Anne 0:08
Hello, you are listening to the Omnitalk Fast Five, brought to you in partnership with Microsoft, the a&m consumer and retail group, takeoff, sezzle and silk. The Omnitalk Fast Five is the podcast that we hope makes you feel a little smarter. But most importantly, a little happier each week too, especially this week. Today is November 23 2022. Happy Thanksgiving. I’m your host Anne Mezzenga.
Chris 0:32
I’m Chris Walton.
Anne 0:33
And we are here once again to discuss all the headlines making waves in the world of omni channel retailing. And Chris we’re a little early this week we’re celebrating the Wednesday before Black Friday.
Chris 0:44
Yeah, I know Anne I’m pretty pumped like it’s the highlight of the year for retail it’s like when we get the most coverage when everyone’s a buzz a glow
Anne 0:51
When people care about the industry that impacts the majority of the country.
Chris 0:55
So many lives. I don’t know how many like adjectives or adverbs I don’t know what that is a buzz a glow like I can use it start with the letter A but I’m gonna try throughout the show
Anne 1:04
okay
Chris 1:04
maybe I don’t know it’d be kind of tough though.
Anne 1:06
I think that I think that’s already played out. Thank you.
Chris 1:08
Yeah, I should I should just keep going
Anne 1:10
Figure something else out. But seriously what it what is on like, do you have anything on your Black Friday Cyber Monday I mean, let’s just say October through December list that you’re going to be purchasing
Chris 1:10
That seems like a leading question Anne I’m guessing you do my I honestly don’t my my only wish this year is that my household can go one month without being sick
Anne 1:30
Oh my god you guys have been sick for so long.
Chris 1:32
We’ve been sick. Someone’s been sick in our house for like three or four weeks. We just got the flu. I was just getting a CAT scan this morning like yes loyal omnitalk listeners. Got a CAT scan this morning. We’re back here podcasting today before Black Friday like Yeah, but no, I don’t have anything Anne I just want to.
Anne 1:46
Not one thing?
Chris 1:47
I don’t I don’t I really don’t
Anne 1:49
No hoodies. No,nothing?
Chris 1:50
No hoodies, no nothing.
Anne 1:51
No Tom Brady team 12 or whatever.
Chris 1:54
No, no, he’s he’s kind of lost his lustre with me Anne.
Anne 1:57
You and Jazelle both
Chris 1:58
I know right? I mean, he’s kind of he’s kind of into himself a little bit but what about you? I mean, I know you do. I know you do because I can tell by the way you’re asking that question.
Anne 2:06
Yes, I do. I’ve actually I did. I did a lot of purchasing last night like because all these these sales are, have started so early. It’s been kind of nice.
Chris 2:15
So these are purchases for yourself.
Anne 2:17
Some. Some purchases for myself.
Chris 2:20
Okay.
Anne 2:21
But I Okay. One thing that I’m going to be buying is high jinks ice cream packets. I’m getting them for all of my nieces and nephews and my kids. It’s like this powdery mix. You add milk to it and you get just like you put I’ve put an old Halloween candy you get to like make all your own ice cream.
Chris 2:37
Like a Blizzard right?
Anne 2:38
They are doing Yeah, they’re a great small brand. They’re doing their own like, like promotion for Black Friday. So you should check them out. Cosy Earth
Chris 2:46
Oh, yeah,
Anne 2:46
I’ve become obsessed
Chris 2:47
That that material? I wear that shirt. And lots of people were like, particularly my mom. She’s like, that’s a nice shirt. I was like, like, okay, yeah, thanks, Ma. It is really comfy.
Anne 2:58
Yeah,
Chris 2:58
I need to wash that, I’m gonna wear my news.
Anne 3:00
They’re great. They’re doing it another one and then my Victoria’s Secret bra came that I tried with the fit finder.
Chris 3:07
Oh, it came.
Anne 3:08
First Victoria’s Secret bra I’ve had that has fit as well as this one.
Chris 3:11
Whoa, hold the phone.
Anne 3:12
So I think I may be ordering more which is a shocker. They got me back Chris. I went away
Chris 3:18
That’s great, it’s great. This is a PG podcast Anne let’s keep it let’s keep it PG
Anne 3:23
I mean, part of women’s bodies Chris My God.
Chris 3:27
But that’s awesome. That’s great. Because we just covered that story last week.
Anne 3:30
Yes.
Chris 3:30
And it fits.
Anne 3:31
Yeah, I’m honestly surprised,
Chris 3:33
On man. You’re gonna be the biggest evangelist for this. We got to show how that works. We got to shoot a video of that.
Anne 3:37
I do. I will I will send that to the loyal Omnitalk fans. But Chris speaking of video, yeah, this week, we have one of my favourite comment 100% of all time of all time.
Chris 3:49
Yeah.
Anne 3:50
We recently received this comment quite well. I guess it was a little bit a while ago, but on our YouTube video showcasing the Amazon just walk out technology. A number of people were excited about this like
Chris 4:01
Were not excited about the technology. They weren’t excited about the technology right.
Anne 4:04
Thank you they were not excited about the technology which we hear all the time. But specifically Jerry stretchy who found it impersonal creepy and an invasion of my privacy. That’s a direct quote
Chris 4:16
That’s a direct quote, right? Yeah. Impersonal creepy an invasion of my privacy. But it gets better Anne
Anne 4:21
yes, you have to read I want you to read what Tatiana Britton she came back with a banger of a reply
Chris 4:28
This my favourite comment all time, I think on anything on LinkedIn on YouTube. Here’s what Tatiana had to say to Jerry she said quote, Jerry, you’re on the internet. Your privacy has been invaded countless times and your FBI agent knows your favourite type of Juice and genre of porn. Juice and genre of porn. That’s fascinating. One automated convenience store won’t be the death of you end quote and what do you have to say to Tatiana
Anne 4:53
I love you Tatiana. You are my hero.
Chris 4:56
Oh my god, yes.
Anne 4:57
This is one of my favourite comments of all time. keep commenting keep it coming because you bring laughter and joy and you make everybody’s lives a little happier too which is our goal at Omnitalk
Chris 4:57
Right the data is out there Omnitalk fans on you from juice deport that’s the key takeaway today.
Anne 5:09
This is a PG Show
Chris 5:15
Right I know right we’re
Anne 5:16
Can’t talk about bras, Juice and genre of porn is totally fine apparently
Chris 5:20
But the other thing Anne about YouTube is we’re actually only eight subscribers away from being able to monetize our YouTube channel so if you’re listening and you haven’t subscribed to our YouTube channel, do us a favour click over to Omni talk retail on YouTube hit subscribe help us get over that hump. We’re very excited
Anne 5:35
I feel like the videos that our children watch like check the link down below subscribe bro.
Chris 5:41
Yeah, but we get some good heat like the heat on the 7-Eleven
video that we did a video on their 7-Eleven
Evolution store if you get a chance to look at that it was in our newsletter earlier this week too. But yeah, lots of great content coming we still got four or five videos coming from our Dallas trip in addition to 7-Eleven.
But alright, let’s not beat around the bush anymore. Let’s give this the old college try. Do that work now a college Alright, today’s fast. Five headlines are brought to you with the help and support of manifest manifest the who’s who conference in supply chain is January 31 to February 2 in Las Vegas. Omnitalk fans can still save $200 on their registration by heading to manife.st/omnitalk that’s manife.st again .st, that’s really important /omnitalk. Go Go check it out. Register today. And don’t forget Nellies closing out that conference.
Anne 6:29
Oh Yeah.
Chris 6:30
In today’s Fast Five we’ve got news on Amazon pulling up its Cyber Monday deals Best Buy’s virtual store shop Premium Outlets further expansion of its brand portfolio. Sweet greens plan to build a fully robotic store not just one actually two but first we take off with big f u news out of Sam’s Club this week. Anne
Anne 6:49
My god I love the story
Chris 6:51
Me too.
Anne 6:51
So headline number one Chris Sam’s Club announced this week that they plan to drop the price on their hotdog and soda combo to $1.38. According to progressive brochure, the lower cost undercuts fellow competitor cost goes on iconic dollar 50 Hotdog and soda combo, a combo which Costco CEO has vowed to never increase, saying that it would remain at $1.50 for ever on an earnings call this past September. The price of that hot dog at Costco the hot dog and drink combo has remained $1.50 Since the 1980s. Chris, why did you love the story so much?
Chris 7:27
Oh, yeah, I love this story. Because it it highlights when Walmart is really good.
Anne 7:33
Okay
Chris 7:33
like I can, I’m gonna tell you a personal anecdote here. So back when I became a the buyer of seasonal bath and rugs Anne
Anne 7:38
Yes
Chris 7:39
At Target, I remember my mentor at the time or my boss at the time saying Chris, you never want to set the price overtly against Walmart because they will get you in the end. And that’s essentially what happened here. Like, basically Costco tried to get all this PR from like the $1.50 Hotdog and soda combo. And Walmart saw that and said, You know what? Eff you. We’re gonna do this better.
Anne 8:00
Yeah
Chris 8:00
We’re gonna go $1.38 which is typical Walmart ending. And now Costco has to respond here, you know? And so what’s Costco gonna do? Leave it at a buck fifty? I doubt it.
Anne 8:10
I don’t know
Chris 8:10
I don’t know. But it’s a great move. If you think about it to family of four like you’re paying for and they go the Sam’s Club once a month, let’s say that pays for an increase in the membership to essentially as well which has got to be part of this catalyst. So like it’s a great move by Kath McClay, the CEO of one of Sam’s Club to do this.
Anne 8:29
Yeah.
Chris 8:29
And so I you know, I’m curious to see what Costco does. I don’t think they’ll stay it depending on how long Sam’s Club tries to do this, which it sounds like it’s gonna be a while. It’s gonna be fun to watch. I love it.
Anne 8:40
You want to bet a Costco hotdog that they don’t
Chris 8:42
No I hate hotdogs. I hate hotdogs. I won’t eat a hotdog. You can’t pay me enough to eat hotodog.
Anne 8:47
I know. But you know what I will say I will eat a hotdog combo at Sam’s Club or at Costco any day over Thanksgiving dinner. So I was still
Chris 8:57
That’s so weird.
Anne 8:58
Hotdog. All the way.
Chris 8:59
What do you think you like it to?
Anne 9:00
I do.
Chris 9:01
Do you agree? Are there nuancesto this argument?
Anne 9:03
No, I absolutely agree. I think the thing that I find most impressive about this move is what I think it’s going to do when you think about the consumer right now. Yes, it’s just a hot dog. But you know, 12 cents less for the hot dog. I think in the in the consumers mind who’s facing inflation right now. And as they’re thinking about where they’re going to spend their money. I mean, 12 cents less on the hot dog gets me thinking like, well, if things are 12 cents less for the hot dog, right? Probably 12 cents less, or $12 Less, who knows when you get the similar types of products that you’re stocking up on and might get some new people to come through the doors of Sam’s Club versus Costco.
So I think it’s a brilliant move. We’re going to see a lot more people trading down and looking for these deals. And when you add up, you know, a basket a monthly basket at Sam’s Club or Costco and everything is a little bit less money but still the same quality or comparative quality at Sam’s Club. I think this could get more people in the door and I Again, yeah, brilliant move Catholic play. It’s just a hot dog to some, but I think it means so much more.
Chris 10:04
We get a lot of free marketing out of it right. So that’s great. The other point about it, I just just real quick before we move on to the second headline is like, I think it’s also like another indication of just how creative and inventive Sam’s Club is. But you have to remember Sam’s Club, you can shop that club, scan and go, yes, you know, they’ve had curbside pickup somewhere after the pandemic, right? Like, you can ship from there.
Like they’re just really really inventive. Alright, let’s keep rolling. This one is this one is one I picked out specifically because of a conversation that you engendered with me earlier in the week, which I thought was really interesting. Want to make sure the audience heard it, which is Amazon is pulling forward. Its Cyber Monday deals according to chain storage. Amazon is offering a Cyber Monday weekend event with online discounts across top categories from Saturday, November 26, through Monday, November 28. And customers can check back for surprise deals dropping every 30 minutes during select periods of the three day event. I will be doing that. And while I’m with the inlaws in Vegas this weekend, yes, I’m working.
Sorry, guys. I’m on my phone. Anne you’re on. You’re like I said, you’re on this happened. You were on this idea of early discounts happening across all retailers, particularly for Black Friday and Cyber Monday and I went well, yeah, you’re right. I hadn’t thought about that. So kudos to you for that. But my question to you on this haha comes to you directly from a&m this week. This is A&M put you on the spot question, quote. We’re going to treat this like a school pop quiz Anne see if you’ve been paying attention or agree with us at a&m. CRG?
I never did well at those.
With challenging financial outlooks, this holiday season for retailers not named Amazon, what actions can and should they be taken now for holiday and post holiday Or as I interpret that as well Do you think this is a smart move from Amazon?
Anne 11:49
Yes, brilliant move from Amazon, they can do it. We interviewed we just put out the five insightful minutes with him on callback of the a&m CRG. So check that out because he does a great five minute overview of what’s going on what the situation is as retailers heading, like how retailers are supposed to survive. That’s the whole premise of and I was paying attention a&m retailer should pop quiz hotshot closely closely and quickly evaluating cost structure discounting strategies and what to do with excess inventory. I think I passed that. But I, you’re right, like we started to see all these retailers start their Black Friday, like the pre Black Friday stuff, like even early into last week. And this week, and in store, they’ve been doing the same thing to a lot of the major brands.
But I think now this, this is going to continue to happen. Because Amazon once again is saying Nope, we’re gonna we’re gonna change the game. It’s not just going to be Friday, it’s not just going to be Monday, we’re going to be doing all these things. And now retailers are going to have to compete. And they should be they I think we what we learned from Kmart. And what we’re seeing is that with all this excess inventory, retailers have to be really closely evaluating like, how do we get rid of all this inventory? What are we going to do? Do we clearance it out now? Like what’s what are the consumers going to? Do? We go, yeah, what what is the consumer to do in this situation?
Because I think that’s a really interesting thing to hear, like, you have some retailers offering, you know, price matching through the end of the year, starting in October, as a means to try to solve this inventory problem and to provide these deals without getting consumers upset about like, Okay, I bought the Legos on Black Friday, that’s supposed to be your deal. And now, you know, December 13, you have overstock and now they’re now they’re blowing inventory out at 60% off or something.
So I think that regionals they’re just they have to be so careful right now to maintain the consumer confidence to keep spending, but also not to, you know, also to deal with this problem that they have. Over filling back rooms
Chris 13:50
You’re bring up good points, like it’s kind of a new new algebra or new math for burritos this holiday season, especially those that are very embedded to the price match guarantee throughout the season with all these really discounts starting earlier than usual. The other two points, I’d bring up this one, I think the discounts are starting earlier, for two reasons. One, people are concerned about the inventory. But two, the price points are higher probably than they were last year on those same goods. So there’s more room to discount them than traditionally. And I think the retailers have been taking a little bit from the consumer on that it hasn’t been a one for one increase with costs on price would be my hunch, because that’s how retailers play the game. But I think the other thing is other than discounting and cancelling inventory that’s on order. There isn’t much you can do.
Anne 14:29
Yeah
Chris 14:30
Right, which is what I took away from payments conversation too. So the really the almost the thing that you have to do as a retailer is start to prepare for the inevitable q1 exercise that is cost cutting and restructuring your organisation.
Anne 14:42
Right.
Chris 14:42
That’s all you can do at this point, because the data that scares me that I heard from that conversation, yes, unit sales are down particularly year over year already in grocery. So there’s no reason to believe they won’t be even further down to last year in discretionary Cetyl seasonal items as we go through the holiday season. Which means anyone who bought their hearty goods on par, or above last year is in for some trouble.
And there are a lot of retailers sitting very heavy to last year on inventory relative to their sales comps to particularly target. Walmart. Macy’s actually probably looks the best prepared for this, which is a whole nother subject, which hopefully can get to later but another show here in a few weeks as we watch this play out, but But you know, we just haven’t seen there’s a lag effect in that data when you start talking about inflation and we haven’t seen it yet.
Anne 15:30
Yeah
Chris 15:30
But my hunch is when you put that kind of lens on it, we look at unit movement and grocery what does it mean for discretionary unit move in here in the season against retailers inventory compared to last year? We haven’t seen it but the bloodbath probably is likely coming when you put it in that context.
Anne 15:45
Yeah, absolutely. Best Buy just put there. We just saw their results. This week. We’re going to talk about them and the next headline here, they they’re in a pretty good position
Chris 15:53
They actually increase a forecast. Dick’s actually this year. Yeah, the kind of anomalies
Anne 15:58
Right alright, let’s go to headline number three Best Buy, as we mentioned, has a new virtual store. And that store bridges the online and in store service divide. According to our own Minneapolis Star Tribune. Best Buy has converted a 40,000 square foot warehouse in Bloomington, Minnesota into a full on virtual store. One area Chris is even a gym, personal trainers and equipment. Another space is dedicated to Microsoft laptops and devices. There are even cubicles for staff to have more private conversations with customers as well. And last but not least, Chris
Chris 16:34
Racy private conversations.
Anne 16:37
I mean, about electronics and video games and applying
Chris 16:41
Hearing aids. Yeah.
Anne 16:43
Of grills. Last but not least, though, Chris.
Chris 16:47
Yes.
Anne 16:48
Ring lights and moveable cameras and computers are everywhere.
Chris 16:51
You have to have ring lights,
Anne 16:53
just like UVC times 1000.
Chris 16:55
It’s like, it’s like the benchmark. Now you have to have a ring light, you have to do anything. It has to be a ring light, right?
Anne 17:01
I know It’s insane. Okay, Chris, what are your thoughts on the best five virtual store?
Chris 17:06
I love this idea, too Anne. I think I think this, here’s what’s really cool. This was a big unlock for me, as I was preparing for the show. I think it takes the idea that we’ve heard a lot about like what is in store clienteling. But it plusses it up in two ways. One, you get scale?
Anne 17:20
Yeah
Chris 17:20
Because you can do it through this location versus asking every one of your associates to interact with customers across the country.
Anne 17:27
Yep.
Chris 17:27
So that just makes sense. And then the other point that I love about it is it gives a consistent experience, all these people can be trained the same way they handle calls the same way, which again, is really hard to do when you’ve got 40 50% job turnover in your stores, asking them to handle this. And the retailers also have concerns about the quality of that like giving those tools to their frontline employees, which I think actually is sometimes really well founded. So I think this gets over both those humps. So to me, it’s a natural bridge to get the same in store service that you’re expecting from BestBuy but doing it online? Yeah. So I’m not surprised to hear that one apart.
And the story was the best by seeing a 20% increase in customer satisfaction since unveiling this virtual store idea. Yeah. So I think it’s, I think it’s a great idea, actually, like, especially I think about like fireworks in the context of conversations we’ve had with livestream shopping, being able to light that up through a place like this. I think it’s going to be something we start to see more people do I can’t understand why you wouldn’t try to do this.
Anne 18:21
Yeah, well, I especially like it when you look at Best Buy in comparison to buying something from Amazon. I think that there’s some like brand equity that you’re getting in these people and the investment that Best Buy has made here. Yep, that is great for kind of setting Best Buy apart or like feeling like a little bit more confident in your purchase
Chris 18:40
Hard consideration purchase.
Anne 18:41
Exactly. But I love this not just for pre sale, but also for post purchase an upsell.
Chris 18:47
Right.
Anne 18:47
And I think that’s the other thing that we’re not thinking about here. Like so much of the focus of this story was on how this is increasing revenue for Best Buy. But I think that the opportunity to leverage the same team to support you know, once you get that that product in the mail and you’re starting to use it, you have questions like there’s the opportunity of for follow up to sell more add on to those things. But also, I also like that Best Buy can get more content from this too. They can be recording these things.
They can be putting them out on product detail pages, they can be putting them out, as you know, your YouTube channel like you don’t you know, it doesn’t have to be one to one demos, it can start out that way. But because it’s being recorded, it can be one to many. I love that idea. Also, I think the third point is this is great preparation for Best Buy. When you start to look at r&d, preparing for another Metaverse type shopping experience in the future, not that that’s going to be here that this is doing that. I’m just saying like you’re learning a little a lot about how you’re communicating with your customers virtually and how you can continue to improve that experience.
Chris 19:54
Yeah, I agree with that. Last point. I think the last I would say if I was giving best advice I’d be like I wouldn’t look at that at all. this point, I think, just do what you’re saying get the scale get the better customer service, get the post purchase, sales uptick from that the relationships you’re gonna have with people focus there first. The Metaverse could come later.
Anne 20:12
Yep.
Chris 20:12
I was talking to somebody yesterday former. I mean, like the metaverse, we still feels like 10 or 15 years out, too, but yeah, all right. Awesome. Let’s keep rolling then shot headline number four. Shot premium, Alex has grown the stable of brands within its portfolio. According to access wire first timer on the show, intermix will join shop Premium Outlets the joint venture between Simon and the Gilt Groupe as a latest world class name and a family of brands offering incredible values to shopper value to shoppers in a digital shopping experience. Beginning 11-21 intermixed brands will be available to shop premium outlet customers at an additional 40% off through 11-30, November 30.
Inventory varies by brand and is only available while supplies last shoppers can find hot deals from intermix labels including mother Zimmerman, Veronica beard and more often the convenience of shopping from home or on the go Anne you faught for this headline last this week and I thought it was brilliant again I thought you had a really insightful takeaway here. Why did you fight for this
Anne 21:13
I really like this because these are high end brands. These are like brands you see at boutique summit Nordstrom like that’s a little bit more mainstream. But typically these are like brands that you’re only seeing in your your local like high end boutique stores, you don’t have a good selection. Now this is coming into the Simon like the the off kind of price market which is not something typical unless you are seeing this on like a rule of law or guilt or some kind of flashlight like that. And so this tells me that one it’s not just big box and mass retailers who are dealing with inventory overages that there are this is hitting the luxury market too. And this is one of the first examples that we’re seeing, I think where it’s like, Okay, we got to figure out this problem.
And who are we going to go to without losing brand equity? So like how do we still maintain the brand, the luxury brand equity, but how do we get rid of this inventory. I also like this because if these this is giving brands some insight into whether or not it might make sense to go into a physical outlet store at some point in time. They get to test online, see where the demand is. And then they can move potentially into physical outlet malls knowing which brands to keep online which brands to potentially move into the offline space. So I love this move. I think it’s really smart. And again, really difficult for luxury brands to do without going like bargain basement and losing that brand equity.
Chris 22:44
Yeah. And they’re probably still love to go into store ultimately, you know, for that reason they don’t want to be associate with the outlet mall.
Anne 22:50
Right? Exactly.
Chris 22:51
That’s why I think you’re really onto something here and guys. We’ve been like very congratulatory in this podcast. We haven’t ranted or been negative about anything to this point yet, but I think you’re onto something because, well, first of all, we’ve long espoused the idea of a digital Mall. And for outlet shopping as I sit back and think about it, and your points are right, because it makes even more sense.
Especially when you think about all the liquidation coming to brands in general off of the headline number two this week we just talked about so I think kudos to my friend for having the clairvoyants to see this trend I think it’s it’s a smart smart play shop premium mallets is by far and away seemingly the leader in trying to make the shovel shoppable mall idea come to life as well.
Anne 23:30
And the deals are hot that’s another thing I didn’t I looked at it yesterday and I was like holy cow this is an additional 40% off I mean you can get $800 jackets for like 100 bucks or something that’s crazy like I could not believe it
Chris 23:44
Gives you that I mean I remember from my days of the gap having to work with outlet and you know get the job or sell the inventory gives you a whole nother path to approach that problem. Without the logistical overhead of having a standard percent you know in store and an outlet mall.
Anne 23:59
Right. All right Chris Hadley number five sweet green plans to launch to robotic restaurants next year. According to expedite and other first timer I think on the omnitalk pod in these sweet green restaurants that are being dubbed infinite kitchen locations the make line that is that the line that prepares your salad will be fully automated your salad will be made by robots shrimp. The robotic tech comes from a Boston company sweet green acquired last year called spice with a Why of course because why in the hell would we ever want to spell something the way that it’s supposed to
Chris 24:36
Guys are about so inventive Anne
Anne 24:37
So inventive. Must be all the micro dosing Alright, this is built as a way for Sweetgreen to scale quickly while keeping costs in check Chris would you eat at a restaurant we’re a robot makes your salad
Chris 24:50
I’m glad you said it that way. I if it tastes the same Yeah, I don’t give I don’t give a darn honestly I don’t care and it it probably means you’re gonna get it faster to I think 100% So sign me up. Yeah, the quality is the same and I get it faster. Yeah, I’ve had no problem with this at all. But what do you think I you’re more the salad goer than I am. I’m also eating more salads lately. On encouragement of my physicians.
Anne 25:15
That’s a good idea for you. That’s I love this journey for you, Chris. That’s good. It comes as no surprise to any of the listeners of our podcast. But yes, I’m all for robot preparation like you are. It’s especially not in like your, your, your restaurants, your sit down restaurants by any means. But in these kinds of situations, like sweet green allows exactly one cup of product. It’s not like your it’s not like somebody’s like, this is the old subway days where they’re kind of slapping stuff on it’s like, we have pre measured like the cost of ingredients. The cost of marketing these places is so like, dialled in, right?
You’re not gonna get any variations. So just come get your salad. There’s nothing I hate more than make than order, whatever they’re called make lines.
Chris 26:00
Yeah, like the chipotle line and the speaker.
Anne 26:02
I hate them
Chris 26:02
100% percent I agree. Why? Because I hate him too.
Anne 26:04
Because I hate the people that have like, oh, do I want pickle today? I don’t know. And they like sit in have a conversation. No, there is a line of 100 people get out of here, just pre programmed in your phone and send it off
Chris 26:21
The other point, I would say too, and because we’re from Minnesota, I hate doing that to other people. Like when I’m indecisive. Like it stresses me out. Like I don’t want to hold up the line. Yeah, so give me a robot
Anne 26:30
Well, and then I think ultimately the the point of this being like, what we’ve said multiple times like in the Starbucks pick up on these things like then it gives your associates the space and time to greet customers to help with any challenges to orders or to help remedy those things where you really need human beings to be focused on giving the experience ensuring that everything is correct. That’s coming out the right way. Like that’s where you want your focus not on the scooping of a cup of tomatoes and one cup of chicken on to
Chris 27:00
So you hope this works. You hope you hope this we got to check this out when it comes sweet green people if you’re listening, let us know when the stores open. We want to come check them out.
Anne 27:08
Yes, absolutely. All right, Chris. Let’s go to the lightning round.
Chris 27:12
Alright I’m excited about this week’s lightning round. Let’s do it.
Anne 27:14
Okay, this one was tailor made for you Chris, KFC is opening a pub in London called the Colonel’s arms, which will combine the best of a traditional British pub with the food of KFC. This means you can sit on a pint while watching TV or playing foosball and then chowing down on some finger licking good chicken Chris. Is this move diminishing the sanctity of the English pub? Or a sure way to get you to visit next time we’re in London?
Chris 27:39
I think it’s actually both Anne and for sure. For sure diminishes the sanctity of the English pub which is like my favourite all time place to be
Anne 27:47
Irish or English,
Chris 27:48
English or Irish I don’t really care there are some people who might be probably I’d probably go Irish first and then English sorry English friends of ours. But um but I think for sure it gets me to chill gives me a reason to visit there next time in London because KFC bar none is still the best fried chicken out there. My buddy Noyon and I have had this argument with our spouse pies no fried chicken Kentucky Fried Chicken original recipe he and I know and we’ll go to the grave it’s the best fried chicken out there. So if I can get a Guinness in the same place as my fried chicken my original recipe and lick my fingers while doing it in hell yes, I’m Yep, we’re that’s definitely on. We got to get back to London and I haven’t been to Popeyes in a while. I gotta try that actually. It’s a good point. Good point.
All right, Anne a new film called Ady for Brady. Yes, so awesome. Chronicles a tale of a group of octogenarian friends starring Lily Tomlin Sally Field, Rita Moreno and even Jane Fonda, who have made it their lifelong mission to go to the Super Bowl and meets NFL superstar Tom Brady. I sent you the trailer when I heard about this lab earlier this week. So on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being amazingly awesome. How good you think this movie will be?
Anne 28:57
I’m I can’t I still can’t believe that. This is a real movie. I am so confused.
Chris 29:03
Makes me think it’s gonna be great.
Anne 29:03
I’m so confused because they’re like introducing themselves as their actual names. But then they’re calling each other different names in the movie like, are we is this actually Willie Sally, Rita and Jane like actually, them or what the hell is going on? So I just need to figure it out. But I do kind of want to see it. Your story?
Chris 29:24
Yeah.
Anne 29:24
Like they’re, I don’t know if the four of them or four people they’re portraying really did this but I kind of want to find out so I’m gonna say five.
Chris 29:32
Yeah, it’s five. That’s it. 5
Anne 29:35
50-50 expectations. I’m going in and I’ll be
Chris 29:38
You’re riding the fence on this one. I am. But do you think it’s more six or more four?
Anne 29:44
More four
Chris 29:44
More Four? Okay I think it’s gonna be higher than that. So I don’t think these I don’t think these four days with sign up. The muster script is really good. That’s my hunch. But anyway,
Anne 29:51
They’re 80 and they’re in Hollywood.
Chris 29:53
That’s true. All right, we’re on. Oh, it’s your turn.
Anne 29:56
It’s my turn. Chris. Word on the street is Minneapolis. Maybe home The next players cafe. I thought Ice Cube might be involved he is not. But players Cafe is a modern convenience store that is one a one stop for shopping for coffee lottery tickets, Scratchers, snacks, gifts and more. Chris when given the option perhaps if you and find yourself in a local townie bar tonight on the biggest drinking night of the year.
Chris 30:20
Is that right? I dodn’t know that.
Anne 30:21
Oh, yeah, absolutely. The night before Thanksgiving
Chris 30:23
I didn’t know that.
Anne 30:24
Oh, yeah.
Chris 30:24
Makes sense.
Anne 30:26
Are you more of a scratch off guy or a pull tab guy?
Chris 30:30
First I didn’t know that reference of the song was an ice cube or iced tea. You say Ice cube?
Anne 30:34
Ice Cube
Chris 30:35
Ice Cube? I have no idea what that references
Anne 30:36
Players club?
Chris 30:37
Yeah
Anne 30:37
Check it out. Great songs. Great movie, great song.
Chris 30:41
But Anne to answer your question. I would say neither, because Anne gambling is a vise. Unless of course I’m on a heater at the blackjack table in Vegas with my buddies Narrens and oven. But yeah no, I’ve never done a pull tab in my life. I’ve done a scratch off.
Anne 30:54
Oh, pull tab all the way. Get yourself one of those. Those cowboy.
Chris 31:00
Most people outside of Minnesota have no idea what you’re talking about.
Anne 31:03
Well, you you come up to Minneapolis listeners and I will take you for a Bloody Mary and some pull tabs and it’ll be the best day of your life.
Chris 31:11
All right, let’s close out this show. Adidas fall Nike this weekend unveiled its own digital NFT marketplace. What is the one piece of Adidas gear you would want forever memorialised as an NFT
Anne 31:23
1990 Samba
Chris 31:25
The samba
Anne 31:25
Yeah,
Chris 31:26
that’s a good that’s a good that’s a good
Anne 31:27
Defined my footwear for
Chris 31:29
It did?
Anne 31:30
Oh god yeah,
Chris 31:31
I didn’t know that.
Anne 31:32
Oh, samba all the way
Chris 31:33
How long? What period of time with what year and period of time length of time was this?
Anne 31:36
Well you know, Minnesota is home to the USA CUP which is kind of the World Cup for younger soccer players 18 and under.
Chris 31:45
I didn’t know that.
Anne 31:45
And so I started playing in that when I was probably in sixth grade. So sambas were kind of the jam from like sixth grade all the way through.
Chris 31:53
Did you ever see the slash before you put the sambas on?
Anne 31:57
Yeah, yeah, of course. You had to be ready
Chris 31:59
What’d you wear to high school. The sambas or the slides.
Anne 32:02
Well, I didn’t.
Chris 32:03
Slides were big in high school for me
Anne 32:04
Sambas for sure. I went to a private school that were like uniforms. We couldn’t always wear the sambas at school. So I had to wear like Mary Jane. Like low platform low for things. It was not so
Chris 32:17
it’s horrible. Anyway, horrible. All right. Well, thanks for taking me down that memory lane Anne I liked that one. That was good.
Anne 32:23
I got deep
Chris 32:24
That’s a good lightning round question. I learned a lot about ourselves on that one. All right. That wraps us up Happy Birthday today to Miley Cyrus, Chris Hardwick and everyone’s favourite Jersey Shore Burr. Sneaky. And remember if you can only read or listen to one retail blog in the business make it Omnitalk. Our fast five podcasts is the quickest fastest rundown of all the week’s top news. And our twice weekly newsletter tells you the top five things you need to know each day. And also this feature special content exclusive to us. And it’s just for you and we try really hard to make it all fit within the preview pane of your inbox. You can sign up today at http://www.omnitalk.blog. Thanks as always for listening in. Please remember to like and leave us a review wherever you happen to listen to your podcast or on YouTube. And on behalf of all of us at omnitalk retail as always, be careful out there and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Anne 33:08
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Omni Talk is the retail blog for retailers, written by retailers. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga founded Omni Talk in 2017 and have quickly turned it into one of the fastest growing blogs in retail. 