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 stores
• Why now is the perfect time for grocery price transparency
• The AI behind product matching and substitution
• Building a B2B marketplace for retailers and CPG brands
• Why retailers are embracing (not fighting) price comparison
• Defensibility 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

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In this Retail Technology Spotlight Series episode, John Mabe, Product Manager at Dematic, joins Omni Talk to break down the real applications of AI in warehouse operations—separating the hype from what's actually working today.

From optimization algorithms to computer vision systems and LLM-powered insights, John explains the three distinct categories of warehouse AI and where each one stands in terms of real-world deployment. Learn why the smallest players struggle to adopt AI, how humanoid robots are closer than you think, and why the "lights out warehouse" might follow a logical path we can already see unfolding.

🔑 Topics covered:

• The three categories of warehouse AI: Optimization, Vision & Perception, and LLMs
• Why optimization AI is proven but underutilized by smaller players
• How computer vision is preventing costly downstream errors today
• The realistic timeline for humanoid robots at scale (hint: it's sooner than you think)
• Why LLMs might be the fastest-deploying AI tool in the warehouse
• The crawl-walk-run approach to AI agents running warehouse operations

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

#warehouseai #retailtech #supplychain #automation #dematic #omnitalk #robotics #computervision #LLM #warehouseautomation #retailpodcast

Omni Talk sits down with Krystina Gustafson, co-founder of RetailClub and former Shoptalk content chief, to talk about the new AI Deep Dive Retreat launching this September in Huntington Beach. In this candid conversation, Krystina explains how RetailClub is reinventing the retail event experience—ditching the booths and buzzwords in favor of real conversations, collaborative learning, and hands-on AI training.

🔥 What to expect:

– A sneak peek into RetailClub’s first AI-focused retreat

– How the team behind Shoptalk is flipping the traditional conference model

– Who should attend: From AI curious to retail change-makers

– Why now is the moment for building an AI-native retail community

– And how retailers and brands can attend for free and get up to $1,250 in travel reimbursement!

📅 Registration deadline: August 22

🌐 Learn more: https://retailclub.com

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#RetailClub #aiinretail #retailinnovation #omnitalk #RetailRetreat #retailleadership #generativeai #RetailEvents

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Join Omni Talk’s Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga as they sit down with JOOR CEO Kristin Savilia to explore how JOOR is transforming the wholesale fashion landscape. Kristin shares exclusive insights on digitizing the buyer-brand relationship, enabling smarter assortment planning, and helping independent retailers thrive globally. Learn how JOOR's Shopify integration, AI-powered prospecting, and strategic tariff navigation are reshaping the fashion industry for 2025 and beyond.

From shrinking shipping windows to a surge in indie retailers, this conversation is a must-watch for anyone navigating fashion’s evolving B2B landscape.

Key Moments:

• 00:00 – Intro and welcome back to Kristin Savilia, CEO of JOOR
• 01:30 – How JOOR digitizes wholesale buying for brands and retailers
• 02:50 – Overview of JOOR’s platform and client base (14K brands, 670K buyers)
• 04:15 – Surge of independent retailers: From 47% to 62% of GMV
• 06:00 – Shopify integration: Bridging wholesale with e-commerce and POS
• 07:45 – How retailers can adapt to market uncertainty using JOOR data
• 08:50 – Shrinking shipping windows: From 240 to 84 days and dropping
• 10:15 – Brands respond with curated assortments and evergreen styles
• 11:40 – How JOOR helps optimize product curation and minimize buyer risk
• 13:00 – Tariff pressures and pricing strategies: Expect 20% price increases
• 16:45 – JOOR’s "Ready to Ship" event to offload current inventory
• 18:50 – Leveraging regional assortments for competitive edge
• 20:00 – Launch of JOOR Discover: AI matchmaking tool for brand-retailer growth
• 22:00 – 78% reorder rate and 9X better conversion via AI outreach
• 24:00 – Rise in ChatGPT/Gemini lead generation vs. traditional SEO
• 26:30 – How DTC brands can expand into wholesale with JOOR
• 27:40 – Final thoughts and where to learn more at JOOR.com

For more information on JOOR, head here: https://www.joor.com/

Access a JOOR Passport Event here: https://www.jooraccess.com/r/passport/

Download the JOOR Whitepaper here: https://resources.joor.com/how-to-tackle-tariffs-and-thrive-this-coming-market-season

#fashiontech #wholesaling #retailai #Joor #omnitalk #retailinnovation #shopifyintegration #retailtrends #b2bfashion #retailstrategy

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In this Spotlight Series interview, Catherine Dummitt, VP of Marketing at Narvar, explains how the post-purchase journey is evolving from a cost center to a powerful “trust center.” With insights from over 42 billion consumer interactions annually, Narvar is helping retailers rethink shipping, returns, and communication to boost loyalty, reduce costs, and drive revenue. From AI-driven delivery confidence to smarter shipping perks, this is a must-watch for anyone shaping the future of e-commerce.

Key Moments:

• 0:08 – 1:15 | Meet Catherine Dummitt, VP of Marketing at Narvar
• 1:16 – 2:44 | What Narvar is and how it powers post-purchase personalization
• 2:45 – 4:45 | Why delivery confidence is replacing speed as the top consumer priority
• 4:46 – 6:27 | The shift from instant gratification to brand trust and delivery reliability
• 6:28 – 9:10 | The new role of communication and clarity in reducing delivery anxiety
• 9:11 – 12:21 | Strategic free shipping and perks — not one-size-fits-all
• 12:22 – 14:59 | Using Narvar’s data to help brands personalize offers and reduce cart abandonment
• 15:00 – 16:46 | How communication impacts repurchase behavior and lifts revenue
• 16:47 – 18:35 | Turning tracking pages into branding and engagement opportunities
• 18:36 – 21:00 | Why post-purchase should be treated as a “trust center,” not a cost center
• 21:01 – 23:00 | Shipping protection, porch theft anxiety, and new revenue streams
• 23:01 – 24:27 | What’s next: Narvar’s AI engine Iris and the evolution of predictive personalization
• 24:28 – 25:14 | How to connect with Catherine and the Narvar team

#Narvar #retailinnovation #PostPurchaseExperience #ecommercestrategy #retailai #customerloyalty #ordertracking #shippingsolutions #retailtransformation #PredictabilityIsProfitability

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🎙️ In this special Omni Talk Retail Technology Spotlight episode, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Bryan Chan, Senior Director at E Ink, to explore the journey of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) and why they're finally catching fire in the U.S.

Key Moments:

• [01:03] What is E Ink? — Origins as an MIT spinout and Kindle beginnings
• [2:52] Why ESLs weren’t the original goal — from newspapers to shelf labels
• [4:45] Learning from “belly loaders” and how real-world store operations shaped the tech
• [6:48] Battery life breakthroughs, operational benefits, and color evolution
• [8:34] Why Europe led ESL adoption — labor costs, regulations, and sustainability
• [12:05] Walmart’s impact: Why the U.S. is finally scaling up ESLs
• [13:37] ROI is king: 36-month to 9-month payoff windows
• [17:28] Pricing accuracy, pick-to-light, and fast-changing categories like appliances
• [23:03] Spectra 6 and the future of full-color ESLs and untethered displays
• [24:58] Retail media potential vs. power-hungry in-store TVs
• [30:59] Final advice: Start with ESLs before leaping to full digital screens

📲 Want to get in touch with Bryan? Connect with him on LinkedIn — just search Bryan Chan (with a Y).

#retailtech #electronicshelflabels #eink #retailinnovation #omnitalk #retailpodcast #walmart #retailmedia #grocerytech

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In this deep-dive Omni Talk Spotlight, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga are joined by Rajat Nigam, Chief Product Officer at ClearDemand, to unpack the critical role of competitive intelligence in modern retail pricing. Formerly leading pricing innovation at Amazon, Rajat explains how engineering, data quality, and normalization are central to making pricing intelligence truly actionable — and profitable. From assortment gap analysis to real-time pricing enabled by electronic shelf labels, this episode explores the full retail stack of competitive data strategy.

Key Moments:

• (1:00) Rajat's background and Amazon's secret pricing project
• (2:40) What makes “good” competitive intelligence
• (5:00) The three hardest problems in competitive data
• (7:30) Matching pack sizes and normalizing prices
• (10:00) Competitive data beyond pricing – assortment, promotions, planning
• (14:00) Where comp intel works best: grocery vs. luxury
• (17:00) Role of price elasticity in retail strategy
• (20:00) How to start: KVI items, category focus, and data gap analysis
• (23:30) Agility in pricing with ESLs and real-time data
• (25:00) Final thoughts and predictions for the future of pricing

#RetailTech #CompetitiveIntelligence #PricingStrategy #RetailInnovation #ClearDemand #OmniTalk #GroceryTech #RetailData #amazon #PriceOptimization

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Is microfulfillment still a viable strategy? In this new Omni Talk Spotlight, Chris and Anne sit down with Oliver Vogt, CEO of Tesco’s Transcend Retail Solutions and Danielle Dakin, Dematic's Market Development Director, to unpack everything happening with MFCs.

Danielle explains how pandemic-driven hype distorted expectations (6:00), while Oliver lays out why volume and operational simplicity are the true keys to success (9:54). They discuss the threshold for MFC success (~500 orders/day) (11:00), why omnichannel flexibility matters more than ever (16:00), and how Tesco’s model could fit the US grocery landscape better than you think (24:00).

Plus, the duo shares how you can schedule tours of Tesco's live MFC sites in the UK to see the future of grocery fulfillment for yourself (34:00)!

#Microfulfillment #ecommerce #retailnews #retailstrategy #retailinnovation #TranscendRetail #Dematic #tesco #MFCs #UrbanFulfillment #automation #grocerydelivery

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Chris and Anne sit down with Angela Fernandez, SVP at GS1 US, to dive deep into the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the massive shifts underway in food traceability.

Angela explains:

• (6:27) The history of FSMA and how new regulations are reshaping the food industry
• (8:40) The crucial role of digital traceability
• (13:12) Why compliance is essential but not a competitive advantage
• (17:52) How companies can find ROI through end-to-end supply chain visibility
• (22:20) And what the recent 30-month extension means for brands and food service providers

Tune in for practical advice on how businesses of all sizes can prepare for the coming new era of food safety!

#FSMA #foodsafety #traceability #supplychainvisibility #GS1US #retailinnovation #fda #FoodTraceability #RetailCompliance

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What’s happening with retail automation in 2025? Investment in supply chain technology appears to be flattening out as retailers shift focus from large new projects to optimizing existing infrastructure.

Anne and Chris sit down with Kim Baudry from Dematic to explore what this means for AI in logistics, warehouse automation, and the future of retail distribution.

⏳ Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction & welcome to Kim Baudry

1:03 - The current state of automation investment in retail

3:00 - Why supply chain automation is slowing down in 2025

5:45 - How economic uncertainty & interest rates impact investment

7:33 - Where retailers are focusing automation budgets now

10:05 - The role of AI & machine learning in warehouse optimization

12:50 - How digital twins help simulate supply chain changes

15:17 - Retailers "sweating their assets" & maximizing existing infrastructure

18:00 - The impact of tariffs & global trade shifts on supply chain strategies

22:05 - The future of supply chain efficiency & retail distribution

25:30 - Final thoughts

#supplychain #warehouseautomation #retailtrends #retailinnovation

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