🕔 Retail Daily Minute | CVS Splits in Two, Amazon Opens Shop Direct to All Retailers & M&S Taps Vusion

Hello Omni Talk Fans! Huge news in pharmacy retailing today.

In today’s Retail Daily Minute:

CVS Health plans to split into two public companies, separating Aetna and Caremark from its 9,000 retail pharmacies in a stunning strategic reversal.
Amazon launches the Shop Direct Merchant Workspace, letting any eligible retailer list products in Amazon search and Alexa for Shopping, free of charge.
Marks & Spencer will deploy Vusion’s Connected Store platform and electronic shelf labels across a number of new stores.

Plus, a movie quote from a Jennifer Aniston flick whose title feels quite appropriate today.

👇 Listen now

Today’s Top Headlines

1. CVS Health Plans Pharmacy Business Split to Sharpen Its Focus

CVS Health plans to split into two publicly traded companies by the first half of 2028. CVS Pharmacy will operate about 9,000 stores, mail-order pharmacies and MinuteClinic, while CVS Health will retain Aetna, Caremark and healthcare services. The move aims to sharpen business focus, improve agility and unlock more value. (Read More)

2. Amazon Launches Direct AI Connector for Third-Party Retailers

Amazon has launched Shop Direct Merchant Workspace, a free portal connecting third-party retailers’ catalogs to Amazon and Alexa for Shopping through an AI connector. Merchants can display products, update information in near real time and retain control of pricing, inventory and fulfillment, expanding product discovery. (Read More)

3. Marks & Spencer Digitizes Store Product Management Operations

Marks & Spencer will deploy Vusion’s Connected Store platform in new stores to modernize shopfloor operations. Using Bluetooth-enabled EdgeSense smart rails and electronic shelf labels, the system will improve product information, help staff locate items and simplify inventory tasks, with potential for wider rollout. (Read More)

4. Wayfair Reports Strongest Quarterly Growth Since the Pandemic

Wayfair reported its strongest quarterly growth since the pandemic, with Q3 revenue rising 9.7% to $3.4 billion and U.S. sales up over 11%. Active customers increased 4.7% to 22.2 million, while orders climbed 12.2%. The home retailer posted $62 million in net income, reversing a $99 million loss a year earlier in Q3 2025. (Read More)

5. Children’s Place Weighs Liquidation Amid Bankruptcy Scenarios

Children’s Place faces a possible bankruptcy filing as it weighs bids that could preserve operations or lead to liquidation. The retailer faces falling sales, heavy debt and financial pressure. An investor consortium and liquidators are evaluating options, while existing shareholders could potentially lose their stakes. (Read More)

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