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:

• A roundup of the latest retail earnings announcements
• Target enabling mobile app shopping within ChatGPT (Source)
• Kroger closing some of its automated fulfillment centers (Source)
• Gap's recent sales surge after viral 'Milkshake' denim ad with Katseye (Source)
• Bath & Body Works planning to launch on Amazon early next year (Source)
• And AWS's Daniele Stroppa dropped by to help us hand out November's Retail Tech Startup of the Month Award

There's all that, plus Thanksgiving shelf-stable food rankings, Black Friday shopping plans, and whether Chris is going turkey trotting or sofa surfing this holiday.

Music by hooksounds.com

#retailearnings #target #chatgpt #kroger #gap #bathandbodyworks #omnitalk #retailtech #retailinnovation #ecommerce #retailpodcast

In this inaugural episode of Confessions of a Supply Chain Executive, host Chris Walton teams up with Richard Stewart (EVP of Product & Industry Strategy) and Eugene Amigud (Chief Innovation Officer) from Infios to conduct a forensic deep dive into retail's most persistent challenge: out-of-stocks.

Despite billions spent on technology, the average retailer still faces an 8-10% out-of-stock rate. But here's the truth most won't admit: the problem isn't getting better. It's just getting different.

This episode walks through every breakdown point in the supply chain, from forecasting failures to the infamous backroom problem, and delivers a practical framework to diagnose what's really happening inside your operations.

🔑 Topics covered:

- Why out-of-stocks are a connectivity problem, not just an inventory problem

- The difference between warehouse accuracy (98%+) and store accuracy (97-99%)

- How machine learning is transforming demand forecasting

- The phantom inventory problem and what causes it

- Why you need a centralized decisioning "brain" across OMS, WMS, and TMS

- The role of AI in solving out-of-stock situations

- Why perfection isn't the goal . . . resilience is

- How to start small with purposeful innovation

🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more brutally honest retail supply chain insights!

Music by hooksounds.com

#outofstock #retailsupplychain #retailtech #omnitalk #inventorymanagement #supplychain #retailinnovation #Infios #retailpodcast #supplychainexecution

*Sponsored Content*

The lightning round brings holiday cheer and nostalgia to close this episode! Sponsored A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso.

Chris reveals he'll use "Santa GPT" (ChatGPT for holiday shopping) to find gifts for his mom, though she already told him she wants a Brita water pitcher. Anne shares her family's Black Friday strategy: setting alarms for discounted ski passes rather than shopping for traditional items.

Celebrating Dick Van Dyke's upcoming 100th birthday, Anne reminisces about his role as the chimney sweep in Mary Poppins. The conversation turns to hot chocolate preferences... Chris keeps it basic with mini marshmallows and a "Swiss Miss" approach, while Anne declares that quality marshmallows make or break the experience.

For the full episode head here

#SantaGPT #ChatGPT #holidayshopping #DickVanDyke #hotchocolate #Sizzler #restaurantrevival #nostalgia #retailfun #holidaytraditions

Target and Starbucks have partnered to create an exclusive frozen peppermint hot chocolate available only at Starbucks cafes inside Target stores nationwide. This episode, Sponsored A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores why this seemingly small move could signal Target's merchandising mojo is returning.

Chris loves this idea, calling it "smart merchandising that leverages a true differentiation point." Target Circle 360 members get 24-hour early access. While the impact may be small potatoes compared to Target's larger challenges, it's exactly the kind of creative thinking Target used to do well.

Anne highlights an additional experience: select Target stores are featuring weekend hot cocoa bars where kids can customize drinks creating memories and driving foot traffic. Both hosts wonder if this could become Target's next "pumpkin spice latte" moment. Producer Ella agrees this is brilliant... adding a Starbucks drink to her hand means even longer browsing time in Target.

For the full episode head here

#Target #Starbucks #retailcollaboration #exclusivedrink #Targetstores #holidayshopping #retailmerchandising #Targetcircle360 #coffeeshopretail #retailstrategy

Google is rolling out major AI shopping features including conversational search, agentic checkout, and an AI that calls stores for you. This episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, sparks a fascinating debate about the future of shopping search.

Anne argues Google's comprehensive data ecosystem... from Gmail to Maps to Calendar, gives it an edge over ChatGPT and Perplexity. She believes Google could leapfrog competitors by leveraging existing consumer relationships. Chris pushes back, citing Google Shopping's historical struggles and questioning whether Google's legacy interface might actually hinder innovation.

For the full episode head here

#GoogleAI #AIshopping #conversationalsearch #agenticAI #ChatGPT #Gemini #retailtech #ecommerce #shoppinginnovation #AIretail #GoogleSearch

Primark has introduced Buy Now Pay Later options through Klarna and Clearpay... marking a major milestone in BNPL's journey from innovation to mass adoption. This episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores what this means for retailers.

Chris declares that BNPL has officially "crossed the chasm", seven years after it first emerged at Shop.org in 2018. When you can buy $4 shirts on installments, there's no turning back. Anne shares shocking data: 25% of Americans now use BNPL for groceries, up from 14% just a year ago.

For the full episode head here

#primark #buynowpaylater #klarna #clearpay #bnpl #retailpayments #paymentinnovation #retailtech #affordablefashion #retailnews

Grocery Dealz has integrated with Instacart to power same-day delivery directly from its price comparison app. This episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores why this partnership could be a game-changer for consumers.

Anne and Chris rate this announcement an 8 out of 10, explaining how it justifies delivery fees by maximizing savings through price comparison. Imagine shopping at three different stores for the best deals without leaving your house... Instacart now makes that possible through Grocery Dealz.

This is the second time in five months that Grocery Dealz has made headlines on the show, signaling that this Texas startup is becoming a force in grocery innovation. Plus, hear why this partnership could accelerate margin compression across the industry as price transparency becomes the norm.

For the full episode head here

#grocerydealz #instacart #grocerydelivery #pricecomparison #retailtech #groceryshopping #samedaydelivery #groceryinnovation #retailnews #omnichannel

Doug McMillon is retiring as Walmart CEO, handing the reins to John Furner in February 2025. This episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores McMillon's incredible legacy... 400% stock gains, $576 billion in added market cap, and a cultural transformation that made Walmart a leader in retail innovation.

Chris shares a personal story about meeting John Furner and why he believes Furner is the perfect successor. Anne highlights the leadership qualities that set both executives apart.... from McMillon's "fail fast" culture to Furner's empathy-driven approach and curiosity that will be critical as AI reshapes retail.

For the full episode head here

#walmart #dougmcmillon #johnfurner #retailleadership #ceotransition #retailnews #walmartceo #samwalton #retailinnovation #leadershipstyle

In this 5 Insightful Minutes episode, Chad Lusk, Partner and Managing Director at A&M Consumer and Retail Group, joins Omni Talk to break down their latest consumer sentiment survey results that every retailer needs to understand.

From cautious spending increases to the explosive rise of private label brands, Chad reveals why consumers are trading down, what's driving the shift to lower-price stores, and how retailers can navigate the complex landscape of value-conscious shoppers.

You can also read A&MCRG's Consumer Sentiment Survey for Fall 2025 by heading here: alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/insight/cons…y-fall-2025/

🔑 Topics covered:

• Why consumers plan to spend more (but it's not optimism)
• The trade-down trend: cheaper brands and lower-price stores
• How private label is closing the quality gap with national brands
• What holiday spending will look like this year
• Why the middle tier is getting squeezed

🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail insights!

#consumertrends #retailstrategy #privatelabel #consumersentiment #omnitalk #retailinsights #holidayretail #retailpodcast #consumerdata #retaileconomics

*Sponsored Content*

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:

• Doug McMillon retiring as Walmart CEO, with John Furner taking over in February (Source)
• Grocery Dealz integrating with Instacart’s Developer Platform for on-demand delivery (Source)
• Primark introducing Buy Now, Pay Later options with Klarna and Clearpay (Source)
• Google launching new AI shopping features including conversational search and agentic checkout (Source)
• Target and Starbucks debuting an exclusive Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate (Source)

And A&M’s Chad Lusk stopped by for Five Insightful Minutes to share takeaways from their latest consumer sentiment survey.

There’s all that, plus SantaGPT, Dick Van Dyke turning 100, the perfect hot cocoa recipe, and whether Sizzler’s comeback is rare, medium, or well done.

Music by hooksounds.com

#RetailNews #WalmartCEO #JohnFurner #DougMcMillon #BNPL #GoogleAI #TargetStarbucks #InstacartIntegration #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #GroceryDealz #Primark