Lightning Round: Apple Upgrades, Classic Cars, AI Concerns & Stargazing | Fast Five Shorts

AWS's Daniele Stroppa, Worldwide Technical Lead for AWS Partners in Retail, joins Omni Talk to announce October's Retail Tech Startup of the Month: Writer.Daniele breaks down why Writer's full-stack generative AI platform is transforming how retailers and brands automate processes and generate content across their organizations. From their proprietary large language models to pre-built retail-specific agents, Writer offers a specialized solution that accelerates time to production.🔑 Topics covered:Why Writer stands out in the crowded GenAI landscapeHow Writer's specialized models differ from general-purpose LLMsPre-built, pre-vetted agents and workflows for retailBuilt-in guardrails for consistency and compliancePlug-and-play solutions that accelerate deployment🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!#retailai #generativeai #retailtech #omnitalk #writer #retailinnovation #AWS #retailstartup #contentgeneration #retailpodcastMusic by hooksounds.com*Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, Chris and Anne discussed:Amazon and Target’s major layoffs affecting thousands of corporate employees (Source)DoorDash launching an Emergency Food Response program for SNAP recipients (Source)Walmart and Avery Dennison partnering to track fresh food with breakthrough RFID technology (Source)Lululemon venturing into its first licensing deal with the NFL (Source)Amazon unveiling smart glasses for its delivery drivers (Source)And AWS’s Daniele Stroppa also dropped by to help us hand out this month’s Retail Tech Startup of the Month award.There’s all that, plus Stranger Things movie theater premieres, Target’s weirdly hot Santa returning for year two, and whether Red Bull really gives you wings.Music by hooksounds.com#RetailNews #AmazonLayoffs #TargetLayoffs #DoorDash #WalmartRFID #LululemonNFL #AmazonAIGlasses #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #RetailTech #RetailInnovationThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this Retail Technology Spotlight Series episode, Matt Goynes, co-founder and co-CEO of Grocery Dealz, joins Omni Talk to reveal how a Texas startup is improving grocery shopping with AI-powered price comparison.From fighting inflation fatigue to building transparent marketplaces, Matt breaks down how Grocery Dealz is becoming the "Gas Buddy for groceries," why price transparency is finally possible now, and how AI enables seamless product matching across hundreds of stores.If you've ever wondered how much you could save by switching stores or how retailers can compete in a transparent pricing world, this episode is for you.🔑 Topics covered:How Grocery Dealz compares prices across hundreds of grocery storesWhy now is the perfect time for grocery price transparencyThe AI behind product matching and substitutionBuilding a B2B marketplace for retailers and CPG brandsWhy retailers are embracing (not fighting) price comparisonDefensibility against ChatGPT and AI-powered shopping search🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!#grocerydealz #grocerypricing #retailai #pricetransparency #grocerytech #omnitalk #retailinnovation #agentic #smartretail #retailpodcast #groceryapp #inflationfighting*Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this week's Lightning Round, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by Alvarez & Marsal's Lisa Collier and Manola Soler to tackle Apple's iPhone 17 surge (Lisa's learned to wait out the upgrades!), debate Mr. Bean's comedy versus his impeccable taste in classic Jaguars, worry about OpenAI's Sora creating AI models instead of cat videos, and reveal Manola's meteor shower stargazing plans. Plus birthday shoutouts to the fly himself, Jeff Goldblum! Quick hits, hot takes, and laughs to close out the show!🔔 Subscribe for delivery and retail tech insights!For the full episode head here#LightningRound #iPhone17 #Apple #MrBean #RowanAtkinson #JaguarEType #OpenAI #Sora #MeteorShower #RetailPodcast #JeffGoldblum #TechTrends #ClassicCars #AIVideoThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

DoorDash is piloting autonomous deliveries with Waymo in Metro Phoenix—but will consumers actually embrace robot deliveries? Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.Lisa Collier is skeptical: "If I'm paying for delivery, I want it handed to me." Manola Soler shares hilarious experiences with delivery robots in Jersey City that couldn't navigate stairs and blocked sidewalks. The panel debates whether this works better in suburban vs. urban environments, the logistics of restaurant employees running orders to vehicles, and whether lower delivery fees would make consumers accept the trade-off.Chris Walton points out this might succeed in suburban America first, where last-mile costs are higher and homes have driveways—not apartment buildings with elevators.🔔 Subscribe for delivery and retail tech insights!For the full episode head here#doorDash #waymo #autonomousdelivery #selfdriving #retailtech #lastmiledelivery #phoenix #deliveryinnovationThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Wayfair's luxury brand Perigold opens a massive 30,000-square-foot, two-level store in West Palm Beach! Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.The new location features 150+ luxury home brands, a dedicated sleep center, and expanded kitchen appliances—with many products available to take home or ship within a week (remarkable for furniture!). But is this Restoration Hardware-esque flagship profitable?Manola Soler initially questions the four-wall economics before coming around on the brand-building exercise and quick-turn inventory model. We debate whether Wayfair should have showcased a mix of Perigold's luxury offerings with more accessible Wayfair products—creating a high-low concept no one else in furniture can match. Plus, Lisa emphasizes why planning is the central nervous system that makes these physical experiences work.🔔 Subscribe for retail strategy!For the full episode head here#wayfair #perigold #luxuryretail #furniture #westpalmbeach #retailstrategy #omnichannelThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

New research reveals Gen Z will transform Britain's high streets into social, tech-driven hubs by 2050! Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.According to American Express research, 65% of Gen Z says each trip should deliver something they can't get online, while 79% want future retail destinations to blend shopping with dining, drinking, and leisure. Three-quarters believe retailers should use AI for immersive in-store experiences.Lisa Collier, fresh from London, shares her perspective on whether this evolution is realistic, drawing parallels to how malls served Boomers. We discuss the importance of experiential touchpoints, planning organizations, and ensuring the technology actually works. Is this clickbait or genuine strategy? Our panel weighs in.🔔 Subscribe for retail trends!For the full episode head here#genz #retailtrends #highstreet #experientialretail #AIretail #futureofretail #brickandmortarThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Ulta Beauty officially launches its marketplace powered by Mirakl! Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.The beauty retailer is taking a curated, invitation-only approach to third-party sellers, integrating marketplace listings with unified search, shopping carts, and checkout. Customers can earn Ulta Beauty rewards points on marketplace purchases but can't redeem them on marketplace items... a interesting twist that sparked debate among our panel.Manola Soler shares her expertise on what Ulta needs to get right, balancing breadth of assortment with curation, and how to scale faster without sacrificing brand integrity. We also discuss the challenges of the loyalty program integration and why beauty marketplaces require a different approach than mass retail.🔔 Subscribe for weekly retail analysis!For the full episode head here#ultabeauty #mirakl #marketplace #beautyretail #ecommerce #retailstrategy #loyaltyprogramsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Walmart makes a bold move partnering with OpenAI to bring shopping directly to ChatGPT! Sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.In this segment, we discuss how users will shop Walmart's massive assortment... including apparel, entertainment, and packaged foods right from ChatGPT with a simple buy button. Fresh food is notably excluded for now, but this strategic decision shows Walmart's thoughtful approach to leveraging its omnichannel advantage against Amazon.Hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by Alvarez & Marsal's Lisa Collier and Manola Soler join us to analyze whether this is an "if you can't beat them, join them" moment and what it means for other retailers. We explore the competitive implications, data sharing considerations, and why this move could reshape the "marketplace of marketplaces."🔔 Subscribe for more retail insights!For the full episode head here#walmart #openai #chatgpt #AIretail #retailtech #amazon #marketplace #omnichannelThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this 5 Insightful Minutes episode, Marybeth Hays — a former Walmart merchant executive, trusted board member, and colleague of Chris and Anne's at Simbe — joins Omni Talk to discuss the dramatic evolution of retail merchandising.From unified online and in-store assortments to AI-powered shelf intelligence, Marybeth breaks down how modern merchants are becoming true category experts, why trusted real-time data is finally eliminating age-old friction between merchants and operators, and how technologies like RFID, digital shelf labels, and Simbe's Tally robot are improving how retailers understand customer behavior. If you've ever wondered how merchandising is and will continue to transform, this episode is for you.🔑 Topics covered:The shift from separate online/in-store merchants to unified responsibilityHow narrower product focus creates deeper category expertiseWhy trusted, real-time data changes everything for merchantsThe Blue Moon Beer and orange slice story—and what AI would have caughtNavigating the historic tension between merchants and operatorsWhy shelf intelligence requires cross-functional executive sponsorship🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!#retailmerchants #shelfIntelligence #retailtech #omnitalk #smartretail #AIinRetail #retailinnovation #simbe #tally #retailpodcast #merchandisingThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy