Target Goes Factory-Direct, Walmart Goes Dark & Starbucks Revamps Its Hiring Process

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 #deliveryinnovation

27 Okt 5min

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 #omnichannel

27 Okt 9min

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 #brickandmortar

27 Okt 9min

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 #loyaltyprograms

27 Okt 8min

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 #omnichannel

27 Okt 7min

In this OmniTalk Retail Fast Five episode, 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 separate retail fact from fiction across five major headlines transforming the industry.From Walmart's groundbreaking partnership with ChatGPT to Ulta's curated marketplace launch, autonomous deliveries via Waymo, and the future of luxury retail, this episode covers it all. Plus, former Walmart EVP Marybeth Hays stops by for Five Insightful Minutes on how merchandising is evolving with AI, real-time shelf intelligence, and cross-functional collaboration.🔑 Topics covered:Walmart's strategic move to offer shopping directly on ChatGPT and what it means for AmazonUlta Beauty's invitation-only marketplace strategy and the balance between curation and scaleHow Gen Z will transform Britain's high streets into social, tech-driven retail hubs by 2050Wayfair's 30,000 sq ft luxury Perigold store in West Palm Beach and the high-low merchandising opportunityDoorDash + Waymo's autonomous delivery pilot and the future of last-mile logisticsThe evolution of merchandising: from backwards-looking data to AI-powered predictive intelligence🎙️ Special guests:Lisa Collier, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail GroupManola Soler, Senior Director, Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail GroupMarybeth Hays, Former Walmart EVP and Simbe Advisory Board Member🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!#retailtech #omnitalk #walmart #ultabeauty #wayfair #doordash #waymo #retailinnovation #merchandising #retailAI #ecommerce #marketplace #autonomousdelivery #retailpodcast #genz #luxuryretail <a...

22 Okt 57min

In this week's Lightning Round, Chris and Anne tackle the Body Shop's comeback (bubble bath for Chris!), debate whether Glen Powell's Running Man will beat Arnold's original, drool over JP Morgan's $3 billion office tower with 19 restaurants, and reveal their National Dessert Day celebrations. Plus birthday shoutouts to McNulty himself, Dominic West. Quick hits, hot takes, and laughs to close out the show!For the full episode head here#LightningRound #BodyShop #RunningMan #OfficeAmenities #RetailNostalgia #JPMorgan #TheWire #RetailPodcast

20 Okt 3min

Instacart, Uber, and DoorDash are among 11 partners integrating with ChatGPT later this year, making grocery shopping "as simple as having a conversation." Walmart also announced an amorphous partnership with OpenAI. Chris is gobsmacked by the pace of disruption—just two years into the AI revolution. Anne predicts this will reshape UX design and consumer journeys entirely, forcing retailers to rethink how customers discover and purchase products. The hosts discuss why we're in "mile one" of a transformation as significant as the original rise of e-commerce.For the full episode head here#ChatGPT #AIRetail #Instacart #DoorDash #UberEats #OpenAI #ConversationalCommerce #RetailDisruption #AIShopping #SuperApp #RetailTech

20 Okt 4min