel

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores Amazon's reported plans to launch a Rush pickup service enabling one-hour order collection at Amazon-owned stores. According to Business Insider, the service would let shoppers place unified orders from Amazon's marketplace and physical store inventory. Chris argues this is a road to nowhere given Whole Foods' operational constraints and Walmart's superior store network, while Anne sees potential if Amazon can solve the logistics puzzle. Is this Amazon's answer to Walmart's pickup dominance or an operational overreach? ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #Amazon #AmazonRush #WholeFoods #retailpickup #lastmile #Walmart #omnichannel #retailoperations

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, examines Consumer Reports' investigation revealing Instacart's AI-powered pricing experiments that resulted in price variations up to 23% between customers. Chris and Anne debate whether algorithmic pricing is acceptable for essential categories like grocery, especially as consumers gain access to AI tools that can instantly compare prices across platforms. Anne sees the business case for convenience-based pricing, while Chris questions the ethics of dynamic pricing on necessities. Plus, the A&M Put You on the Spot Question explores whether pricing algorithms feel different for groceries versus travel. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #Instacart #dynamicpricing #AIpricing #grocery #consumerrights #algorithmic pricing #retailtech #transparency

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, examines Ashley Furniture's groundbreaking partnership with Perplexity that enables complete transactions—from product recommendations to payment—in one conversation. Chris loves this move, calling it brilliant because Ashley can bypass marketplaces and leverage its brand recognition directly in AI search. Anne agrees but criticizes retailers for announcing features that don't work yet, sharing her frustration trying to actually use the Ashley-Perplexity integration. A must-watch for understanding agentic commerce strategy! ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #AshleyFurniture #PerplexityAI #agenticcommerce #AIshop ping #answerengines #retailstrategy #furniture #ecommerce

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, features Chris and Anne tackle the fun side of retail as we head into NRF 2026. Ryan Reynolds keynotes NRF this January... Chris shares the one question he'd ask about Blake Lively's best film role. Anne reveals her son's elaborate Google Slides pitch for an F1B goldendoodle and her puppy yoga compromise. The hosts preview Calvin Klein's new SoHo flagship as a must-see NRF store tour stop, and pay tribute to the late Rob Reiner with their Mount Rushmore picks: Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Stand By Me, A Few Good Men, and Spinal Tap. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #RyanReynolds #NRF2026 #retailconference #keynote #retailmarketing

This segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, unpacks November's stunning $12.3 billion in online grocery sales—the second time monthly sales topped $12 billion. Chris is gobsmacked by consumers choosing the more expensive delivery option despite budget constraints, while Anne attributes growth to improved curbside pickup experiences and loyalty incentives. Both hosts agree this signals that agentic AI will explode in grocery first, as UBS predicts, given consumers' growing comfort with repeat ordering and price transparency. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/RjBUyfWgxzY #onlinegrocery #grocerydelivery #ecommerce #curbsidepickup #Walmart #Target #agenticAI #consumertrends

(0:10 - 0:23) The podcast kicks off with hosts Marcy Gordon and Beth Costa introducing "Wine Road," a show about the wine culture of Northern Sonoma County. They thank Ron Rubin for supporting the podcast. (0:24 - 0:48) River Road Family Vineyards and Winery is highlighted as a sponsor, enabling the podcast to continue. Listeners are encouraged to explore their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at RiverRoadVineyards.com. (0:49 - 1:16) The hosts introduce episode 242, a festive "Celebrate Christmas" edition, recorded on December 18th. They share their excitement for the holiday season. (1:17 - 1:39) The hosts enjoy eggnog and holiday cheer, with Marcy joking about "Santa pauses" and Beth adjusting to not introducing a guest. (1:42 - 2:00) Beth shares her excitement about spending Christmas with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren in Cloverdale, emphasizing the importance of family during the holidays. (2:05 - 2:23) Beth reminisces about a Nutcracker-themed children's book that her grandson loves, which still works after years of use, despite her family's mixed feelings about it. (2:30 - 3:25) The hosts discuss the upcoming "Winter Wineland" event on January 17-18, featuring 60 wineries. It's a relaxed, fun weekend to enjoy wine tasting, with extended offers for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. (3:26 - 4:14) Beth mentions the Wine Road's ongoing auction to raise funds and teases the 50th anniversary celebration in 2026. Plans include a grand tasting event at Fopiano Vineyards, showcasing founding and long-time member wineries. (4:15 - 5:32) The hosts reflect on the Wine Road's history, including its 40th-anniversary documentary, and share details about the 50th-anniversary celebration in November 2026, which will feature live music, appetizers, and winery interviews. (5:33 - 6:21) Beth shares her holiday traditions, including decorating her house, baking cookies with her grandkids, and enjoying Christmas lights in Cloverdale. Marcy adds her Italian-inspired traditions, like panettone and spaghetti with meatballs. (6:22 - 7:14) The hosts discuss holiday baking, with Beth excited about her pastry chef daughter visiting to take over the kitchen. They also mention local light displays and parades in Sebastopol and Occidental. (7:15 - 9:00) Beth recalls a memorable Christmas trip to the San Francisco Zoo to see reindeer, which ended with a long traffic jam on the Golden Gate Bridge. The hosts agree that the best holiday memories often involve mishaps. (9:01 - 11:34) The hosts outline upcoming Wine Road events: Winter Wineland (January 17-18): A weekend wine-tasting event. Wine Love Wine Trail (February 14): A one-day, $50 event with 40 wineries. Barrel Tasting (March): A chance to taste wines still aging in barrels, alongside current and library vintages. (11:35 - 13:40) Beth highlights the Geyserville Inn as a lodging option, noting its vineyard-surrounded location, renovated rooms, and on-site restaurant. It's ideal for weddings, meetings, or a wine country getaway. (13:41 - 15:27) Marcy introduces a "Where Am I?" segment, describing a winery in Dry Creek Valley with a scenic view, old tractors, and Rhone varietals. Listeners can email guesses to win a Wine Road picnic blanket. (15:28 - 20:19) The hosts share a "Fast Five" recipe for snowball cookies with pistachios, adding humor and outtakes as they struggle to describe the process. The recipe includes flour, salted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and nuts. They promise to include detailed instructions in the show notes. (20:20 - 20:23) The episode wraps up with holiday wishes and laughter over the cookie recipe outtakes.   Todays Links: River Road Family Vineyards & Winery Winter Wineland Geyserville Inn Marcy's Snowball Cookies - with somewhat clearer instructions...        

Listen to the full episode here Hi Toasters! For your second episode this month we've got a regular-degular episode of The Toast. We are covering Rob Reiner's tragic murder, Taylor's new doc, big podcasting news and all the shows we've been watching. ENJOY! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, Chris and Anne discussed: Amazon's planned “rush” pickup service for one-hour order collection (Source) Instacart's AI-enabled pricing experiments that may be inflating grocery bills (Source) November's record-breaking $12.3 billion in online grocery sales (Source) Target's new SoHo store concept featuring curated beauty and apparel (Source) Ashley's partnership with Perplexity and PayPal for agentic commerce (Source) And special guest David Dorf of AWS, one of our favorite recurring guests, dropped by to share his insightful predictions on AI for 2026. There's all that, plus Ryan Reynolds at NRF, the world's largest golden retriever gathering, and whether Chris would smuggle Calvin Klein underwear from a store tour. Music by hooksounds.com #RetailNews #AmazonRush #InstacartPricing #OnlineGrocery #AgenticCommerce #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #TargetSoHo #AshleyFurniture #PerplexityAI #RetailInnovation

We're making up for a long-time oversight on the podcast by finally watching The French Connection, starring Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider! After exploring the historical context of 1971 films (and which Best Picture winners we've covered on the podcast), we turn our appreciation toward a thing that influenced so many on-screen car chases, cop movies, and The Wire. We talk about how our podcast keeps crossing over with fast food restaurants, how The French Connection captures the griminess of 1970s Brooklyn and subways and real locations (and real bars), and how William Friedkin seems hellbent on showing actual illicit activities on-screen. Joe admires chemistry glass Joey breaks down *the* on-screen car chase. We talk about how the film is like Fast Five. Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠family@cageclub.me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/2fast2forever⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Show your support at the 2 Fast 2 Forever shop⁠⁠⁠⁠!Extra special shout-out to Alex Elonen, Brian Rodriguez (High School Slumber Party), Michael McGahon, Lane Middleton, Jason Rainey, Wes Hampton, Josh Buckley (Whole Lotta Wolves), Michael Moser, Christian Larson, Terra New One, Aaron Woloszyn, and Randy Carter for joining at the “Interpol's Most Wanted” level or above!Intro music by Nico Vasilo. Interlude and outro music by Wes Hampton.

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group call out 2025's most overhyped retail technologies in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. Anne criticizes smart carts' misleading deployment numbers and questionable ROI, while both Chad and Chris agree agentic AI commerce is overhyped despite being transformative… pointing to Target's rushed ChatGPT integration as proof retailers are moving too fast without strategy. Can technology be both the future and overhyped simultaneously? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY #overhypedtech #smartcarts #agenticai #targetchatgpt #retailtech #technologyhype #retailstrategy

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group debate 2025's smartest retail partnerships in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. Chad highlights Walmart's Rebag luxury resale partnership as perfectly timed for cross-income shopping trends, Chris praises Walmart and Avery Dennison's perishables tracking as the "holy grail" for grocery margins, while Anne champions IKEA's Best Buy kitchen installations as brilliant real estate utilization. Which partnership model works best for expansion? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY #retailpartnerships #walmartrebag #ikeabestbuy #luxuryresale #inventorytracking #retailcollaboration #marketplacestrategy

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group crown their CEO of the Year in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. Chad surprises with Fidji Simo's bold move from Instacart to OpenAI Applications as a signal of commerce's future direction, while both Chris and Anne recognize Doug McMillon's decade-long transformation of Walmart from legacy retailer to omnichannel powerhouse. Was 2025 about execution or strategic positioning? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY #retailCEO #dougmcmillan #fidjisimo #openai #walmarttransformation #retailleadership #executivemoves

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group recognize 2025's best retail turnarounds in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. Both Anne and Chris praise Macy's focus on core stores, private brand investment, and Tony Spring's shoe department service improvements, while Chad celebrates Gap's viral marketing comeback with KATSEYE bringing cultural relevance. Can advertising alone save a struggling brand, or does execution matter more? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY #macysturnaround #gapmarketing #tonyspring #strugglingretailers #brandrevival #retailstrategy #KATSEYE

Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Chris, and Anne debate 2025's most significant retail headline sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. Chris picks Walmart's ChatGPT integration as a potential Amazon disruptor, Anne highlights Etsy and OpenAI's transactional partnership as commerce's pivotal moment, while Chad argues Doug McMillon's retirement marks the end of retail's post-Amazon era. Which headline will define retail's next decade? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY #headlineoftheyear #dougmcmillan #walmartchatgpt #etsyopenai #retailleadership #agenticcommerce #johnfurner

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group close with bold 2026 predictions sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. Chad predicts OpenAI will launch its own payment platform for agent commerce, Chris forecasts Starbucks will abandon seating for mobile-focused ghost cafes, while Anne expects agent-influenced shopping to triple during 2026 holiday season. Which prediction will prove most accurate? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY #retail2026 #retailpredictions #openai #agentcommerce #starbucksstrategy #retailfuture #AIshopping

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group pitch their retail movie ideas in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. Chris envisions "Shein: Sac le blue!!!" featuring Paris protests, Chad creates a Black Mirror-style thriller about Neo's terrifying robot servant with human controllers, while Anne wants true crime investigations of mysterious CEO departures at Kohl's and Kroger. Which retail headline belongs on the big screen? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY #retailmovie #shein #neorobot #kohlsCEO #krogerCEO #retaildrama #retailheadlines

Chris, Anne, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group call out 2025's most ridiculous retail headlines in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. Anne demolishes Starbucks' claim that mobile pickup stores lack "warmth and connection," Chad laughs at Liquid Death's viral pit diaper incident, while Chris questions Target's small town expansion as desperate PR. Which headline showed the worst strategic thinking? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY #starbucksfails #liquiddeath #targetstrategy #laughableheadlines #retailfails #retailstrategy #mobilepickup

Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Chris, and Anne debate Retailer of the Year in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. Chad champions Aldi's unprecedented 225-store expansion and perfect timing with value-conscious consumers, while Anne argues Walmart's technology leadership and fashion momentum earned them the crown. Chris makes the case for Costco's operational discipline and traffic growth despite stock challenges. Who deserves 2025's top retail honor? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY #retaileroftheyear #aldi #walmart #costco #groceryretail #retailexpansion #privatelabel #valueretail

Chris, Anne, and Chad reveal their Technology of the Year picks in this segment sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. Chad champions pricing transparency tools like Grocery Dealz that could disrupt grocery economics, Anne argues electronic shelf labels finally reached mainstream adoption after Walmart's chain-wide rollout, while Chris focuses on operational agentic AI transforming warehouses and inventory management. Which technology truly moved the needle? For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/ApiGWRByxIY #retailtech #electronicshelflabels #agenticai #pricingtransparency #grocerytech #warehouseautomation #retailinnovation

McKinsey and Business of Fashion report predicts smart glasses are set for a breakthrough year in 2026, with Ray-Ban Meta glasses already the top-selling product in 60% of EMEA stores. But Chris and Anne aren't buying it. This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, questions the hype around smart eyewear. Anne argues that smart glasses are too visible and fashion-forward for mass adoption—unlike discrete smartwatches and rings. Chris, who owns Meta's Ray-Bans, admits they mostly collect dust and warns fashion retailers to stay away from tech partnerships that could leave them holding markdown bags. #smartglasses #raybanmeta #wearabletech #fashiontech #retailtech #metaclasses #techtrends #retailinnovation

Amazon is testing "Amazon Now," a new 30-minute delivery service in Seattle and Philadelphia, repurposing former Amazon Fresh sites into rapid delivery hubs. But is this innovation or desperation? This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, analyzes Amazon's grocery struggles. Chris reveals the shocking stat: Despite owning Whole Foods and having Amazon's infrastructure, Amazon's grocery share is still only 4%. He sees this as a defensive move more than offensive strategy. Anne questions the economics. Prime members pay $3.99 per delivery, but after two orders you could subscribe to DoorDash and get access to better quality groceries from trusted regional stores. #amazon #amazonnow #grocerydelivery #rapiddelivery #amazonfresh #retailstrategy #lastmile #quickcommerce

Walmart is quietly testing a new ad format called "sponsored prompts" inside its Sparky AI shopping engine and both Chris and Anne agree this is exactly the right move. This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, breaks down why retailer-owned AI is the smart play. According to Wall Street Journal reporting, Walmart's new ad format integrates sponsored content directly into Sparky conversations with click-to-buy options. Anne loves it because it captures consumers at the perfect moment with relevant offers. Chris sees it as proof that retailers should focus on their own AI experiences rather than chasing ChatGPT integration—especially since Walmart's ad business is already growing at nearly 100% per year. #walmart #retailmedia #aishopping #sparky #retailstrategy #advertising #ecommerce #retailtech

Advent calendars are the hot holiday trend...from Skims to fishing lures to ice cream. Chris reveals his dream: 28 days of Nikes. Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. In this Lightning Round: • Are slop bowls officially dead as sandwiches stage a comeback? • The White House drops 120 pounds of gingerbread • And how Mariah Carey turned one song into $60M #adventcalendar #nike #holidaytrends #specialtyretail

ChatGPT just launched shopping research that does the product hunting for you, but should retailers be worried or relieved? This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores the real implications of AI-powered shopping tools. Anne is bullish, arguing that AI shopping tools provide unprecedented price transparency and will change how consumers shop for everything from snacks to electronics. Chris pushes back hard: only 30% of searches are actually research-intensive, and Amazon already dominates product search without needing ChatGPT. The debate gets heated as they question whether these platforms are truly game-changing or just incremental improvements to search. #chatgpt #aishopping #openai #productresearch #retailtech #generativeai #ecommerce #shoppingtrends

Black Friday 2025 just hit $11.8 billion in online sales... up 9.1% from last year. But Chris questions whether AI's 805% traffic surge is actually impressive or concerningly slow compared to other tech adoption curves. This segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, dives deep into what the numbers really mean. Anne argues that 25% of purchases involving AI agents shows tremendous growth potential, especially since we can't even transact in these platforms yet. Chris counters by comparing AI adoption to buy-now-pay-later's 970% growth over three years, suggesting retailers should slow their roll on AI investments. Plus: Why are club stores crushing Black Friday traffic? And why is mobile still only 55% of purchases? #blackfriday #retailanalytics #aishopping #ecommerce #retaildata #holidayshopping #mobilecommerce #retailtrends

In this Fast Five episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga break down the biggest retail stories from Black Friday 2025, including record-breaking online sales, AI's growing influence on shopping, and what it all means for the future of retail. From ChatGPT's new shopping research tool to Walmart's bold move to monetize Sparky with ads, Chris and Anne debate where retailers should focus their AI investments. Plus, they tackle smart glasses' potential breakthrough year, Amazon's 30-minute delivery test, and whether the industry is moving too fast on agentic commerce.

This Lightning Round segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, gets personal with the Omni Talk crew's Thanksgiving and Black Friday plans! Anne and producer Ella gang up on Chris's love of jarred gravy (spoiler: they're both anti-gravy). The team shares their Black Friday shopping strategies from Banana Republic to luxury consignment pop-ups. Plus, Anne weighs in on Bianca Censori's Kanye-funded fashion brand launch… is it ironic that someone famous for barely wearing clothes is launching a clothing line? Tune in for the fun, unfiltered takes! #thanksgiving #blackfriday #holidayshopping #shopssmallsaturday #retailpodcast #biancacensori #kanyewest #fashion #lightninground #thanksgivingfood

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, celebrates Gap's 7% comparable sales surge after its viral "Better in Denim" campaign featuring KATSEYE. Anne praises Richard Dickson's entertainment-first approach for making Gap culturally relevant again with Gen Z and millennials. Chris remains cautiously optimistic, questioning whether flashy marketing alone can drive repeat purchases if the product quality doesn't deliver. #gap #richarddickson #katseye #gapdenim #retailmarketing #fashion #genz #viralmarketing #gapcomeback #retailsales

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, examines Bath & Body Works' decision to launch on Amazon early next year. With $60-80M in unauthorized gray market sales already happening, the company will test a curated assortment to control its brand and capture revenue. Anne argues LLM search makes marketplace presence essential for discovery and conversion. Chris believes Bath & Body Works should wait, perfect their own site experience first, and avoid feeding Amazon's dominance. Who has the better long-term strategy? #bathandbodyworks #amazon #marketplace #graymarket #ecommerce #brandstrategy #retailstrategy #thirdpartysellers #beautyretail #amazonmarketplace

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, analyzes Kroger's decision to shut down three automated fulfillment centers with a staggering $2.6 billion write-off. The grocer is pivoting to in-store fulfillment and third-party delivery partnerships to improve digital profitability by $400M in 2026. Chris questions the scale of the initial investment error, while Anne explores how evolving customer demand for fresh products may impact automation ROI. Is this the end of the CFC era, or just a course correction? #kroger #automation #CFC #grocerytech #ecommerce #retailautomation #Ocado #supplychain #digitalcommerce #grocerydelivery

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, dives into Target's disastrous Q3 earnings. While Walmart, TJX, Ross, and Best Buy raised their outlooks, Target's four-year sales stack turned negative...meaning zero growth since 2021. Chris argues Target is the "real turkey" of earnings season, while Anne questions what anyone expected during a CEO transition and 1,800-person layoff. Is this rock bottom or just the beginning of a longer turnaround? Tune in for the heated debate! #target #retailearnings #walmart #targetvswalmart #discountretail #retailnews #earnings #retailanalysis

This segment from the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores Target's bold move to enable shopping through ChatGPT just days before Black Friday. Anne sees it as a necessary first step into LLM-powered commerce and applauds Target for testing publicly. Chris calls it a "big nothing burger"... questioning why Target launched an incomplete beta feature during their busiest week, especially when their own site search isn't optimized yet. Who's right? #target #chatgpt #aicommerce #llmsearch #conversationalcommerce #retailtech #targetapp #innovation #retailAI #voiceshopping