Hello Omni Talk Fans! I am Nashville bound for Shoptalk Fall, typing this while I sit in the Delta Sky Lounge at the Minneapolis airport. And, believe it or not, Shoptalk has elected me to interview David’s Bridal CEO Kelly Cook on the main stage on Thursday.
I can’t wait!
In today’s Retail Daily Minute:
- Walmart merges fashion, home and beauty into a new Style business unit led by Denise Incandela, its latest attempt to win in style.
- Costco gains an estimated $2.5 billion in CPG share of wallet, per Numerator, though Kirkland is slowing and lower-income shoppers are pulling back.
- Hy-Vee aims to cut the time to complete an online grocery order from about 40 minutes to five minutes or less using AI.
Plus, a quote from a film in which time is of the essence.
👇 Listen now
Today’s Top Headlines
1. Walmart Unifies Fashion, Home and Beauty Under New Style Team
Walmart is merging its fashion, home and beauty merchant teams into a new Style Strategic Business Unit led by Denise Incandela. The move brings merchandising, design, private brands and execution teams closer together as Walmart aims to sharpen trend leadership, improve coordination and strengthen its style offerings. (Read More)
2. Costco Gains $2.5B in CPG Wallet Share as Membership Expands
Costco added an estimated 4.5 million member households over the past year and captured about $2.5 billion more in CPG wallet share, according to Numerator. Growth was fueled by newer members, while the retailer continues expanding its footprint, with 33 new warehouses planned for fiscal 2027 as momentum keeps building. (Read More)
3. Hy-Vee Uses AI to Cut Online Grocery Shopping to Five Minutes
Hy-Vee aims to cut online grocery shopping time from about 40 minutes to five minutes or less by using AI to preload repeat purchases and adapt baskets to seasonal preferences. CEO Jeremy Gosch said the grocer is also rewriting its digital properties, with beta testing of the new capabilities set to begin within a month. (Read More)
4. Prada Courts Ultrawealthy Shoppers With Exclusive Luxury Perks
Prada is intensifying its focus on ultrawealthy clients with private experiences, exclusive events and high-priced products, including custom skirts costing up to $100,000. The strategy aims to capture more spending from top luxury buyers as middle-income demand weakens and rivals expand similar VIP programs worldwide. (Read More)
5. YouTube Boosts Shopping With AI-Powered Ask YouTube Feature
YouTube is expanding its AI-powered Ask YouTube feature into a shopping assistant, helping viewers discover and compare products through conversational queries. The platform will surface relevant videos, Shorts and recommendations, while AI-powered product tagging gives creators more ways to earn through affiliate sales. (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.