Hello Omni Talk Fans! Walmart once again is making a move that I love, lighting up restaurant delivery from in and around its stores.
In today’s Retail Daily Minute:
- Lululemon cuts its full-year revenue guidance to flat or declining, citing a wave of negative media coverage and underwhelming product launches, raising deeper questions about the brand’s product innovation edge heading into a leadership transition.
- Walmart announces 30-minute delivery from 1,400 in-store Subway locations by midsummer, the opening move in a direct push into restaurant delivery that puts it on a collision course with DoorDash and Uber.
- The Mall, a new startup founded by alums of Tom Ford and Stanford, launches an invite-only app that aggregates 10,000+ brands into a single personalized shopping feed, aiming to be the Spotify of online retail discovery.
Plus, speaking of Walmart, my favorite (and very timely) headline short from last week’s Fast Five Podcast with former Walmart executive Shelley Huff, and a movie quote recorded in a mall.
👇 Listen now
Today’s Top Headlines
1. Lululemon Cuts FY Guidance Amid Bad Press and Weak Q2 Sales
Lululemon cut its FY guidance to flat/declining revenue after bad press—including Chip Wilson’s proxy fight and a Texas AG PFAS probe—hurt U.S. and China traffic. Q1 revenue rose 4% to $2.5B but fell 3% in the Americas. New product launches also missed expectations, with analysts warning the reset may just be beginning. (Read More)
2. Walmart Expands Express Delivery With In-Store Subway Orders
Walmart is now delivering Subway orders via its app and website, starting in CT, FL, GA, OH, PA, and TX—expanding to ~1,400 locations by summer’s end. Prices match in-store menus. The move marks Walmart’s first restaurant delivery integration, as rivals like Uber Eats and DoorDash deepen retail ties. (Read More)
3. A New App Lets Shoppers Build Their Own Personal Virtual Mall
A startup called “The Mall” lets users build a personalized virtual mall, aggregating 10,000+ brands and tracking sales, restocks, and drops in one app. It scrapes retail sites instead of using APIs, with no affiliate model. Free for consumers, it plans to monetize via a B2B brand analytics tool this summer. (Read More)
4. Amazon Unveils Next-Gen Proteus Robot via Natural Language
Amazon unveiled next-gen Proteus, a warehouse robot that accepts plain-language commands, at its London event. It rolls out in Europe by H1 2027, backed by a €10B investment. The launch comes amid ongoing corporate layoffs, with CEO Andy Jassy citing AI as a key driver of workforce restructuring ahead. (Read More)
5. Five Below Q1 Net Sales Surge 32.5% on Viral Squishy Toy Trend
Five Below’s Q1 net sales surged 32.5% to $1.3B, fueled by viral squishy toys and higher tax refunds, driving a 22.7% comp gain. The retailer raised its FY outlook to $5.4–$5.48B. However, trend-reliance and tough year-over-year comps ahead spooked investors despite the blockbuster results. (Read More)
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Be careful out there,
— Chris and the entire Omni Talk team
Omni Talk® is the retail blog for retailers, written by retailers. Chris Walton founded Omni Talk® in 2017 and have quickly turned it into one of the fastest growing blogs in retail.