Omni Talk Retail

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Retail Spotlight Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Rafay's CEO Haseeb Budhani and HP's VP of Retail and Industry Solutions Cory McElroy to dive deep into the topic of what it takes to scale computer vision implementations across thousands of store locations. Together they discuss: - How computer vision has moved from a "science project" to a business necessity - In what areas retailers are most interested in applying computer vision - The issues that arise with implementations, particularly around finding the skilled people to do the work onsite - And why being able to manage Kubernetes from the cloud could help to solve many of the problems retailers could face For more information on Rafay, head here: https://rafay.co/ Music by hooksounds.com *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In today's special Wednesday edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five podcast, sponsored by Microsoft, the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Takeoff, and Sezzle, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga: - Discuss why IKEA's new store investment plans show just how smart of retailer IKEA is. - Laud Unilever for its bold move to deploy mobile ice cream stores with Robomart. - Grow skeptical of Adidas's all-in move with Foot Locker. - Debate whether Sweetgreen's new digital order pickup-only store is something more QSRs should try (and, newsflash, but Chris concedes the argument to Anne on this one). - And, close with an exploratory look at Starbucks and its digital future. There's all that, plus Kanye's latest video drop for Gap, what pairs best with Grey Poupon wine, and whether all jumpsuits should be beltless. To learn more about Microsoft, visit: www.microsoft.com/en-us/industry/r…cloud-for-retail To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/ To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/ To learn more about Sezzle, visit: www.sezzle.com/ Plus, check out our ranking in Feedspot’s 45 Top Retail Podcasts: blog.feedspot.com/retail_podcasts/ Music by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week’s Fast Five podcast, sponsored by Microsoft, the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Takeoff, and Sezzle, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga: - Had a split opinion on Publix's new nano-fulfillment partnership with Instacart. - Both extolled the virtues of the one-stop shop and H-E-B's newest store concept down in Texas. - Praised Verizon for going all-in on 24/7 pickup lockers. - Tipped our caps to Target for once again getting omnichannel retail tech right, as evidenced by their recent pilot of a robot that gives $8 manicures in-store. - And closed with a discussion of what Victoria's Secret selling on Amazon portends for the future and why Chris, specifically, thinks it is a pill that more mall-based retailers should just up and swallow. There's all that, plus the latest review read-a-loud, Anne's pining for 21 Jump Street, and Chris Walton's long obsession with frosted tips. To learn more about Microsoft, visit: www.microsoft.com/en-us/industry/r…cloud-for-retail To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/ To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/ To learn more about Sezzle, visit: www.sezzle.com/ Plus, check out our ranking in Feedspot’s 45 Top Retail Podcasts: blog.feedspot.com/retail_podcasts/ Music by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week’s Fast Five podcast, sponsored by Microsoft, the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Takeoff, and Sezzle, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga had a ball discussing: - Amazon’s newest suburban store Amazon Go concept, replete with made-to-order food, and whether it could one day soon evolve into “the gas station of the future.” - A really interesting new store concept from online retailer MorningSave down in Texas that promises to meld the beauty of the online treasure hunt with in-store retailing. - Meta’s new “Meta store,” which is so meta, in and of itself, they couldn’t control themselves. - An idea coming out of American Eagle, called the “frenemy network,” which encourages apparel retailers to come together to share the costs of fulfillment. - And closed with a look at Buy with Prime and what it means for Amazon, consumers, and Shopify. There’s all that, plus hands-free beer buying, airline layovers in San Jose, and douches to rival Steff from Pretty in Pink. To learn more about Microsoft, visit: www.microsoft.com/en-us/industry/r…cloud-for-retail To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/ To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/ To learn more about Sezzle, visit: www.sezzle.com/ Plus, check out our ranking in Feedspot’s 45 Top Retail Podcasts: blog.feedspot.com/retail_podcasts/ Music by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week’s Fast Five podcast, sponsored by Microsoft, the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Takeoff, and Sezzle, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga: - Gave their hot take on Andrew Jassy’s first-ever letter to Amazon shareholders - Had mixed feelings on Lululemon’s new subscription program - Took a second to bash the Yankees as they discussed Caper Counter at Fenway Park - Exhibited a high degree of skepticism around the new Champs store concept - And closed with a look at Pensa’s new deployment with Lunds & Byerly’s and how it may be yet another example of why computer vision is the most important technology shaping the future of retail There’s all that, plus 6-CD changers, deep space probes, and the smell of Philadelphia Cream Cheese. To learn more about Microsoft, visit: www.microsoft.com/en-us/industry/r…cloud-for-retail To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/ To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/ To learn more about Sezzle, visit: www.sezzle.com/ Plus, check out our ranking in Feedspot’s 45 Top Retail Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/retail_podcasts/ Music by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week’s Fast Five podcast, sponsored by Microsoft, the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Takeoff, and Sezzle, A&M’s Chad Lusk and Hemant Kalbag joined Anne as they debated: -An Earth Day Resale PR blitz from multiple retailers, including Target partnering up once again with ThredUP. -Zara’s new knockout high-tech, half-warehouse flagship store in Madrid finally enabling mobile self-checkout for apparel. - Meta giving creators the green light to sell virtual goods in the metaverse - Santa Monica Place offering small businesses single day to 12 month leases leveraging Macerich’s QuikSpace platform - And closed with a discussion about the most important uses for Wakefern’s Simbe Robotics Trial run There’s all that, plus our favorite J-Lo songs, coffee-making robots, and the Etsy product most worth joining the seller strike for. To learn more about Microsoft, visit: www.microsoft.com/en-us/industry/r…cloud-for-retail To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/ To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/ To learn more about Sezzle, visit: www.sezzle.com/ Plus, check out our ranking in Feedspot’s 45 Top Retail Podcasts: blog.feedspot.com/retail_podcasts/ Music by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Part of what makes the concept of omnichannel retailing so great is the idea that retail is now perpetual, i.e. always on and available to consumers whenever and however they want it. But, by definition then, doing it right requires unprecedented levels of flexibility within our retail supply chains. So Omni Talk is pleased to announce that Purolator’s Senior Director of Retail, Laurie Weston, joins Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga for the latest installment of their Omni Talk Ask An Expert Series to explain how her company is thinking about and taking on this challenge. Collectively the three of them go deep on: – The varying ways Puralotor is attempting to increase package pickup and return accessibility, including concepts like partner access points, lockers, self-service kiosks, and mobile quick stop trucks – The growing case for pickup lockers in densely urban markets, along with why the time is right to begin testing them in rural markets, too. – How retailers should think about their own last-mile and return network designs – And, most importantly, Laurie’s anecdotes from 29 years on the job about why speed and convenience still trump all Chris, Anne, and Laurie discuss all this and more, and it is a conversation that is in-depth, fun, and one guaranteed to fill your last-mile knowledge cup to the brim! Music by hooksounds.com *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

To understand the future of commerce and words like the “metaverse,” it is important to place things in the proper context. So Omni Talk is pleased to announce that Meta’s VP of its Commerce Business, Emma Rodgers, joins Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga for the latest installment of their Omni Talk Ask An Expert Series to give her firsthand perspective on how she sees the future of retail shaping up. Collectively the three of them go deep on: – Why “portability” and “dimensionality” are key terms in understanding the future – What “discovery commerce” is and how it will evolve – How Meta envisions helping creators to succeed – Why livestream shopping has such an important place in the overall conversation – And also where the metaverse sits against this entire backdrop Chris, Anne, and Emma discuss all this and more, and it is a conversation sure to challenge convention, shift your context, and hopefully leave you inspired about where the future of omnichannel retailing is headed. After all, the metaverse is just another channel under the overall “omnichannel” umbrella. Music by hooksounds.com *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest Women's Retail Collective Podcast Anne Mezzenga sits down with Meijer's Group Vice President, Marketing & Customer Strategy: Retail Media, E-Comm, Own Brand, Data Insights at Meijer Amanda Mcvay You read that title right. Amanda wears a lot of hats and in fact, after 10 years at the company, Meijer created this job just for her. Amanda has diverse experience in everything customer-centric; from buying to product development to gathering consumer insights that have resulted in some of Meijer's most successful marketing initiatives. Amanda shares how she's using her position at Meijer to further develop their storied history of being more than a dependable general merchandise retailer, but a long-standing pillar of the community, and how she plans to use that to keep them defensible against Amazon. Amanda shares her advice for other women working in the retail industry and you'll want to stay until the end to hear who headlines her very own concert. Music by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

A&M's Jonathan Sharp gets hit with tough questions from Omni Talk Retail, as he shares the most important insights from the A&M Consumer & Retail Group's latest installment of their ongoing Consumer Sentiment Survey in just five minutes! To read the full survey, head here: https://alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/insi... *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy