In the latest edition of the Omni Talk Fast Five, sponsored by Takeoff and the A&M Consumer & Retail Group Anne Mezzenga and guest hosts Mohit Mohal and Hemant Kalbag of the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer & Retail Group discuss:

-Target’s and Walmart’s banner Q2 earnings and what, if anything stands in their way.

-If Allbirds has all the right stuff to become a competitive and successful player in the activewear space, or if this pre-IPO move will have them wishing they stuck to the soft and sweat-wicking shoes that they’re good at.

-Giant Eagle becoming the first grocery chain to accept Venmo and Paypal payments in stores and how they might be grooming customers for more GetGo cashier-less experiences beyond the convenience store.

-If Instagram’s move into ads will get a "like "or a "swipe" from consumers and how brands have to carefully think about their approach to this shiny penny of social commerce.

-Ikea’s new scan-and-go concept store in Shanghai and while Hemant and Anne are ready to visit tomorrow, why Mohit may not be joining them just yet.

The crew wraps up the pod debating how much they’d be willing to pay (and how long they’d wait) for 7-Eleven alcohol delivery, the retailer that should be next to test Taco Bell’s 4 lane drive-thru, and who they’re trusting with their IT services: Walmart or Best Buy.

To learn more about the A&M Consumer & Retail Group, visit: http://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail

To learn more about Takeoff, visit: http://www.takeoff.com/

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