In this episode of the Omni Talk Expert Series, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by Ethan Chernofsky, Chief Marketing Officer at Placer.ai, for a data-driven discussion on the retailers and sectors poised to shape the industry in 2026.
Ethan brings deep expertise in location analytics and consumer behavior, sharing insights pulled from real-world foot traffic data across the United States. He explains how tracking where consumers physically go offers an unfiltered view into retail momentum, brand relevance, and long-term sector health.
From fitness and grocery to coffee and digitally native brands, Ethan outlines which retailers are gaining ground, which are in turnaround mode, and what their performance signals about the future of brick-and-mortar retail.
Key Topics Covered:
• [1:12] – Introduction to Ethan Chernofsky and the role of foot traffic analytics in modern retail
• [3:40] – How physical visitation data reveals true consumer preference shifts
• [6:05] – Why the fitness sector, including brands like EōS Fitness, is seeing sustained momentum
• [9:18] – Grocery leaders such as H-E-B and the power of localization
• [12:07] – Specialty retail strength highlighted by players like Michaels
• [15:22] – The recovery outlook for Starbucks and the return of the third-place experience
• [18:46] – Where Home Depot and Target fall on the performance spectrum
• [22:10] – Grocery’s evolving value equation: price vs. quality vs. differentiation
• [25:34] – Competitive experimentation from retailers like Kroger
• [28:41] – The physical retail recalibration of digitally native brands including Allbirds
• [31:05] – Wholesale and partnership strategies with retailers such as Nordstrom
• [34:20] – Why “value” may be the most misunderstood concept in retail today
This conversation is essential for retail leaders evaluating growth sectors, tracking competitive momentum, and building strategies grounded in real consumer behavior rather than industry speculation.
Tune in now on the platform of your choice below:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Soundcloud | Amazon Music
Be careful out there,
– Chris, Anne, and the Omni Talk team
P.S. To see our full lineup of past Ask An Expert conversations, head here.
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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.