Omni Talk Retail

In this special year end edition of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Ownit AI, Avalara, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, A&M’s Chad Lusk and David Ritter join Chris and Anne to look back on 2024 and to salute everything that stood out in retail this past year.Who will win retailer of the year? CEO of the year? And which retail headline would you most want turned into a feature film?You will just have to tune into find out!Music by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Join Chris and Anne for a candid conversation with Clarence Bethea, investor and executive in residence at True Ventures, as he shares his incredible journey from a troubled youth to startup success with Upsie and becoming a VC. Clarence discusses how AI is shaping the future of retail and startups, the importance of empathy and honesty in funding decisions, and share practical advice for early-stage entrepreneurs, including why early money matters.Key Moments:(1:00) Clarence’s personal journey from Georgia to VC success(3:00) Building Upsie and disrupting the warranty market(7:00) True Ventures’ focus on seed-stage investments and AI(11:00) Challenges for women and black founders in securing funding(17:00) The importance of having 3 key people in your entrepreneurial journey(22:00) Advice for entrepreneurs on persistence and overcoming breaking points#startupfunding #vcinsights #entrepreneuradvice #aiinvestmentsThis 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, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: A Dolly Musical Debut Lightning RoundFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/J8I1H1pFBT8This 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, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: E.l.f. Beauty’s Virtual Luxe Lounge is a 3D shopping platform exclusive to its loyalty program members. But does it move the needle, or is it another unnecessary 3D gimmick? This week on Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Ownit AI, Avalara, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga dissect the concept and share alternative approaches to creating meaningful online loyalty experiences.Key Moments:[00:00] E.l.f. Beauty’s loyalty program strategy[01:30] What’s inside the Virtual Luxe Lounge[03:00] Why standalone 3D shopping rarely works[04:15] Better ideas for engaging loyal customers online[05:45] Live video, TikTok, and other loyalty innovations#elfbeauty #virtualshopping #loyaltyprograms #retailtechFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/J8I1H1pFBT8This 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, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Dollar General’s fresh produce rollout is slowing in 2025, with plans to add 300 new locations instead of the rapid pace seen in prior years. This week on Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Ownit AI, Avalara, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga analyze what’s behind this decision, including the challenges of running grocery within a dollar store model and the financial dynamics of competing with Walmart in rural markets.Key Moments:[00:00] Dollar General’s fresh produce plans for 2025[01:30] Why grocery is tougher than it looks[03:00] Operational insights from Target’s fresh rollout expert[04:15] Competing with Walmart in grocery[05:45] Why this slowdown is actually a smart move#dollargeneral #freshproduce #grocerytrends #retailtrendsFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/J8I1H1pFBT8This 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, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: PorchPals, a new insurance product for stolen packages, is now available nationwide. This week on Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Ownit AI, Avalara, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga dive into the numbers behind package theft, Porch Pals’ subscription model, and whether retailers or consumers should take the lead in solving this $13.4 billion problem.Key Moments:[00:00] PorchPals subscription model overview[02:30] The staggering cost of porch piracy[03:40] Who should pay: retailers or consumers?[05:20] Alternative solutions for package theft protection[07:10] Personalized insurance at checkout: a better model?#PorchPals #packagedelivery #ecommercetrends #retailinnovationFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/J8I1H1pFBT8This 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, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Tractor Supply is scaling new heights with its “Life Out Here 2030” expansion plan. This week on Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Ownit AI, Avalara, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga analyze its growth strategy, retail media potential, and B2B opportunities, making the case for why Tractor Supply is the retailer to watch in the next decade.Key Moments:[00:00] Tractor Supply’s store expansion goals[01:50] The growth potential in the pet category[03:00] Retail media opportunities for Tractor Supply[04:20] Why Tractor Supply could rival Walmart in scaleFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/J8I1H1pFBT8This 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, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss:Amazon has entered the car sales market with Amazon Autos, creating a groundbreaking e-commerce experience for purchasing vehicles. This week on Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Ownit AI, Avalara, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, Chris and Anne dive into the platform’s key features, its potential to disrupt dealerships, and how it will reshape automotive advertising.Key Moments:[00:00] Introduction to Amazon Autos and its features[01:47] How the platform simplifies the car buying process[03:23] The role of personalized automotive advertising[04:15] Why Amazon Autos could disrupt traditional dealerships[05:00] The future of car buying in an e-commerce world#amazonautos #carbuyingtips #hyundai #amazonecommerceFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/J8I1H1pFBT8This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode of the Omni Talk Retail Spotlight Series Podcast, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga dive into the world of private brands with special guests Brandon Warren and Bethany Davis of the Barcode Group. Discover why private brands are crucial to retail growth, who’s winning the private label game, and how retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Target are adapting their strategies. Brandon and Bethany also share actionable advice for manufacturers and retailers looking to elevate their private label programs. Key moments to look for:[00:00] Intro and overview of the Barcode Group[05:21] Why private brands are booming in retail[13:42] Comparing Costco, Walmart, and Target private label strategies[24:30] Challenges for manufacturers in adapting to private label growth[34:45] Winners, sleepers, and areas for improvement in private brands[39:55] Actionable advice for retailers and manufacturersDon’t miss this insightful conversation full of expert takes and innovative ideas!#privatelabel #retailstrategy #target #walmart #costco Music by hooksounds.comSponsored ContentThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Dive into the world of digital marketplaces with retail veteran Brooke Chambers, Director of Digital Marketplaces at Kroger. Brooke shares her extensive experience in the evolution of digital marketplaces from simple seller acquisition to comprehensive platform partnerships. She discusses the critical role of marketplaces in customer retention, the importance of bridging online and offline experiences, and predicts future trends including social selling and generational shopping shifts.Key Moments:0:24 - Brooke's journey through retail giants (Sears, Walmart, Kroger)1:12 - Current state of platforms and marketplaces2:42 - Why marketplaces matter for customer retention3:50 - Expert advice for e-commerce leaders4:40 - Future trends in marketplaces and retail5:46 - Insights on next-generation shoppers and retail evolutionThis insightful conversation explores the transformation of retail platforms and their crucial role in modern commerce!#digitalmarketplace #retailstrategy #ecommerce #retailinnovation #retailtechnology #kroger #marketplaces #customerexperience #socialcommerce Music by hooksounds.comSponsored ContentThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy