
Omni Talk Retail
Omni Talk Retail provides news, analysis, and commentary on the latest trends and issues in the retail industry. It covers a wide range of topics related to retail, including e-commerce, technology, marketing, and consumer behavior. The podcast regularly features industry experts, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, as well as retail thought leaders who all share their insights and perspectives on the latest developments in retail.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Latest episodes

Mar 27, 2025 • 10min
Why Retail Media Needs a Rethink | Liz Roche, Albertsons Media Collective @ Shoptalk 2025
Liz Roche delves into the evolving landscape of retail media, emphasizing the need to rethink measurement strategies. She discusses the importance of clean rooms and APIs for collaboration. Traditional KPIs are shifting towards long-term value metrics, highlighting the necessity of personalization and closed-loop attribution. The podcast urges brands to embrace experimentation for growth in a fast-paced market. With a focus on education and strategic partnerships, it’s all about adapting to consumer needs and leveraging new opportunities.

Mar 26, 2025 • 36min
Amazon Haul, Best Buy Social+ & Edibles.com | Fast Five
🎧 Retail Fast Five | March 26, 2025 – Live from Shoptalk 2025This week, Chris and Anne are back together live at Shoptalk 2025, bringing you exclusive insight and on-the-ground energy. This week's episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital and Infios, kicks off with a behind-the-scenes look at their interviews with CVS, Wayfair, and Purina (03:15), followed by their five big retail stories of the week:Best Buy Launches Social Plus – A new retail media/social ad hybrid (06:23)Amazon Haul Gets a Spring Sale Boost – But is it bold enough? (12:23)Klarna x DoorDash Partnership – BNPL comes to food delivery (16:46)Edible Arrangements Launches Edibles.com – Game-changing move into hemp products (20:54)Target Tests Brown Box Delivery – Efficiency play or PR puff? Or both? (24:43)They also talk Christina Aguilera workout songs (28:47), bad airport snacks (30:14), socks and sleep debates (31:53), and whether Minneapolis should host dating shows (33:03).💥 A must-listen for anyone following the ever-changing retail landscape.Music by hooksounds.com#RetailFastFive #OmniTalk #RetailNews #BestBuy #AmazonHaul #ShopTalk2025 #RetailMedia #Klarna #DoorDash #Edibles #TargetRetail #Ecommerce #RetailTrends #BNPL #RetailInnovationThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mar 26, 2025 • 12min
How Kendra Scott Is Using AI to Redefine Jewelry E-Commerce | Kamanasish “KK” Kundu at Shoptalk 2025
🎧 Personalized Joy at Scale: KK Kandu of Kendra Scott | Shoptalk 2025 LiveKamanasish Kundu (aka "KK"), SVP & Head of Digital and E-Commerce at Kendra Scott, joins Omni Talk live from the Avalara podcast studio at Shoptalk 2025 to explore the art and science of emotional commerce. From building a nimble, test-driven culture to prepping for an AI-first future of intelligent shopping agents, KK lays out the future of digital retail for a personal brand in an evolving world.📍 Timestamps:(0:09) Welcome and intro to KK Kandu – recently promoted at Kendra Scott(1:00) KK’s background: from electrical engineer to e-commerce leader(1:58) What KK’s Shoptalk session is about: personalization that spreads joy(2:54) Redefining personalization: it’s about anticipating needs and building connection(3:50) What makes jewelry unique in e-commerce—and why emotion matters(4:55) Bringing in-store energy to digital through omnichannel alignment(5:46) Test-and-learn culture: “launch and love” for every experiment(6:52) Navigating price sensitivity and uncertainty with a proactive strategy(8:20) Showing value through messaging and BNPL while staying nimble(9:40) What’s next in e-commerce: AI agents, emotional touchpoints, and dual-layer websites(11:13) Final thoughts: brands that balance intelligence and emotion will win#shoptalk #kendrascott #retailtechThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mar 26, 2025 • 11min
Why Resale Is Retail’s Next Big Growth Engine | Trove CEO Terry Boyle at Shoptalk 2025
🎧 Turning Returns Into Revenue: Trove CEO Terry Boyle on Resale’s Rise at Shoptalk 2025Terry Boyle, CEO of Trove, sits down with Omni Talk, live from the Avalara podcast studio at Shoptalk, to share how the resale revolution is changing retail. He walks through the tech, economics, and brand strategy behind resale programs that create loyalty, profits, and sustainability—while helping retailers attract new customers in the process.📍 Timestamps:(0:05) Welcome from Shoptalk 2025 at the Avalara booth(0:33) Terry Boyle’s background: from Nordstrom to Zulily to Trove(1:46) What Trove does: powering branded resale, trade-ins, and returns(2:59) Why resale is both a sustainability and profitability play(4:02) Who Trove works with—Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Brooks, and more(4:50) Why resale isn’t a Shoptalk track…yet(5:55) Has resale crossed the chasm?(6:50) The economics of resale vs. off-price(8:15) What tech is needed to scale resale (AI, WMS, ERP integration)(9:05) Is there a “right way” to do resale?(9:51) Full site integration = 3–5% of sales from resale(10:43) Watchouts: how to manage gift card values and return grades(11:27) Recap and call to action#shoptalk #resale #retailinnovationThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mar 26, 2025 • 9min
Tariffs, Taxes & Cross-Border Growth: Avalara’s George Trantas on What Retailers Must Know in 2025
🎧 Tariff Tuesdays, Taxes & Cross-Border Success: Avalara’s George Trantas at Shoptalk 2025Live from Shoptalk 2025, Avalara’s George Trantas shares deep insights on what’s next for global retail. From tackling tariffs and tax implications to building a smart cross-border strategy, George brings clarity to the chaos with advice rooted in years of ecommerce and logistics leadership.📍 Timestamps:(0:05) Live from Shoptalk 2025 at Avalara Booth #1554(0:53) George’s background and shoutout to his son’s hockey championship(1:19) What Avalara does and George’s evolving role(2:23) What’s happening in cross-border commerce right now(3:43) Where to start with cross-border: Canada, UK, Australia(4:46) Common mistakes in global ecommerce and pricing(5:58) Tariff talk: what happens if the de minimis rule is removed(6:56) Advice for retailers to prepare for tariff shifts(7:57) The surprising truth about taxing tariffs(8:55) Avalara’s weekly “Tariff Tuesday” blog and knowledge resources(9:25) Closing advice: get help, start small, and follow the leaders#shoptalk #taxes #tariffs Sponsored ContentThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mar 26, 2025 • 13min
How Uncommon Goods Has Survived—and Thrived—for 26 Years | CEO Dave Bolotsky at Shoptalk 2025
Chris and Anne sit down with Uncommon Goods founder and CEO Dave Bolotsky, live from the Avalara podcast studio, to talk about the company’s origin story, why curation still matters, and how they’re adapting to the latest retail trends. From light manufacturing in Brooklyn to in-house product design and a $25 loyalty program, Dave shares what it takes to thrive in today’s ecommerce world—plus his thoughts on AI, customer experience, and the future of gifting.📍 Timestamps:(0:05) Intro from Shoptalk 2025 at Avalara Booth #1554(0:26) Dave’s background from Wall Street to ecommerce(1:33) What makes Uncommon Goods “uncommon”(2:50) How they choose and create exclusive products(4:56) In-house design and Brooklyn-based light manufacturing(5:45) The evolution of the maker economy and competitive pressure(6:56) Popular new product: QR code horoscope mugs(8:00) Dave’s learning approach to Shoptalk(9:03) How Uncommon Goods is exploring retail media(9:45) Testing pop-up stores and the ROI challenge(10:59) Loyalty: “Uncommon Perks” vs. Prime(12:01) Using AI in customer service, copywriting, and code(13:20) Vision for AI in product development(14:34) Closing thoughts + what’s next for Uncommon Goods#shoptalk #retailinnovationThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mar 26, 2025 • 13min
CVS Chief Merchant Musab Balbale on Why the Front Store Is Its Future | Live from Shoptalk 2025
🎧 Inside CVS’s Retail Reinvention | Musab Balbale Live from Shoptalk 2025Musab Balbale, SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer of CVS Health, sits down with Omni Talk, live from the Avalara podcast studio at Shoptalk 2025, to explore CVS’s bold new retail strategy. With 75% of store traffic coming from the front store, CVS is leaning into AI, hyperlocal formats, and the power of everyday essentials to become a community-first destination for immediate needs.📍 Timestamps:(0:08) Welcome from Shoptalk 2025 – and puppies?!(0:36) What Musab oversees at CVS: digital, categories, and front-store merchandising(1:53) 75% of CVS traffic comes from front-store—surprising stat breakdown(3:06) CVS as a local community store, not just a pharmacy(3:35) Musab’s career journey: Walmart, Jet.com, Vitamin Shoppe(4:00) Comparing the transformation journeys of Walmart and CVS(4:52) CVS’s small format and standalone pharmacy strategy explained(5:56) Designing stores for micro trade areas using AI and ML(7:25) 900 billion value-SKU combos: how tech powers CVS’s tailored assortments(8:42) The consumer’s evolving expectations and how CVS fits into their routine(9:33) What categories are leading growth—food, general merchandise, and seasonal(10:59) “Immediate gratification” as the overlooked retail trip type(11:44) The human connection still matters in retail(12:27) The one trend Musab is watching closely: the true power of AI#shoptalk #cvs #retailinnovationThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mar 26, 2025 • 10min
How Shein’s On-Demand Model is Reshaping Fashion | Live from Shoptalk 2025
Shoptalk 2025 Exclusive: Shein's Strategy Head Peter Pernot-Day on the Future of FashionChris and Anne sit down with Shein’s Head of Strategy & Corporate Affairs, Peter Pernot-Day, live from the Avalara podcast studio at Shoptalk 2025, to explore how Shein's radically different approach to production and customer experience sets it apart. The discussion covers everything from small-batch on-demand design to retail data engineering and personalization—plus how Shein is thinking about tariffs, technology, and customer loyalty in 2025 and beyond.📍 Timestamps:(0:05) Live from Shoptalk 2025 at the Avalara booth(0:22) Peter’s background & Shein 101(1:12) What “on-demand fashion” really means(2:48) Technology that drives Shein’s efficiency(3:59) Shein’s response to the affordability crisis(5:00) Advice for other retailers: embrace data engineering(6:15) Personalization & the "experience gap" in e-commerce(7:42) Photo search and recommender system innovations(8:37) The role of customer feedback in design(9:34) Tariffs, De Minimis, and regulatory planning(10:56) Peter’s favorite thing about Shoptalk: Serendipity#shoptalk #shein #retailtechThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mar 22, 2025 • 5min
Lightning Round | $200K White Lotus Resort Tours, Irish Pub Inheritances & Ranking Sandler Movies
Discover Heineken's quirky campaign to find a successor for an Irish pub, sparking a playful debate on name changes. Dive into a lavish $200K vacation package to visit scenic White Lotus filming locations. The hosts share laughs over Mariah Carey's unimpressed reaction at an awards show and reflect on unexpected surprises at birthday parties. They also engage in a fun ranking of Adam Sandler films, from classic comedies to his more serious roles. It’s a delightful mix of entertainment, nostalgia, and luxury!

Mar 22, 2025 • 9min
Wonder Buys Tastemade – Is Mark Lore Trying to Give Everyone Their Own Personal Chef?
In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss how Wonder has scooped up Tastemade for $90 million as part of its grand plan to become the super app of mealtime. Chris and Anne dissect the strategy behind combining streaming food content with real-time delivery via Grubhub and Blue Apron—and whether Wonder’s vision of democratizing personal chefs can actually scale.(0:02) – Wonder acquires Tastemade to fuel its mealtime super app ambitions(0:33) – Wonder’s pivot from food trucks to centralized kitchens and restaurants(1:14) – Grubhub and Blue Apron acquisitions—building blocks of a food empire(1:40) – Marc Lore’s bold plan: Personalized chefs for everyone?(2:03) – The appeal: choice, convenience, and reducing friction in mealtime decisions(2:52) – Is it about delivery... or empowering consumers to cook with ease?(3:36) – Advertising potential: Tastemade as a platform to subsidize costs(4:46) – Scaling the logistics: Can Wonder handle the complexity at a reasonable price?(5:29) – Bezos’ rule of choice, food as friction, and the psychology of convenience(7:00) – Final verdict: Big risk, big vision—but is it big enough to work?Marc Lore is betting big on food—and the way we eat might never be the same. Will Wonder change the game... or burn through billions chasing an impossible dream?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/K-LainhQQyY#wonderapp #tastemade #foodtech #mealdelivery #superapps #grubhub #cloudkitchen #venturecapital #retailinnovation #foodstartupThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy