Omni Talk Retail

In the latest episode of the Omni Talk Spotlight Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga interview Marshall Kay and JP Kamel, or as those in the know call them, the RFID Sherpas. RFID is a topic that is rightly back en vogue of late as retailers race to meet the rapidly changing needs of the consumer amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Together in this podcast, Chris, Anne, and the Sherpas discuss all the ways RFID can unlock value across retail, including how it can deliver ROI through better inventory accuracy, less shrink, and overall enhanced omnichannel experiences. Plus, together with Omni Talk, Marshall and JP also developed a new quiz on the subject, called RFIQ. You can take it here and put your knowledge to the test: https://omnitalk.blog/rfid-sherpas/ Go on, everyone's doing it. What's your RFIQ?This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest episode of Omni Talk’s new Ask An Expert Interview Series for 2021, Chris Walton interviews Ross Sabolcik, VP & GM Industrial & Commercial IoT Products at Silicon Labs. The episode marks what is the first interview in a multi-episode arc, in which Chris and Silicon Labs will delve deep into the smart retail technologies that will change physical retail experiences the most in 2021. Chris and Ross begin their discussion high level and then discuss five key areas on which their upcoming collaboration will concentrate: – Asset tracking - Electronic shelf labels (one of Chris's favorite tech picks for the year) - Edge security - Loss prevention tag innovation as a key to unlocking new apparel shopping experiences - And, overall interoperability design The interview is a springboard for much more to come, as Chris does what he does best with Ross -- i.e. speak the language and ask the questions on the minds of retail executives, from the perspective of a real retailer, to understand what matters most and to set the table for Omni Talk's fans this coming year. And, should you want even more on the subject, be sure also to check out two recent white papers on which Chris and Ross also collaborated: 5 Smart Retail Trends by Ross Sabolcik -- https://www.silabs.com/solutions/smart-industry/retail/retail-trends What ‘Smart Retail’ Really Means by Chris Walton - https://www.silabs.com/solutions/smart-retail-what-it-really-meansThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern: – Laud Walgreens' new CEO choice, Roz Brewer – Explore the deep meaning behind Walmart's large-scale push this week into microfulfillment – Discuss what Godiva's store closings say about the state of "experiential" retail – Highlight Centennial reaching Phase II of its plan to make malls shoppable online with one consistent checkout experience – And, get put on the spot and asked whether Nike's new concept store in Oregon, Nike Live, is anything to write home about All that, plus Anne scaredy-cats Amazon Fresh potentially coming to Minneapolis, while Chris and Emma couldn't be more excited. To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.linkedin.com/in/david-ritter/ To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Kristin started her retail career in the Macy's training program and in no time at all, began heading up the handbags and hosiery department. Now, Kristin is CEO at JOOR and is taking that company all the way to the top as they reinvent the traditions, events, and systems retailers, brands, and designers have leaned on to run their businesses. Join Anne Mezzenga as she gleans advice from Kristin's experience as a VP for the XO Group (The Knot, The Bump, etc.), where she helped to launch many sites we all know so well, and her time building the first registry experiences for Linens-N-Things. Kristin is one to watch and you'll quickly understand why in this episode.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern discuss: - Costco reversing course on its curbside pickup plans - Why Kroger's new "KroGO" smart cart may not be a smart move at all - The tell that will forever indicate if Macy's new small store concept is actually cool or just a further profit drain waiting to happen - Walmart forming a more perfect union with Western Union - And, why Marc Lore's plans to build a "city of the future" will most likely end up looking like Tombstone, AZ All that, plus Anne regales the crew with her tales of working out to Peloton instructors without actual Peloton equipment. To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.linkedin.com/in/david-ritter/ To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern talk: - Amazon getting ranked as America's preferred grocer - Lululemon's latest efforts to compete with Nike - The pros and cons of Walmart's new Fintech play - Toys R Us . . . uh, sorry, we mean Hudson deciding to license Amazon's 'Just Walk Out' technology for airports - And, why Walmart's latest play to save money on last-mile delivery is one of the 'cooler' ideas around All that, plus Chris frets over getting his first dog this weekend. To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-ritter/ To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

For the latest episode of Omni Talk’s new Ask An Expert Interview Series for 2021, Chris Walton interviews Chris Shaw, Sr. Director Product Marketing and Analyst Relations at Manhattan Associates. Chris Walton has long believed that cloud-based order management systems are one of the fundamental three legs of the omnichannel retailing stool, so this week Chris goes right to one of the most credible sources around to learn all he can about how these systems have evolved where they might be going next. Together in this podcast, Chris and Chris discuss: - How order management technology implementations have moved from being solely cost minimizing decisions to revenue maximizing ones. - How order delivery timing and speed are now critical factors way up in the consumer purchase funnel. - And, how the pandemic has pushed retailers to process and make decisions about inventory faster than ever before. Listen to this podcast, and one thing will become quite clear -- you will come away with a firsthand understanding of why correlated front-end and back-end technology design and real-time data processing, on everything from home delivery to order pickup, will likely become the make or break technology decision for almost every retailer out there over the next two years. *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

For the inaugural episode of Omni Talk's new Ask An Expert Series for 2021, Chris Walton interviews Azita Martin, NVIDIA GM Artificial Intelligence for Retail & CPG In this new series, Chris leverages his long retail experience to dig deep into the issues that are top of mind for today's retail executives, one of which is AI, and where it matters. Chris delves into Azita's long background in retail technology to understand where she, from her position as an expert, is seeing AI move the fastest and also have the most immediate impact on retailer's bottom lines. Together Chris and Azita discuss everything from supply chain and e-commerce to the always moving target of the "intelligent store." Give this podcast a listen and you will come away knowing exactly where and how retail may change in the next few years in regards to AI and also where retail CEOs are likely going to invest their money quite soon. *Interview conducted in partnership with NVIDIA*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern talk: - Now former CEO Jill Soltau's ouster at JCP - Macy's new chief merchant hire - The degree of excitement we should feel around Afterpay's holiday results - Amazon's decision to call it quits on its partnership with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan - And, we close with a new game we call "Do We Care If They Go Away," where we ask whether it matters if 15 retailers, as cited by USA Today of being at risk for going bankrupt, end up sticking around. All that, plus Anne gets her feng shui on in Florida, while I relive childhood memories about the French Open. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Spotlight Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga interview Skipify CEO and Founder, Ryth Martin. At a time when e-commerce is growing as fast as ever and when automated email communication is becoming an ever more important conversion tool, Ryth Martin and Skipify are breaking new ground in terms of how email can be used as an actual commerce platform. Fresh off a recently announced partnership with Google, Ryth explains just how important of a channel email is now within the conversion funnel and where the platform could be going next for shopping and for the millions of users who interact with email as a standard tool within their daily routines. For those interested in staying on the cutting edge of how retail is changing, Chris and Anne's conversation with Ryth is one of Omni Talk's most mind-blowing interviews yet!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest Omni Talk Spotlight Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga interview one of their favorite people in retail technology, Kristin Savilia, CEO JOOR. Chris and Anne discuss with Kristin how she and her company are moving the buying and planning experience from countless spreadsheets, in person showroom events, and endless sampling to simple, real-time digital interactions that make buying easier. Nowhere was JOOR revolutionary work more evident than during this year's Fashion Week, when JOOR launched their new JOOR Passport platform to power 17 fashion events for various brands across the world and that over 136,000 retailers also attended. Chris and Anne first learned of JOOR from grassroots evangelists who couldn't stop singing the praises of how well the JOOR system works for apparel buying, so they went right to Kristin and just had to have her on the show!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern hand out their annual retail awards for 2020. Awards up for grabs include: - Retailer of the Year - CEO of the Year - Headline of the Year - Worst Retailer of the Year - Technology of the Year - And, more! Plus, they reveal their top "Ah-ha!" from the year along with what movie 2020 reminds them of the most in their last Fast Five of the year. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Anne, Emma the Intern, and I talk: - Walmart's new legion of TikTokers - Bed Bath & Beyond's sale of Cost Plus World Market - DoorDash's IPO - Robomart and "store hailing" - Amazon's new custom T-shirt program (there's also a demo of it on LinkedIn from Anne that you have to check out) - And, slap chops. Yes, slap chops, and even some pocket hoses. All that, plus we ask Emma where she ranks in the great American intern debate of all time. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Anne, Emma the Intern, and I talk: – Walmart smartly (and finally) shutting down its doomed from the start Store No 8 VR experiment – Social commerce, by way of WhatsApp Shopping – Stripe and Shopify linking up for banking – The opening of Amazon's 5th Fresh grocery store in Illinois (which is getting to be a pretty common occurrence in the Fast Five) – The death of the IKEA catalog – And, breaking the sound barrier. Yes, who doesn't need a little Chuck Yeager, especially this week? All that, plus we ask Emma the Intern how she is coping with her newfound celebrity status. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Ace Hardware Chief Marketing Officer Kim Lefko and Anne Mezzenga sit down to talk about Kim's career in retail in the latest edition of the Omni Talk exclusive, Women's Retail Collective podcast series. Kim was uniquely positioned for her current role, having most of her experience, prior to Ace, on the other side of the table, selling into retailers for companies like Graco, Black & Decker, DeWalt, and Weber grills. Kim shares how she and her team rolled out curbside pickup - overnight - at 4,500 independent stores during a pandemic and to demand, the likes of which they'd never seen, along with what it's like to lead marketing efforts that cater to each of Ace's 4,500 individual retailers and their communities. The interview concludes with Kim's advice for staying interested and challenged in your retail career, and, of course, her perfect concert lineup.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern talk: – How Sephora just gave Kohl's a She's All That-style makeover – Why Black Friday and Cyber Monday felt like a tree falling in the woods – Another in a long list of smart moves by Best Buy over the last six months – The opening of Amazon's 4th Fresh grocery store - A cool new startup called HungryPanda - And, Minnesota-adjacent states. Yes, we spread some love to Iowa, Minnesota, and the Dakotas because Urban Rooster is heading there next! All that plus we pay homage to the late Tony Hsieh in this week’s edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern talk: – Target and Walmart's wild sales results – TJX reversing course on e-commerce – Instagram updating its home page for shopping – Instacart inking a head scratching deal with Best Buy – Simon malls new return bars – And, roosters. Yes, roosters. Urban ones to be exact. All that and more in this week’s happy and optimistic edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five! To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern talk: – Target's new partnership with Ulta – Alibaba and Singles Day – J.C. Penney's court approved sale – Autonomous delivery – Molson Coors' new direct-to-consumer play, Revl – And, Laurence Olivier Yes, Laurence Olivier. All that and more in this week’s extra special safe edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five! To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Any brand considering business in China should watch this interview -- it is a perfect illustration of how to work smarter and not harder. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga of Omni Talk interview Tony Shan, Head of Tmall Global -- Americas about his company's Overseas Fulfillment Program. Tmall, for those unfamiliar, is Alibaba's B2C marketplace in China. Thousands of brands sell products to the huge Chinese market every single day on Tmall. We at Omni Talk have long been supporters of American companies selling products to the Chinese market via Tmall and outlined for Forbes in 2018 six reasons why it is something every brand should consider. You can read the article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherwalton/2018/08/16/kroger-decision-to-launch-brands-with-alibaba-is-pure-genius/?sh=708536a72a23 This interview highlights a new reason, reason #7 -- Tmall's new Overseas Fulfillment Program. It is easy, simple for brands to use, and is about as low risk of an opportunity with a huge sales upside as one will ever find.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Karyn Schoenbart joins Anne Mezzenga to discuss her career, both as CEO of NPD Group and as author of the book MOM.B.A. This podcast is full of great advice, as Karyn shares some incredible lessons learned, including how a lateral move can actually propel your career forward, how to fight imposter syndrome, and how you can never go wrong asking someone "What can I do for you?"This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Omni Talk's Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga recently combined forces with special guest, James Cook, Director of Retail Research for JLL Americas to provide a breakdown of retail and real estate heading into the holidays. Together they discussed the retail and real estate trends James and his team have been researching, what they anticipate to continue as we enter the holiday shopping season, and finish it off with a hypothesis from James on the future of retail as we head into 2021. For more information on James Cook's podcast, Where We Buy, go to wherever you get your podcasts or click here: https://wherewebuy.show/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern try to take their minds off all the election craziness by turning their attention to the great debates in the world of retail this past week. Together they discuss: – Walmart's new lab stores – The interesting juxtaposition between Wayfair's recent success and Pier 1's relaunch – Alibaba's rumored investment in Farfetch – Postmates and its new retail platform – Nestle's $950 million acquisition of Freshly and whether meal kits are here to stay – And, Tom Brady Yes, Tom Brady. All that and more in this week’s election hangover episode of the Omni Talk Fast Five! To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

One of Omni Talk's all-time favorite guests, David Sobie, CEO Happy Returns, returns to the Omni Talk Spotlight Series to update Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga on a couple of major announcements from his company over the last few weeks -- specifically, the recently announced partnerships with FedEx and Inmar Intelligence. Through the new partnership with FedEx, Happy Returns will grow its network of return bars substantially with FedEx. Online shoppers will be able to make returns at more than 2,000 FedEx stores across the country, and that also includes more than 340 locations currently sitting inside of Walmart stores! In addition, the Happy Returns and Inmar Intelligence partnership will also build upon the FedEx relationship because it too will allow shoppers and retailers to use a branded returns portal to initiate returns, with the option for customers to return items, box-free and label-free, to one of Happy Returns’ now 2,600+ Returns Bars around the country. The process will facilitate an immediate refund or exchange for consumers and will also provide a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for e-commerce returns, as returned inventory is shipped to returns facilities in reusable containers instead of individual packages, all using Inmar's many years of experience and data disposition intelligence along the way. Anne and Chris have had their eye on David and Happy Returns since early 2016 and, for all intents and purposes, not even a pandemic can slow them down!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Oliver Banks joins Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern to discuss British TV and cinema and all the week's top retail news. Together they talk: - Social commerce and Shopify's new partnership with TikTok - Free one-hour pickup at Whole Foods - Happy Returns' brilliant strategy move with FedEx - Amazon paying people for their data - Robots at Sam's Club - And, Mary Poppins Yes, Mary Poppins. All that and more in this week's transatlantic episode with guest host Ollie Banks! To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

You have probably never thought about accounting as a secret weapon, but it is. In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Spotlight Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with BlackLine Chief Transformation Officer Tammy Coley to discuss how thinking differently about one's accounting systems and processes can make a big difference in both strategy and operational efficiency. As the pandemic has shown, rudimentary spreadsheets and outdated processes that rely on cubicle proximity to work are no longer enough. Accounting, just like everything else, needs to move to the cloud, so that people can work from anywhere and, most importantly, any unnecessary risk can be removed from the equation. There is just too much at stake. As Chris Walton's HBS professor used to say, "Accounting equals truth plus measurement error and bias." Technology has advanced for too much to let the last two variables continue to hold companies back. There are simpler, easier ways to manage the back office, so that executives can be freed up to focus on what matters most -- the art of management and strategy during these trying times. To learn more about BlackLine, visit: https://www.blackline.com/industries/retail/?utm_source=omnitalk&utm_medium=3rd-party-other&utm_campaign=na-audio-2020-10-retail-podcast *Sponsored Podcast*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In our latest episode of the Omni Talk Spotlight Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss all things retail and IoT with Stacey Shulman, VP Internet of Things Group & GM Health and Life Sciences and Emerging Technology. Stacey's background is fascinating. Her career in retail started at Walmart, she next started selling technology to retailers, and then became the CIO at American Apparel and an executive for Levi's. Now embarking on her almost fourth year at Intel, we ask Stacey how she leads, how she separates good innovation from bad, what "smart retail" really means, and also what excites her most about the future -- hint, it could be figuring out the technology behind scaleable, repeatable retail experiences, aka retail theater. Scaling experiences, i.e. replicating the "why" in why come to a physical store sounds easy, but it is not. Take it from us. Stacey and her team at Intel are helping the industry to figure it all out. Plus, we put Stacey through How Millennial are You? and even add a bonus question -- Star Wars or Star Trek? *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern have quite the catharsis surrounding Prime Day and all the week's top retail headlines. This week they discuss: - How Amazon Prime Day left them wanting more - Why Walmart splitting up Black Friday into 3 separate events could signal tough times ahead - Dollar General's new upmarket Popshelf concept that Chris loves and Anne and Emma the Intern are split on - The company formerly known as Standard Cognition's new checkout-free convenience store on a Houston college campus (it's only 350 sf -- we checked) - Gamestop's new Microsoft partnership - GoPuff's huge $380 million investment round - And, William H. Macy Yes, William H. Macy. All that and more, plus Chris, of course, pays tribute to two female titans of early 1980s television. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga interview Inna Kuznetsova, CEO 1010 data about the value of data in creating long-term collaborative partnerships across retailers and suppliers. A company rooted in the financial sector after 9/11, 1010data has a long history of providing actionable data and insights across wide streams of expertise. Companies like Sam's Club and Dollar General, along with many other retailers and CPGs, look to 1010data, especially during COVID-19, to help them predict where to move in the market. In this podcast, Chris and Anne discuss with Inna: - The importance of a strong omnichannel data foundation across online and offline operations - The danger of using "averages" in the wrong places - Why impulse purchase behavior may not always be triggered by what you think - And, just how easy and financially rewarding it can be for retailers and suppliers to come together with the right tools and processes, all aligned around data sharing Plus, Inna is an absolute blast with a ton of personality. She will have you laughing with fun anecdotes about retail the whole way through. *Sponsored Podcast*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Anne Mezzenga sits down with The Vitamin Shoppe CEO Sharon Leite for a special edition of the Women's Retail Collective Podcast from the Retail Innovation Conference. Sharon started her retail career in college as an associate at Express, spent time at L Brands, GAP, Disney, Pier 1, and now leads teams running almost 800 stores at The Vitamin Shoppe. Anne and Sharon review the rubric Sharon uses to help make major career decisions, her advice for those in retail careers, and the innovation her team at The Vitamin Shoppe has fast-tracked to take on the challenges of the last few months.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern go full on Generation Z with a little Baby Boomer sprinkled in at the end. This week they talk: - Venmo's new credit card - Gucci and the RealReal's new partnership - Instagram shopping through Reels video - Cooler Screens' $80 million investment round - Walmart selling medicare insurance plans - And, Matt Damon. Yes, Matt Damon. All that and more, plus Chris reveals his five-year-old TV crush - the answer will surprise you! To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga interview Jesse Michael, Managing Director Adeptmind, to discuss all things malls and e-commerce in the latest edition of their ever popular Omni Talk Spotlight Series. Adeptmind made huge waves recently with their announcement and partnership with Centennial Malls to create a new Shop Now! program, whereby Centennial Mall shoppers can shop their malls like they would shop Amazon, i.e. as digital marketplaces comprised of all their tenants. Jesse shares with Chris and Anne how Adeptmind came to be (not surprisingly, it was rooted in product search), how his company and Centennial are thinking about Shop Now! in stages of development, and how, if all goes as planned, not only will Shop Now! be a new way for malls to conduct commerce but could also be a new way to support local businesses and to create a never before seen world of connected commerce in which anyone, not just the big guys, can play. Chris and Anne have long espoused the value of a digital commerce front end for malls. Many said they were crazy, and now Adeptmind and Centennial Malls are making it happen. Stay tuned!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest Omni Talk Spotlight Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Justin Corbell, VP Business Development Scandit, to discuss the future of scan-and-go checkout-free retail and the future of in-store operations. Scandit recently raised $80 million in its latest funding round and is a company that nearly all retailers and CPG companies should have on their watch lists. In this podcast, you will learn: - Why not all barcode scanning is created equal (both for employees and customers) - How to think about the dynamics of a scan-and-go implementation - Why scan-and-go generally means less contact, bigger baskets, and happier customers - And, where and how augmented reality actually makes real sense for retailers. Another must listen amid this crazy pandemic! To learn more about Scandit, visit: https://www.scandit.com/ *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

There were almost too many headlines for this week's Omni Talk Fast Five! Prime Day is official, Walmart and Levi's have new store designs, and Poshmark is going public -- but none of these stories even made it into the top five. No, in this week's episode, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern instead turn their attention to how studies are showing that 11% of Americans may have already signed up for Walmart+, how Alibaba is taking a page from Costco and Sam's Club's book, how in the world Instacart keeps signing up retailers like Sephora and Bed Bath & Beyond, why Kroger is now downsizing its latest Ocado implementation, and also why paying with their palms at Amazon Go is something all three of them desperately want to do. All in all, as Chris's grandpa used to say, this week's episode is a real humdinger. And, its Emma the Intern's birthday! To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

When it comes to the evolution of the mall, Jill Renslow has seen it all. Jill has spent 23 years at Mall of America leading the national institution through many transformations and partnerships to continue to make it a one-of-a-kind shopping and entertainment destination. In this podcast, Jill shares with Anne Mezzenga a few of her most remarkable experiences along her journey, including how she and her team are tackling mall operations during a pandemic. They discuss what's going to bring people to malls in the future and how Jill has sought out partnerships with everyone from Nickelodeon to neighborhood shop-in-shops to ensure Mall of America visitors have something new and delightful to capture their imaginations each and every time they visit. Jill also shares what's still left on her career bucket list and, of course, her A+ lineup for her own concert as well.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris Walton interviews Sam's Club Chief Product Officer Eddie Garcia about Sam's Club's new Scan & Go at the pump functionality, along with all the other innovations Sam's Club has introduced over the past six months, like concierge shopping for seniors, curbside pickup, and shipping from store.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Shoptalk CEO Anil Aggarwal sits down with Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga to talk innovation and retail in their latest Omni Talk Spotlight Series episode. Chris and Anne go deep with Anil on the origin of Shoptalk, the state of the retail industry, and what to expect from Shoptalk's next marquee event, Shoptalk Meetup, this October. Be sure to stick around for the last 20 minutes of the episode, too. Anil gives a master class on innovation and disruption theory. He discusses everything from the importance of always putting product first to looking to a blank slate future and working backwards, all while sometimes having to make some really tough decisions. The episode is a firsthand account from someone who eats what he cooks and isn't afraid to walk out on the limb of innovation and to disrupt himself.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week's Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern discuss more feel good stories in one week than they can ever remember. They talk Mall of America dedicating retail space to local Minneapolis businesses disrupted by the pandemic and the social unrest following the killing of George Floyd, the first-ever Jeff Bezos Academy preschool for students from low income families, Walmart's Plus Up marketing campaign, GOAT's latest $100 million Series E funding round, and the mall operator Centennial's brilliant move to create an online marketplace for all its tenants this upcoming October. It is an episode guaranteed to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy and maybe even a little nostalgic for 80's movies featuring animatronic ducks. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: https://www.fastsensor.com/retail-promo To learn more about Takeoff, visit: https://www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In her latest Women's Retail Collective Podcast, Anne Mezzenga interviews Alison Hahn about her career and the lessons she has learned from working at some of the biggest specialty retailers in the world, like Sephora and Gap. Alison shares her career story that began in the training program at Bamberger's (which would become Macy's New Jersey)and that eventually led to her current role at Sephora leading merchandising decisions for one of the largest beauty brands in the world. Anne and Alison also cover the impact the pandemic has had on the beauty industry and how Sephora has pivoted its strategies in response. Alison also shares some great advice for those early in their merchandising and retail careers. "This job is a lot of balancing art and science, but a huge part of it is instinct," she tell us. There are so many lessons to be learned in this one, including Alison's recipe for a perfect summer concert.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern break down Apple's big fitness subscription news, Sam's Club's Scan & Go at the pump, Amazon suburban warehouses and its new luxury play, and poke a little much needed fun at made up retail holidays and all the PR hype around the newest one -- 10/10. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: https://www.fastsensor.com/ To learn more about Takeoff, visit: https://www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Julian Mills, CEO of Quorso, sits down with Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga for the latest edition of their Omni Talk Spotlight Series, the series that highlights the people, the companies, and the technologies changing the future of retail. Quorso first caught Omni Talk's attention a few months ago, right when the pandemic hit. As former store-level and HQ-level retail executives, Chris and Anne have always wondered if there were better ways for both sides of a retail organization to connect and to optimize performance around clearer priorities, and COVID-19 has only brought that question to the forefront even more. While many decisions in retail get made by the loudest voices in the room or just trickle down from the top, they could and should, especially during a crisis, come from all directions and be prioritized around what matters most, iteratively, over time. In reality, as Julian elucidates, retail management, especially at the store level, should be no different from agile software development. It is just that retailers have never had the tools to help them run a store in this manner before. Julian shares how Quorso's weekly performance platform works, how it prioritizes decisions, and how it helps leaders drive accountability and personal attachment through real-time metrics monitoring and feedback down through every level of an organization. This just may be the most important retail technology podcast of the entire pandemic or at least one that will get you thinking differently. For, without leadership, accountability, and shared goals, not even the best of the best technology matters. *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In their latest Omni Talk Spotlight Series interview, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga chat with FIT:MATCH Founder and CEO Haniff Brown. Haniff shares his unique background and inspiration for FIT:MATCH, a startup that is making waves in the virtual try-on space. With implementations already in the books at a number of Brookfield Properties' sites, Haniff and his team are attempting to change the way consumers shop for clothes. Walk into any one of their virtual fitting rooms and within moments consumers can expect to have a detailed view of their fit and body type as well as understand what products are right for them across a myriad of apparel retailers. This podcast will challenge your thinking about everything from online personalization to what the roles and looks of physical stores and fitting rooms may actually be in the future.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Carl Boutet (aka Canada Carl) stops by to chat all the week's retail news with Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern. The gang talks: - How Amazon & Kohl's finally get a room and consummate their love for each other even more with a reported grocery partnership (sorry, Aldi) - The sale of JCP and how it is reminiscent of a scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail (you know, the one where the knight just won't die) - Instacart eventually removing the "c" - An urban Ikea in the heart of San Francisco - How Walmart is digging in the wrong place with its drone announcement - And, of course, shepherds Yes, shepherds. All that and more in this week's Fast Five! To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga interview Jordan Fisher, CEO of Standard Cognition, about the future of checkout-free retail. AI Computer vision-based checkout-free retail is all the rage right now, and Standard Cognition, with over $80 million in VC funding to date, is right at the center of that conversation, and especially in light of its recent announced plans with Circle K. Chris and Anne discuss the origin of the company, where the technology is now and where it is going, and why deciding whether or not to retrofit physical store footprints is one of the key questions that will determine future retailer adoption. They also put Jordan right on the hot seat (which Jordan handles with aplomb) when they ask him the question on every retail insider's mind -- "What was the deal with all those marketing claims of 3,000 Standard Cognition stores in Japan in time for 2020 Olympics?" Jordan explains how that rumor came to be and why the next few months will be a put up or shut up moment for him and his company, as he looks for, as you will see, a big exit for his investors down the road.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week's Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, big news shakes the retail industry. Grabango, in partnership with Giant Eagle, opens a checkout-free and fully retrofitted GetGo convenience store in Pittsburgh. Walmart finally announces a date for its new subscription program, Walmart+. Amazon's first full-scale grocery store, Amazon Fresh, debuts to the public. Mall of America goes livestreaming with Popshop Live. And, Macy's tries to sell Wall Street on the idea that the world needs smaller, suburban Macy's stores. Newsflash -- it doesn't. Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern discuss all this and more, including Charlie Sheen, in this week's episode. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Anne Mezzenga sits down with Shelley Huff, EVP Direct-to-Consumer Serta/Simmons and CEO Tuft & Needle as part of her ongoing Women's Retail Collective Podcast Series. Shelley's career is unique in that it mirrors how shopping has evolved from her first retail job as a mall department store associate to her current role as CEO of one of the largest DTC categories in retail at Tuft & Needle. Shelley also shares several stories with Anne, including how she worked up the ranks from folding jeans in a Walmart store (wait until you hear what she found in a stack of jeans one day!)to leading several business units within Walmart's e-commerce division. This episode is full of great advice. Shelley talks about developing your own personal board of directors, how to handle failure and mistakes, and then closes by giving Anne her own personal Shelley-palooza concert lineup.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week's Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, let's just say we are glad we are not in the department store industry. In the span of the past week, Nike is rumored to be cutting off many big time wholesale partners and Facebook launched Shops. Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern talk all that plus Best Buy turning 250 stores into fulfillment hubs, Zappos opening a New York store, and Taco Bell building a drive thru line just for order pickup. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Walmart's Tennille Webb joins Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga to discuss how she worked with Mamava to make Walmart the first retailer to roll out lactation pods in over 100 U.S. stores. A journey that began with Tennille seeing Mamava pods within an airport ended with her cold calling Mamava herself and then working with the powers that be at Walmart to convince them to overhaul their capital remodel program and to replace Walmart's existing mother's rooms with more efficient, movable, and cost-effective pods, so that all Walmart customers and associates could continue to have more safe and clean places to feed their babies. The Mamava pods are flexible lactation space solutions linked into a smart platform that empowers easy wayfinding, autonomous access for moms. Moms can open them with Mamava’s free app — and when finished, return to shopping. To learn more, visit https://www.mamava.com/ To see Tennille featured on Good Morning America as well, click https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/story/employee-walmart-expand-breastfeeding-stations-stores-country-72500430 To learn more about Walmart's rollout of the pods, visit https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2020/08/25/walmart-first-retailer-to-install-mamava-lactation-suites *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week's edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern discuss what to make of all the earnings announcements this week (including Target, Walmart, Kohl's, and more), Simon's acquisition of Lucky Brand, Payless making a comeback, Standard Cognition and Circle K, and what Chris thinks is a weak excuse from Amazon on its liability surrounding defective products on its third-party marketplace. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

With COVID-19 now ever present, knowing where and in what parts of a store social distancing is working or not working, by way of real-time data, is more important than ever. Kalon Welch, FastSensor EVP Business Development, sits down with Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga of Omni Talk to discuss the ever-trending topic of workspace journey measurement through anonymous radio frequency tracking to make better decisions during these difficult times and how active distance alert monitoring (aka ADAM) could be one of the most important tools for retailers to deploy in their stores, in their warehouses, or even as they are unloading trucks to protect all involved. As Kalon says, "That which gets measured, gets done," and social distancing is pretty darn important to get done. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: https://www.fastsensor.com/retail *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest episode of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by FastSensor and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern take on all the detractors pooh-poohing the rumors of Amazon placing warehouses in Simon mall properties, discuss Wayfair's first-ever profit, and then geek out at the massive transformative grocery and convenience headlines surrounding Walmart and Instacart, Coty and GoPuff, and Kroger creating its own third-party marketplace. To learn more about FastSensor, visit: www.fastsensor.com/retail To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy