In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Alvarez & Marsal, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, along with guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group Chris Creyts and David Schneidman break down the week’s retail news. In this short, they cover:  

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/zoe5hsCC9jU

How is AI transforming retail technology? In this episode, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga talk with Jessica Grisolia from Scandit about the latest innovations in smart data capture, shelf intelligence, and workforce efficiency. Find out how AI is not replacing store associates but enhancing their productivity, and why next-best-action intelligence is coming soon to inventory management.

⏳ Key Moments:

• 0:08 – Intro to OmniTalk’s Ask An Expert Series
• 1:21 – The importance of human-centric retail AI
• 5:41 – The $1.7 trillion inventory problem retailers face
• 9:25 – How AI optimizes store associates’ workflows
• 18:52 – Staples Canada’s 45% cost reduction with smart data capture
• 27:44 – Retail AI trends for 2026: Agentic AI and coordinated computer vision

📍 Join the conversation and stay ahead of retail tech trends!

#RetailTechnology #AIinRetail #SmartDataCapture #InventoryManagement #RetailTrends #Omnichannel #AIforRetail #RetailAutomation #StoreOptimization #Scandit #NextBestAction #RetailAI

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Sponsored Content

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital and Infios, A&M’s David Schneidman and Chris Creyts joined Chris and Anne to discuss:

• CVS Health’s rollout of “mini-stores,” i.e. smaller stores with pharmacies but a limited retail selection (Source)
• Loblaw identifying U.S. made products at shelf with a new tariff symbol (Source)
• Google Shopping’s new AI search features (Source)
• Reckitt’s claims that it has reduced product development lead times by over 60% with generative AI (Source)
• And closed with an examination of Portillo’s launch of its new loyalty program, not through an app, but through a digital wallet (Source)

There’s all that, plus Blue Steel, airline preferences, and moonlighting as social media influencers.

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🚀 In this week's Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, we break down the viral Airport Theory TikTok trend (would you show up 15 minutes before your flight?!), the Domino’s stuffed crust debate, and the return of nostalgic retail brands like Limited Too! Plus, which pancakes reign supreme?

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/rTReEPz6yR8

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss:

🎮 Walmart just launched Walmart Unlimited, a shoppable video game experience designed to merge immersive gaming and e-commerce. But is this the future of shopping or just another metaverse experiment destined to fail? In this week's episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, we explore whether Walmart can drive real sales through virtual experiences and if customers will actually buy products inside a game.

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/rTReEPz6yR8

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss:

🛋️ Furniture.com is shaking up the industry by integrating real-time inventory, search data, and in-store browsing into one seamless furniture shopping platform. Could this be the next big thing in home furnishings, or will giants like Wayfair and Walmart respond with their own versions? In this week's episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, we break down the opportunities, challenges, and future of omni-channel furniture shopping.

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/rTReEPz6yR8

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss:

🛒 Publix is facing a class-action lawsuit over allegations of overcharging customers on weighted food items. Did a simple pricing error cause this, or is there a bigger problem with grocery store transparency? In this week's episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, we break down what happened, why electronic shelf labels might help prevent these issues, and how customers can protect themselves.

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/rTReEPz6yR8

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: 

🚀 Amazon has launched Alexa Plus, its next-generation AI-powered assistant—but is it truly revolutionary or just another Alexa upgrade? 🤔 In this week's episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, we discuss its new features, generative AI improvements, and whether it finally delivers on its smart shopping promise. Will you be subscribing or skipping Alexa Plus?

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/rTReEPz6yR8

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Target teaming up with Warby Parker to bring in-store eyewear services to select locations—but is this a brilliant retail move or a risky bet? 🤔 In this week's episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, we break down how this partnership benefits both brands, potential operational challenges, and why Warby Parker’s slow expansion rate raises questions. Should Target just acquire Warby Parker outright? Let’s discuss!

For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/rTReEPz6yR8

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, and Ocampo Capital, Chris and Anne discussed:

• All the wrinkles surrounding Target and Warby Parker’s new partnership (Source)
• The launch of Alexa+ (Source)
• The deceptive pricing lawsuit against Publix (Source)
• Furniture.com’s unique take on omnichannel commerce (Source)
• And closed with an examination of Walmart Unlimited, Walmart’s new video game shopping experience (Source)

There’s all that, plus “airport theory,” stuffed crust pizza, and what style of pancakes reigns supreme.

Music by hooksounds.com