Omni Talk Retail

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five recorded live from Shoptalk 2025 in Vegas and sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Best Buy Connecting Retail Media With MetaFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/NPi_RSCdcTEThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

The Shoptalk 2025 Key Takeaways Podcast is here! Recorded live on stage, this fast-paced episode features Omni Talk's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton with Shoptalk's content team — Marielle Bobo, Ben Miller, HG O’Connell, and the live conference audience — as they spin the wheel to hit the hottest themes of the show.🎯 Key Moments & Topics:(00:54) Introduction of the “Shoptalk Dream Team”(03:00) Tariffs: Shein’s surprising openness to regulation(05:01) Data: AI, personalization, and retail transformation with DoorDash, Hanes, and SoulCycle(10:14) Retail Media: Growth slowing or just evolving?(13:52) Quote of the Show: Creativity, authenticity, and CVS’ traffic drivers(18:50) Demand Creation: Stores still rule; digital discovery leads(23:16) Search: Language & visual search, AI co-pilots, and TikTok’s next gen influence(28:33) Startup Winners: Sotira (reverse logistics) and Playably (gamified ecommerce)(30:31) Most Exciting Tech: From jewelry design with AI to in-store audio(32:45) Careless Whisper (aka Most Interesting Idea Heard Offstage): Trove’s 3-5 comp point resale lift, Sam’s Club’s reinvestment strategy, metaverse surprises, and CEOs getting back in stores(33:58) Agentic AI: Is this a “Bezos moment” for retail?(39:00) Closing Thoughts: What’s next? Shoptalk Europe, Fall, Groceryshop & more📍 For more on upcoming Shoptalk shows visit shoptalk.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this Shoptalk 2025 special, recorded live from the Shoptalk TV studio, Omni Talk sits down with Cedric Clark, EVP of Stores at Walmart, to unpack the company’s people-led, tech-powered evolution. Cedric dives into Walmart’s commitment to associate experience, innovation in store technology, and why staying connected to the frontline is key to long-term retail success.🎯 Key Moments:(00:54) Cedric on Shoptalk and innovation trends(1:45) His Walmart journey: From fishing licenses to EVP(3:09) Why store-level experience matters in leadership(4:12) People-led, tech-powered: Walmart’s core philosophy(5:47) Game-changing tech: My Walmart app and digital shelf labels(7:53) AI for smarter scheduling and task nudges(13:12) Store experience evolution: Then vs. now(16:06) How Walmart develops its associates(18:20) Winning over new customers and boosting loyalty(20:39) Walmart’s "secret sauce" for success(23:09) Keeping the customer at the center of every decision(25:37) Teasers for what’s ahead in 2025This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

JP Chookaszian, Meta's industry manager for luxury and retail, shares insights from Shoptalk 2025 about Meta's new omni-channel ad platform. He discusses how macroeconomic shifts and evolving consumer behavior are driving innovation in retail media. The importance of in-store performance is highlighted, along with the impact of AI and GenAI on advertising tools, such as dynamic ad generation and virtual try-ons. JP emphasizes the need for creativity, unified KPIs, and a test-and-learn approach for retailers to thrive in this changing landscape.

Jessica Lachs, Chief Analytics Officer at DoorDash, shares her journey from startup GM to data leader. She reveals new partnerships with DSW and Klarna, enhancing consumer options. The discussion dives into how AI is shaping grocery substitutions and targeted retail media, crafting personalized experiences. Lachs emphasizes the necessity of a strong data strategy for omnichannel excellence and provides insights on overcoming initial search and personalization challenges. She also hints at her upcoming 'Life Hacks with Lachs' podcast.

In this episode of Omni Talk Retail recorded live from the Meta Podcast Studio at Shoptalk 2025, hosts Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton welcome Five Below’s VP of Digital Marketing, Abhinav Agrawal, and Ovative Group’s SVP of Growth, Jesse Grittner, for a high-energy discussion on how omnichannel strategies are transforming retail. From the collapse of traditional retail boundaries to the rise of AI-driven personalization and measurement, this episode dives deep into what’s driving growth and innovation.Key Moments:0:35 – Introductions and Shoptalk energy1:00 – Jesse’s background in retail and Ovative’s role1:20 – Abhinav’s unique path from engineering to marketing2:15 – What “growth” means for Ovative2:45 – Defining omnichannel and digital-first engagement at Five Below3:45 – How digital storytelling connects to in-store sales4:10 – Measurement techniques: triangulation and Meta partnerships5:01 – Choosing data-driven retail partners6:01 – What makes a successful retail collaboration7:03 – The future of customer journeys and AI influence8:19 – Five Below’s top priority: content that follows trends9:17 – Ovative’s investments in creators and rapid insights10:20 – Smart tech investments and first-party identity11:40 – AI’s role across the retail tech stack#shoptalk #retailtechnology #retailinnovationThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this insightful Shoptalk 2025 episode, recorded live from the Meta Podcast Studio, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Harvey Ma, VP and GM of Retail Media at Sam’s Club. Harvey explains how Sam’s Club has taken a radically different approach to retail media—reinvesting every ad dollar back into clubs, staff, and the member experience. He also breaks down how Sam’s in-house technology, like their new search engine and Scan & Go platform, prioritizes relevancy over revenue, creating a superior shopper journey.Key Moments:0:40 – Intro to Harvey Ma and his journey from engineering to retail2:00 – Sam’s Club’s unique retail media approach: revenue reinvested, not profited3:45 – Why member satisfaction drives everything at Sam’s5:20 – Rebuilding Sam’s in-house search platform for relevancy over profit6:50 – Moving away from ROAS to measure success8:25 – Scan & Go as the future of in-store retail media9:45 – 71% incremental reach from Scan & Go media10:50 – What Sam’s looks for in a retail partner12:50 – Trust as a pillar of Sam’s Club strategy14:00 – The evolution of retail media: from digital to tactile experiences15:30 – Advice for retailers: don’t make it all about money16:45 – Three simple questions Sam’s asks of every initiative17:40 – Closing thoughts and the importance of member-focused innovation#samsclub #retailmedia #shoptalk #retailinnovation #advertisingThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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.

🎧 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

🎧 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