In this episode of our 5 Insightful Minutes Series, the Head of Worldwide Retail, Restaurants & Consumer Goods Business Development at AWS, Justin Honaman, joins us to discuss the biggest retail trends of 2025. We explore how AI, Amazon Ads' new Retail Ad Services, and data-driven personalization are shaping the future of shopping. Plus, we dive into unified commerce, composable commerce, and how retailers can better integrate in-store and e-commerce experiences for customers and employees alike.Key Moments:0:02 AWS retail trends for 20250:36 The rise of AI and AWS Nova models1:09 Amazon Ads launches retail ad services1:55 How retailers can maximize business value with AI2:44 The future of retail media networks3:56 What these trends mean for end consumers5:02 The importance of unified commerce and in-store technology#amazon #aws #amazonadvertising #retailtrends #retailnews #retailinnovation Music by hooksounds.comSponsored ContentThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, and Scratch Event DJs, Chris and Anne discussed:The appointment of Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel to head up Amazon’s grocery strategy (Source)Whether CPGs will jump at the chance to pay Walmart to test products with Walmart’s actual customers (Source)If Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol could be getting ahead of himself with his plans for ceramic mugs (Source)The veracity of Levi’s claims that its partnership with Google Cloud helped it to jump on the “baggy jeans” trend (Source)And closed by lauding Walmart for increasing its pay scale for regional managers (Source)There’s all that, plus Justin Honaman of AWS stops by for 5 Insightful Minutes to chat about 2025 and Amazon’s new Retail Ad Service, and we’ve got a more hilarious lightning round than usual filled with deep insights into Chris’s travel and house slipper habits.Heading to eTail West? Get the Omni Talk Deal Here: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com//?utm_source=OmniTalk%20Media%20Partner&utm_medium=Media%20Partner&utm_campaign=10701.019-%20OmniTalk%20Media%20Partner&utm_term=&utm_content=&disc=ETAILPARTNER&extTreatId=7608370Music by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Ocampo Capital and Scratch Event DJs Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by co-hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer & Retail Group, Kelly Carey and John Clear. In this clip, the group discusses: A "Gentle Rollercoaster" Lightning RoundFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/s3yeI48E9A0This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Ocampo Capital and Scratch Event DJs Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by co-hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer & Retail Group, Kelly Carey and John Clear. In this clip, the group discusses: Walmart Selling Luxury Goods Via RebagFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/s3yeI48E9A0This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Ocampo Capital and Scratch Event DJs Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by co-hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer & Retail Group, Kelly Carey and John Clear. In this clip, the group discusses: Sephora Redesigning Its Entire North American Store FleetFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/s3yeI48E9A0This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Ocampo Capital and Scratch Event DJs Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by co-hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer & Retail Group, Kelly Carey and John Clear. In this clip, the group discusses: If The American Consumer Needs Smaller Format Burlington Stores?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/s3yeI48E9A0This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Ocampo Capital and Scratch Event DJs Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by co-hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer & Retail Group, Kelly Carey and John Clear. In this clip, the group discusses: If They're Buying Or Selling: Target Cutting Its Production Lead TimeFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/s3yeI48E9A0This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Ocampo Capital and Scratch Event DJs Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by co-hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer & Retail Group, Kelly Carey and John Clear. In this clip, the group discusses: What Walmart's Symbotic Deal Signals About Its Approach To Delivery?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/s3yeI48E9A0This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, and Scratch Event DJs, A&M’s Kelly Carey and John Clear joined Chris and Anne to discuss:Walmart’s new Symbotic relationship, aka its new robot deal (Source)The veracity of Target’s claims that it has cut its production lead times down from 7 months to 8 weeks (Source)Whether the American consumer really needs smaller Burlington stores (Source)Sephora’s plans to redesign its entire North American store fleet (Source)And closed with an examination of Walmart’s marketplace expansion via Rebag to sell the likes of Fendi, Chanel, and more (Source)There’s all that, plus pit diapers, roundabout rules of the road and the HQ amenities we all just can’t live without.Music by hooksounds.com#walmart #target #sephora #retailtrends #retailnewsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In our latest episode of Omni Talk's Investor Perspectives on Retail and the Consumer, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga interview Simeon Siegel, Managing Director at BMO Capital Markets, to discuss the key trends and challenges facing retail and e-commerce as we approach 2025. They dive into topics such as market share, DTC strategy, and the importance of maintaining brand equity.Key Moments:0:48 - Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga introduce Simeon Siegel, Managing Director at BMO Capital Markets.1:30 – Simeon reflects on the joy of working at the intersection of retail operators and investors, balancing qualitative and quantitative analysis.2:54 – Simeon shares his background, including the influence of his grandfather’s shoe store and how he developed a passion for retail analysis.5:38 – A look at Simeon’s day-to-day role, from stock analysis to blending market data with human psychology insights.8:44 – Simeon recaps 2024 trends, highlighting the return to a market share-driven environment and the shift from macroeconomic challenges to company-specific performances.10:07 – Discussion on inflation, deflation, and how retailers should focus on microeconomic trends to identify opportunities.11:38 – Simeon explains how to analyze earnings reports by asking probing questions to separate marketing narratives from business realities.15:50 – The importance of margins over revenue growth and how brands like Under Armour and Victoria’s Secret can turn around by selling less but charging more.19:49 – How to identify "quality of sale" as an early indicator of business health, with examples from Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works.20:50 – Key challenges facing retail C-suites in 2025, with an emphasis on avoiding subjectivity and remaining objective in decision-making.22:56 – Examples of companies successfully avoiding the subjectivity trap, including Under Armour’s pivot to focusing on quality over quantity.24:49 – Simeon highlights brands he’s optimistic about for 2025, including Under Armour and Peloton, and why strategy shifts are critical for their success.27:31 – Insights into TJX as a reliable retail investment and how its business model contrasts with higher-risk brands like Under Armour.29:30 – Quick-fire brand analysis: Gap, Victoria's Secret, American Eagle36:30 – The future of direct-to-consumer (DTC): Why DTC is a distribution mechanism, not an identity, and the economic challenges of eliminating middlemen.41:30 – The TJX model: Why TJX thrives by maintaining minimal e-commerce presence and staying invisible for brand overstock.43:10 – Clarification on the importance of direct-to-consumer channels for most brands while acknowledging wholesale-only exceptions.44:32 – Closing remarks from Simeon Siegel, including how listeners can connect with him on LinkedIn.#retailtrends #dtc #businessinsights #podcast #ecommerce #marketanalysisMusic by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy