Omni Talk Retail

Omni Talk Retail wraps up World Retail Congress 2025 from the VusionGroup Podcast Studioo with Matthew Shay, President & CEO of the National Retail Federation, in a wide-ranging discussion on the state of global retail. From high-level CEO forums to Capitol Hill, Shay is at the epicenter of policy and retail leadership—he shares what leaders are really saying, how small businesses are being supported, and why flexibility is now a core competency for modern retailers.⏱ Key Moments:0:41 – What NRF is and who it represents1:38 – Why Shay attends WRC: CEO roundtables & global policy alignment2:30 – The dominant topic? Uncertainty3:44 – Shay reflects on 15 years leading NRF: What’s changed most4:48 – Why 2025 isn’t “business as usual,” but also not paralyzing5:14 – Challenges for small vs. large retailers in today’s supply chain6:00 – Lessons from the Great Recession to COVID: Agility as a superpower6:47 – Digitization’s lasting impact on retail business models7:20 – The retail trajectory is “up and to the right,” despite disruption7:45 – NRF’s small business support: Advocacy, engagement, access8:47 – Why even small businesses now have better tools to handle volatility9:00 – Closing thoughts and shoutout to VusionGroup for show support#MatthewShay #nrf_news #retailleadership #omnitalkretail #wrc2025 #RetailUncertainty #RetailPolicy #RetailResilience #retailtransformation #SmallBusinessRetailThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode of 5 Insightful Minutes, AWS's Justin Swagler joins us to explain why physical stores remain critical in today’s digital-first retail landscape. He introduces a compelling framework for the future of retail powered by edge computing, IoT, and agentic AI.⏱ Key Moments:0:29 – Why physical stores still matter (Hint: 80%+ of sales happen there)1:39 – The three pillars for retail tech success: Edge, Cloud, and AI2:30 – The role of computer vision and unified store data3:02 – How AI connects store systems for operational efficiency3:56 – A glimpse into the future: Agentic retail automation4:20 – Real-world examples: broken machines, out-of-stock items, and how AI solves them4:55 – What retailers should prioritize for long-term valueAnd be sure to check out the ‘IDC TechScape: Frictionless CX-Enabling Technologies in Retail, 2025’ report to unlock detailed insights on retail technology trends and discover how AWS Retail Solutions can help you implement these innovations today. #aws #retailai #edgecomputing #agenticai #futureofretail #StoreInnovation #retailtechnology #omnichannel #SmartStores #customerexperience Music by hooksounds.com*Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this Omni Talk exclusive, recorded live from the VusionGroup Studio, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga speak with Regis Schultz, CEO of JD Sports, from the floor of the World Retail Congress 2025. Regis shares his retail origins, how JD Sports went from $1.5B to $6B in U.S. sales in just six years, and how the brand’s lifestyle-driven, Gen Z-focused strategy is transforming the athletic apparel space. Learn how JD builds unique product stories with brands, leverages TikTok as a global style engine, and creates multibrand merchandising experiences no DTC player can match.Key Moments:(0:10) Regis Schultz introduction and retail roots(1:12) Overview of JD Sports and its global footprint(1:50) Differences in U.S. vs. EU customers(3:00) The power of lifestyle over sport(4:00) TikTok’s role in global product virality(5:00) How JD targets Gen Z across brands(6:30) Co-developing with Nike and Adidas(7:50) Physical stores and the emotional connection with customers(9:00) U.S. growth: from $1.5B to $6B(10:00) Store base and acquisition strategy(10:25) Priorities for 2025 and beyond#JDSports #RetailInnovation #GenZMarketing #WorldRetailCongress #LifestyleRetail #OmniTalk #TikTokTrends #RetailGrowth #SneakerCulture #MultibrandRetail #SportswearFashionThis 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, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne discussed:Instacart’s CEO resigning to take a job with OpenAI (Source)Amazon’s new warehouse robot, Vulcan (Source)Primark’s in-store repair classes (Source)ASOS offering next-day delivery through InPost Lockers (Source)And closed with a look at how LTK is bringing The Bachelor to life on its social commerce shopping platform (Source)There’s all that, plus Justin Swagler of AWS stops by for 5 Insightful Minutes on the technologies he thinks will most impact physical store retail operations, and Chris and Anne also go into everything from Stranger Things and The Office to who would win a battle between 100 Yanks and 100 Brits.And be sure to check out the ‘IDC TechScape: Frictionless CX-Enabling Technologies in Retail, 2025’ report to unlock detailed insights on retail technology trends and discover how AWS Retail Solutions can help you implement these innovations today. Music by hooksounds.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this live World Retail Congress episode, recorded from the VusionGroup Studio, Omni Talk’s Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga catch up with Scott Price, CEO of DFI Retail Group, to explore the sweeping changes in global retail. Scott reflects on his second year as CEO, DFI’s shift to an operating model, and how AI is simultaneously revolutionizing efficiency and threatening traditional career paths. From ERP upgrades to retail media monetization and the crucial role of human insight in merchandising, this episode is a crash course in the forces shaping the next era of retail.Key Moments:(0:20) Scott Price introduction and DFI Retail overview(1:30) Year one vs. year two as CEO(2:15) DFI’s transition from holding to operating company(2:50) Growth drivers: "the what" vs. "the how"(3:40) AI’s impact on entry-level retail jobs(4:30) The irreplaceable art of merchandising(5:50) Challenges of economic uncertainty and consumer confidence(6:40) Value, affordable innovation, and global shopper expectations(7:20) Foundational tech upgrades and ERP modernization(7:45) Betting on the right AI platform(8:30) Data engineering vs. data science – the CEO imperative#DFIRetailGroup #ScottPrice #RetailAI #WorldRetailCongress #RetailMedia #MerchandisingFuture #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk #ConsumerTrends #GlobalRetail #RetailTransformation #DataMonetization #RetailTalent #retailtechnologyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Live from the VusionGroup booth at World Retail Congress, Omni Talk’s Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga talk with Suzanne Long, the newly minted founder of Fauxliage and former Chief Sustainability and Transformation Officer at Albertsons. Suzanne opens up about the changing state of retail sustainability, how real transformation begins with frontline workers, and why she left a top executive role to chase a six-year-old startup idea that just wouldn’t let go. From supply chain resilience to scaling artificial plants as a branded business, Suzanne delivers honest and inspiring takeaways for leaders at any stage of their career.Key Moments:(0:30) Suzanne Long introduction and new startup reveal(1:05) What makes World Retail Congress special(2:30) State of sustainability in the U.S. vs. globally(4:00) How to embed sustainability into operations(5:50) The business case for ESG(6:40) The importance of cultural transformation and frontline engagement(8:00) Why she left Albertsons to become a founder(9:00) The concept behind Fauxliage and branding artificial plants(10:30) Vision for B2C and commercial expansion#SuzanneLong #RetailSustainability #FauxliageStartup #WorldRetailCongress #FemaleFounders #RetailTransformation #ArtificialPlants #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk #RetailInnovation #ESGStrategy #EntrepreneurshipJourneyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this deep-dive Omni Talk Spotlight, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by Rajat Nigam, Chief Product Officer at ClearDemand, to unpack the critical role of competitive intelligence in modern retail pricing. Formerly leading pricing innovation at Amazon, Rajat explains how engineering, data quality, and normalization are central to making pricing intelligence truly actionable — and profitable. From assortment gap analysis to real-time pricing enabled by electronic shelf labels, this episode explores the full retail stack of competitive data strategy.Key Moments:(1:00) Rajat's background and Amazon's secret pricing project(2:40) What makes “good” competitive intelligence(5:00) The three hardest problems in competitive data(7:30) Matching pack sizes and normalizing prices(10:00) Competitive data beyond pricing – assortment, promotions, planning(14:00) Where comp intel works best: grocery vs. luxury(17:00) Role of price elasticity in retail strategy(20:00) How to start: KVI items, category focus, and data gap analysis(23:30) Agility in pricing with ESLs and real-time data(25:00) Final thoughts and predictions for the future of pricing#RetailTech #CompetitiveIntelligence #PricingStrategy #RetailInnovation #ClearDemand #OmniTalk #GroceryTech #RetailData #amazon #PriceOptimizationMusic by hooksounds.com*Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This charming lightning round segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, reveals the personalities behind retail analytics as Ben Miller, a UK retail expert, answers rapid-fire personal questions with humor and authenticity.Key Moments:0:02 - Introduction to the fast-paced lightning round with Ben Miller0:05 - Nostalgic food question: Which childhood foods would Ben miss if discontinued?0:27 - Ben's sentimental attachment to Kellogg's Variety Pack cereals explained0:43 - Childhood memory: How these cereal packs were special "birthday treats" in his home0:52 - The tradition continues: Ben now shares these with his own daughters1:04 - Anne's surprise revelation: She expected Ben to mention the "Curly Whirly" candy1:18 - National Teacher Appreciation Week prompt: Which teacher influenced Ben most?1:29 - Ben honors Mr. Sheen, his Grade 7-9 business and economics teacher1:40 - How a rural Yorkshire school teacher "completely opened my eyes to the world of commerce"1:57 - Provocative retail statistic discussion: 76% of retailers outside US won't shop American brands?2:13 - Humorous hypothetical: What clothing would Ben smuggle to the UK in his "boot" (trunk)2:25 - Ben diplomatically calls "BS" on the statistic while avoiding a deep dive2:37 - Ben's smuggling strategy: North Face hiking gear for personal use2:49 - Business plan: Classic Nike sneakers that would "make a killing" if unavailable in UK3:03 - We coin the term "Ben's Bargain Boot" for the hypothetical smuggling operation3:10 - Surprise revelation: "Who knew we had a hiker on the podcast?"3:15 - Final lightning question: Who won the Met Gala fashion-wise?3:25 - Ben's candid admission of fashion ignorance: "I could add no value whatsoever"3:33 - Professional deference: Ben cites colleagues Rebecca choice of Lana Del Rey3:44 - Transparency about potential bias due to Valentino's connection with their advisory board4:03 - Chris offers Diana Ross as his pick, noting her return to the spotlight4:10 - Anne, the group's "fashionista," chooses Janelle Monae for her impressive outfit revealThe segment showcases how lightning rounds can reveal the human personalities behind professional expertise, building connection with listeners through personal stories and humor.Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/BrQ0kfPY4LA#metgala #retailnews #teacherappreciationdayThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this insightful analysis, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, retail experts reveal what Lowe's new AI assistant is really designed to accomplish, beyond the surface-level marketing about leaky faucets and fertilizer choices.Key Moments:0:02 - Breaking news: Lowe's introduces MyLow Companion AI assistant for store associates0:10 - Partnership details: Application developed with OpenAI across 1,700+ stores0:14 - Core functionalities: Product details, project advice, and inventory information access0:18 - Key benefit: Accelerating the employee onboarding process0:27 - Scale achievement: "First retailer to successfully implement this type of technology at scale"0:33 - Technical capabilities: Generative AI with natural conversational prompts and voice-to-text0:42 - Example use cases: Fertilizer recommendations and home repair guidance1:14 - Ben Millers's analysis: Why this is "a great use case for AI" in categories requiring expertise1:38 - Customer service challenge: Associates' varying experience levels and knowledge gaps1:50 - Consistency benefit: Creating uniform quality of information regardless of associate tenure2:00 - Comparison to self-checkout: Options for customers who prefer different service models2:22 - Anne Mezzenga's critique of the media reporting: Overlooking the more significant training use case2:42 - Inside information: Conversation with a Lowe's executive reveals true onboarding purpose2:56 - Real examples: New employees quickly learning shipment timing and warranty information3:03 - Data collection value: Using interaction data to improve future associate training3:12 - Customer perspective: Why shoppers wouldn't ask a teenage summer employee about complex repairs3:40 - Chris Walton's agreement: "100% I'd look this up myself" rather than wait for an associate4:00 - PR criticism4:20 - Industry impact concern: Creating false expectations about AI tools for retail associates4:43 - Higher-value application: Supporting complex high-consideration sales like flooring installations4:54 - Advanced capability: Prompting associates to ask the right questions based on customer responses5:01 - Integration potential: Connecting to loyalty programs to enhance personalized sellingThe experts conclude that while Lowe's marketing focuses on answering simple product questions, the real innovation is in employee training, knowledge management, and creating consistency across a large retail workforce.Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/BrQ0kfPY4LA#loweshomeimprovement #ai #retailnews #retailtech #retailstrategy #retailtrendsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Pinterest vs. Google: The Visual Search RevolutionThis episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, explores how Pinterest is disrupting traditional search engines and transforming product discovery through visual search. Our retail experts analyze surprising data and debate what it means for brands' marketing strategies.Key Moments:0:03 - Breaking news: Adobe research reveals Pinterest emerging as a search engine competitor0:14 - Surprising statistic: 39% of US consumers have used Pinterest as a search engine0:23 - Gen Z leading the trend at 47%, with decreasing adoption across older generations0:36 - Eye-opening claim: 36% of respondents start searches on Pinterest instead of Google0:48 - Perception advantage: 60% say Pinterest results feel more tailored than Google results1:10 - Anne Mezzenga discusses how this trend connects to Meta's recent search announcements with ChatGPT1:34 - Critical insight: Image-based search is driving this shift, especially among younger demographics1:47 - Industry validation: Google's own data shows 20% of image searches are commerce-related2:02 - Real-world confirmation: Designers and stylists exclusively using Pinterest for professional searches2:25 - Historical context: How search is evolving from text-based to visual discovery3:19 - Ben Millers confirms search fragmentation is a major retail trend affecting marketing investments4:05 - Research critique: Ben challenges Adobe's methodology and questions the "36%" headline claim4:46 - Methodological issues: Survey of just 800 people on a single day with unclear geographic representation5:14 - Distinction between general search and commerce intent: "I'm not going to Pinterest to find out who was president in 1962"6:28 - The commerce challenge: Getting searches to convert to purchases remains a critical hurdle7:37 - Anne clarifies: Pinterest's value is specifically for purchase intent and product discovery8:03 - Integration point: Pinterest results appearing in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini searches8:47 - Market reality check: Google still dominates overall search, but commerce search is fragmenting9:35 - Future marketing challenge: How to influence search when traditional paid placements aren't available10:19 - Opportunity assessment: Commerce search is currently "fair game" for platforms to redefineThe episode highlights how visual search is fundamentally changing product discovery and creating new opportunities for retailers who understand these emerging consumer behaviors.Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/BrQ0kfPY4LA#pinterest #visualsearch #ai #google #retailtech #retailnews #retailstrategy ##retailtrendsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy