Omni Talk Retail

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, Takeoff, and Manhattan Associates, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga talk: – The reportedly leaked memo that confirms our long held suspicions surrounding Walmart's tenuous hold on its grocery market share in the face of third-party marketplaces and Amazon. – Why in the hell it is that eBay suddenly seems cool again. – The long legs of Dick's Sporting Goods new off-price concept. – Tanger Outlets and its Fillogic partnership and why, even though the concept is cool, it could be the wrong starting point. – And Circle K's new $5.99 per month coffee subscription that Anne somehow loves despite being Death Valley low on the same idea from Panera last year. To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/ To learn more about Manhattan Associates Momentum Connect Conference, visit: https://www.manh.com/en-gb/events/momentum?utm_campaign=21-01-global-all-multiproducts-paidmedia-Influencer&utm_content=Momentum&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=click-through&utm_term=INFLUENCER21This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

If you’ve ever considered a career in management consulting or had a question about the consulting industry, this interview is a must-listen. Anne Mezzenga sits down with Patrica Hong, a 20-year management consultant veteran and Partner at the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group. Patricia got into consulting thinking she’d get some early career experience and the opportunity to move to the US to get her MBA and then move onto other career opportunities. Little did she know, several years later, that she would leave consulting, come back, and still be doing it today. Patricia provides her insights on the skills it takes to succeed as a consultant and how to accept situations when you find you don’t have all the answers, like, for example, when helping a company manage their business through a pandemic. Patricia even closes the conversation sharing the number one thing on which, consultant or not, no one should ever compromise. Sponsored by Parcel Pending by Quadient (parcelpending.com) Music by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Anne Mezzenga is joined by CEO and President of Athleta, Mary Beth Laughton. Since Mary Beth became CEO of Athleta, Athleta has become a billion-dollar brand, rolled out inclusive sizing chain-wide, and made several pivots to provide a full omnichannel experience for their customers as they worked and worked out from home during the pandemic. Mary Beth’s career in retail started early on at the Tasty Freeze in Chicago, where she went above and beyond at an early age, asking to re-configure menu boards and craft an even more perfect cone. Her ambition and success continued through her professional career, which saw her hold positions at McKinsey, launch the DTC side of Nike’s business, run e-commerce for Sephora, and finally in her current role leading the team at Athleta. Through it all, Mary Beth says her key to success is being proactive in her career, and she shares some tips on how to do that along with advice on making personal and professional career decisions, creating best in class omnichannel retail experiences, and how to prepare yourself and your teams for the next generation of retail. Sponsored by Parcel Pending by Quadient (parcelpending.com) Music by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, Takeoff, and Manhattan Associates, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga head to the Kellogg School of Management to talk: – This year's list of the Top 10 Online Retailers and what it tells us about the future of retail. – Walmart's "ladder theory" defense against a $15 minimum wage. – The Macy's kerfuffle over its scan-and-go mobile app and what it says about Jeff Gennette's leadership and technology overall within retail experience design. – Who stands to win and who stands to lose from Instacart's brilliant move to become the online SNAP redemption clearinghouse for a bevy of new grocers. – And what SoFi's new cryptocurrency rewards program says about loyalty, asset transferability, and today's youth. To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/ To learn more about Manhattan Associates Momentum Connect Conference, visit: https://www.manh-momentum.com/event/2900e153-e818-4d29-8aa7-08ece92093ad/summaryThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, Takeoff, and Manhattan Associates, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga talk: – Walmart removing its in-store pickup towers and how the announcement, despite the headlines, is about way more than robotics. – Gopuff nabbing a 20 year Amazon veteran to head up operations after its latest $1 billion financing round. – The hilarious Amazon vs. Walmart battle over cool sounding in-home delivery PR. For the record, Amazon wins hands down, and I make no bones about it, calling in-home fridge delivery one of the worst ideas Walmart has had in the past five years. – Instagram's new marketplace to connect creators and brands. – And why a new Harry Potter store in NYC highlights everything that is right about physical retail, even though it really has nothing to do with retail. To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/ To learn more about Manhattan Associates Momentum Connect Conference, visit: https://www.manh-momentum.com/event/2900e153-e818-4d29-8aa7-08ece92093ad/summaryThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer & Retail Group and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern go back to the 1990s and talk: – Lululemon getting into resale (and some of the watch outs it should consider) – Why Amazon's new hair salons are about way more than hair - What Taco Bell's digital-only store in NYC means for our ever-growing fear of a WALL-E future - AiFi's new camera-only checkout free implementation with Choice Market - And why Amazon's new home delivery installation program is way cooler than anyone probably thinks on first blush. Plus, it is Emma the Intern's last show so we send her off in style with pictures of Chris and Anne from 1998 and put her through her own "How Gen X are You?" quiz. This week's episode is a whole lot of Abercrombie & Fitch, frosted tips, and a little Savage Garden thrown in for good measure. Truly, madly, deeply it is. To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

NielsenIQ recently unveiled its new Omnishopper solution to enhance the industry’s understanding of omnishopping consumer behavior across the U.S. marketplace. In the latest edition of their Omni Talk Spotlight Series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss the launch with Liz Buchanan and Natalie Williams of NielsenIQ and learn how the new Omnishopper solution works, what it does, and why it enhances the overall insights retailers and CPGs can glean from how today's shopper is actually shopping. For NielsenIQ, the solution also marks the first stage of a multi-pronged product release, focused on bringing accurate omni-intelligence to the global stage. And, for retailers and CPGs, it just may also mark one of the biggest changes in the "history of category management," which is not a statement to take lightly, either. Retail is changing fast and how we talk about performance across the channels and by market just may be the most central question of all going forward. This interview is another Omni Talk exclusive you won't want to miss! *Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer & Retail Group and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern, along with special guest hosts Kristin Kohler Burrows and David Ritter: – Discuss what Harry's $155 million investment round means for its future and the future of CPGs. – Exchange barbs about Best Buy's new subscription program, Best Buy Beta. – Grade Starbucks' new reusable cup pilot on a scale only Starbucks drinkers will love. – Highlight why Nordstrom's market strategy would be even cooler if Macy's and Kohl's started drinking from the same Kool-Aid. – And anxiously and unanimously await the day when rumored Amazon discount electronics and home goods stores are actually a reality. There’s all that and more in this week’s episode, including our favorite Arquette, the Pointer Sisters, and how many HBS grads its takes to record a podcast. To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest Omni Talk Live Production -- You Can't Spell Autonomous Shopping Without AI -- Chris Walton goes deep on the subject of AI and autonomous shopping with executives from NVIDIA, Dell Technologies, and AWM Smart Shelf who know their stuff as well as anyone. Azita Matin (NVIDIA's VP & GM, AI for Retail & CPG), Trey McMillian (Dell Technology's GM for Retail), and Kevin Howard (AWM Smart Shelf CEO) all join Chris for a lively and frank discussion on what we can all expect in the world of autonomous shopping over the next few years. Together they discuss and predict: - That key retailers will be rolling out more autonomous shopping pilots in the next 6 to 12 months (8:25) - Why autonomous shopping is a "natural evolution of human nature" (11:00) - How AI frees up employees time for value added tasks (14:44) - The nuances between autonomous shopping and autonomous operations (15:50) - The importance of GPUs in autonomous shopping (28:50) - Why the path to autonomous shopping doesn't have to be linear -- i.e. self-checkout machines, scan-and-go, smart carts, then fully autonomous (35:42) - The insanity of retailers trying to go this alone with their own home grown solutions (40:18) - And, that fully autonomous shopping could be the norm within 3 years (45:16) Yes, you heard that last point here first -- 3 years! That is the timeline by which three AI executives all believe that we can expect the major retail players in the world to deploy fully autonomous shopping at scale. Sign us up! We are all in!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer & Retail Group and Takeoff, Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, and Emma the Intern: – Take sides on the landlord vs. retailer sales calculation debate – Discuss how far is too far in Nike's distribution pullback efforts – Forecast out the impact on retail workers of increased demand for warehousing space – Fantasize about other Restoration Hardware-like retail and hospitality mashups – And, go in some of the strangest directions imaginable talking about whether Tinder commerce could become a big thing There's all that and more in this week's episode, including Charles in Charge references, Quorso mugs, and the sultry sounds of posh acronyms. To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail To learn more about Takeoff, visit: www.takeoff.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy