Serious and Sometimes Comic Musings on the Future of Retail
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Join retail experts Chris and Anne as they highlight the most impactful technology solutions at NRF 2025. Featuring exclusive interviews with retail tech leaders from GreyOrange, Quorso, VusionGroup, Scandit, Microsoft, SPS Commerce, Aptos and more! It is the perfect guide for retail executives attending NRF or wanting to stay ahead of retail tech trends.
In this episode of the Omni Talk Fast Five, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga dive into the top retail headlines kicking off 2025. Topics include Walmart’s massive electronic shelf label rollout, Costco’s return-to-basics strategy, and DoorDash’s new partnership with ibotta for grocery savings. Plus, insights into Simbe Robotics’ latest innovation and Giant Food’s unique community center concept. Tune in for expert analysis and the latest trends shaping the retail world this year.
Discover Costco’s key initiatives for 2025 with Todd Barentine, President of Club Division at The Barcode Group. Learn about their return to core principles, treasure hunt strategy, and ambitious international expansion plans, plus essential insights for brands looking to partner with Costco.
Join Simbe Robotics CEO Brad Bogolea for an in-depth discussion about how retail robotics are revolutionizing store operations. Learn about Simbe’s Tally robot’s impact on reducing out-of-stocks by 60%, improving inventory accuracy, and why both store associates and customers are embracing this technology. Discover why 2025 could be the year retail robotics become mainstream.
Join us for our annual Omni Talk Retail Awards, celebrating the biggest wins, fails, and laughs of 2024. From Doug McMillon’s continued excellence at Walmart to surprising retail partnerships and technological innovations, discover which retailers and executives made the biggest impact this year.
Clarence Bethea of True Ventures shares his journey from overcoming personal struggles to leading a successful startup and now mentoring early-stage entrepreneurs. He highlights the importance of early funding, AI’s transformative role across industries, and the value of honesty and empathy in supporting founders.
Hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga dive into the world of private brands with special guests Brandon Warren and Bethany Davis of the Barcode Group. Discover why private brands are crucial to retail growth, who’s winning the private label game, and how retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Target are adapting their strategies. Brandon and Bethany also share actionable advice for manufacturers and retailers looking to elevate their private label programs. Don’t miss this insightful conversation full of expert takes and innovative ideas!
Brooke Chambers, Director of Digital Marketplaces at Kroger, shares her extensive experience in the evolution of digital marketplaces from simple seller acquisition to comprehensive platform partnerships. She discusses the critical role of marketplaces in customer retention, the importance of bridging online and offline experiences, and predicts future trends including social selling and generational shopping shifts.
Chris and Anne discuss Amazon Auto’s debut, Tractor Supply’s aggressive expansion goals, and PorchPals’ novel porch piracy insurance. They also evaluate Dollar General’s fresh produce strategy and E.l.f. Beauty’s 3D virtual lounge, while welcoming Kroger’s Brooke Chambers for an expert take on marketplaces.
In this insightful episode of the Omni Talk Ask an Expert Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with SPS Commerce’s Brandon Pierre and Maayan Kaplan to explore the critical importance of aligning supply chain and merchandising teams. Learn how metrics like OTIF (On Time, In Full) and collaborative planning frameworks such as S&OP can help retailers streamline operations and drive profitability. Whether you’re a retailer or supply chain pro, this episode is packed with actionable insights to prepare for 2025.
In this episode of the Omni Talk Retail Podcast, Chris and Anne dive into the latest retail news, including Walmart’s innovative livestream featuring Dolly Parton on Cyber Monday, Shein and Temu entering the toy market, and the trends emerging from this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Week. They also explore OpenAI’s move into chatbot advertising and Digimarc’s collaboration with Picadeli to combat salad bar fraud. Stay informed on the dynamic changes in retail and e-commerce!
Pam Simon, Executive VP and Conference Chair of Manifest Vegas, shares insights on the 2025 event that brings together global supply chain leaders, innovators, and investors. With a focus on cutting-edge technologies, networking, and mentorship, Manifest Vegas is set to be the must-attend conference for logistics and supply chain professionals.
In this episode of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, Chris and Anne dive into Target’s shift from “cheap chic” to a “dull chore,” Kohl’s CEO transition during the critical holiday season, and Qurate’s push into livestream shopping. Plus, discover TikTok’s new product link testing and Perplexity’s innovative shopping feature. Stay tuned for insights on retail trends, leadership shifts, and the future of digital commerce.
Anne and Chris dive into their favorite holidays, ranking them from 5 to 1 with plenty of surprises and heated debates. From Memorial Day barbecues to Christmas cheer, and even the summer solstice, we explore the holidays that bring joy (or stress!). Join us for this fun ranking experiment and let us know if your favorite made the list.
In this episode of the Omni Talk Ask An Expert Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Jean-Denis Mariani, former Chief Digital Officer at Coty, and Kristy Vannatter, Head of Beauty at Firework, to discuss the future of retail video commerce. From hyper-personalization to shoppable video content, discover the key trends shaping e-commerce for 2025. Learn how brands can leverage user-generated content, AI, and micro-influencers to build authentic customer connections.
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. Know More →
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