Omni Talk Retail

Long have we talked about Visual AI as the most important technology that will shape retail over the next decade. So Omni Talk is pleased to announce that ViSenze Chief Commercial Officer Brendan O'Shaughnessy joins Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga for the latest installment of their Omni Talk Spotlight Series to share his knowledge on the most practical applications of Visual AI in the here and now: Collectively the three of them go deep on Visual AI's value and applicability: - Product recommendation engines - Online catalog enrichment - Visual search - In-store merchandising compliance - Assortment Planning It is a conversation that is a hallmark of what Chris and Anne do best -- i.e. one where they ask the questions most likely on the minds of retail executives to help make sense of what really matters most. Music by hooksounds.com *Sponsored Content*This 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 discuss: - Amazon's shrewd move and likely "deke" to close 68 physical stores. - Lululemon finally getting into footwear. - Dollar General trying to become everyone's new local bank. - Walmart's extremely disappointing new fit technology it unveiled this past week. - And close with a look at why Ryan Cohen's letter to the Bed Bath & Beyond Board of Directors may be the coolest thing we have seen in a long time. There's all that, plus Blind Dutchmen, more Sesame Street references, and why ventriloquists don't have podcasts. 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

Sure, the pandemic has “accelerated digital trends” throughout retail, but what the heck does that phrase really mean? While it is easy to say, it is quite another thing to know what to do about it. So Omni Talk is pleased to announce that Microsoft’s very own Chris Dieringer, Ricardo Belmar, and Sue McMahon and Adobe’s Taylor Schreiner joined Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga for the latest installment of their Omni Talk Ask An Expert Series to set the record straight. Collectively the four of them go deep on: - Adobe’s data-driven perspective on the biggest changes coming out of the pandemic - Which changes are here to stay and their resulting impact on pricing, promotions, and media spend - The shift from pre-purchase to post-purchase customer engagement and what it means for returns management and loyalty programming - And, most importantly, the technology and tactics retailers can deploy to stay relevant with their consumers amid all the change. Music by hooksounds.com *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Buy Now, Pay Later is one of the hottest trends in retail right now, and, while most of the BNPL activity happens online, that is about to change . . . rapidly. Because BNPL is now set to take over physical retail stores, too. To help us understand how fast and just how easy it is to allow retail customers to pay in-store with BNPL, Sezzle’s very own Chris Bixby joined Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga for the latest installment of their Omni Talk Ask An Expert Series. Collectively the three of them go deep on: - “Virtual card” solutions - Multi-use vs. single-use cards - BNPL as a form of affiliate marketing for in-store purchases - And, most importantly, just how easy it is to integrate BNPL into your bricks-and-mortar operations (newsflash: if you are already set up for Apple Pay, it is about as easy as it gets) It is a conversation that is in-depth, fun, and, one guaranteed to give you an honest to god, easy and practical way to drive conversion inside your stores. Music by hooksounds.com *Sponsored Content*This 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 discuss: - All the new curbside drive up features Target is testing, including ordering Starbucks and taking returns. - Just how big of a leap forward Amazon putting its Just Walk Out technology into Whole Foods really is. - Why Foot Locker expressing concern over its dwindling Nike sales may just be a sign of more bad news to come. - How on earth Kroger entering another market virtually (without stores!!) received as little media coverage as it did this week. - And closed with our thoughts on DoorDash brazenly placing retailers on its marketplace without their knowledge. There's all that, plus Baby Banana Republic, Anne working herself into a lather, and our newest Omni Talk team member who is as Cozy As Fluff. 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, A&M's David Brown and Chad Lusk join Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga as they discuss: - Amazon’s gobsmacking first-ever reported ad revenue figures. - Another airport-based convenience retailer, this time a British one, WHSmith, licensing Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” tech in LaGuardia airport. How daft! - Macy’s latest in store partnership that, let’s just say, left us in a bloody twist. - DoorDash charging McDonald’s extra for making its delivery drivers just sit there faffing around while waiting too long for their orders - And 7-Eleven’s new partnership with GrubHub that left me, for one, absolutely flummoxed. There’s all that, plus our favorite handyman jobs around the house and “after-dark” teddy bears. Yes, you read that last sentence right. It is a real thing. 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 discuss: - Why Domino's new marketing scheme to tip customers $3 for using order pickup is a big fat dud - Aldi's big U.S. store expansion plans - All the recent union troubles brewing at Starbucks - NYC bodegas striking back against the instant delivery companies - And why Simon's new mall ghost kitchen concept solves a very real pain for parents everywhere There's all that, plus Anne's true thoughts on Valentine's Day, the spice of dating life, and one big mea culpa from Chris on his utter inability to correctly abbreviate the state of Arkansas. 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

IoT devices in retail increased drastically within recent years, especially as the desire for digital and touchless solutions reached peak demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. And, as a result, while retailers have accelerated their digital transformation deployments at a record pace, all too often we see retailers driving IT purchases faster than IT can keep up, leading to untalked about and unforeseen issues down the road. New Omni Talk Expert, Art Miller, Global Head of Retail IoT at Qualcomm, joins Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga to discuss what to do in the face of this situation and to ensure insecure technologies don’t open up security holes which could result in breaches, exposure of customer data and negatively impact your brand. Together they explore, through the lens of Electronic Shelf Labels (aka ESLs), how a comprehensive approach to integrated, end-to-end security can: - Lead to more cost effective solutions - Delight your customer - And, help you swiftly adapt to the ever changing needs of your customers All of which should help your CIOs and CTOs sleep better at night, knowing they can have the conversations they need to have with the rest of the C-Suite. Music by hooksounds.com *Sponsored Content*This 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 discuss: - Why Walmart's RFID push into home goods is already the front runner for the omnichannel retailing headline of 2022. - All the reasons to be skeptical about Walmart's new store design in Springdale, AR. - Albertsons' continued AI push, this time in its quest to reduce food waste in fresh produce with help from Afresh. - The pluses and minuses of Petco's new Lowe's shop-in-shop partnership. - And, why the WSJ missed out on relaying some key information in its article this week that questioned the profit position underlying the instant delivery trend. There's all that, plus a COVID update from Chris, Anne reminiscing about shipping her pants, drunk father-in-laws who lose their shoes at weddings, and more! 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 discuss: - Who wore it better: Amazon Style or Amazon Go in the suburbs? - 7-Eleven's new 30 minutes or less subscription delivery program - Chris's utter distaste for the shareholder activists at Kohl's - Walmart's $400 million investment in vertical farming startup, Plenty - And, Instagram's early test of creator subscriptions There's all that, plus our favorite memories from the Manifest Conference in Las Vegas, an in person review of the new Savage X Fenty store, and Anne trying to recall the brand name of her DTC mattress that she was once hoodwinked into buying. 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