Omni Talk Retail

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Duvo and Mirakl . In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: Home Depot i s rolling out an AI voice agent phone system to all U.S. stores after a 50-store pilot showed the technology resolves customer calls four times faster than traditional phone menus, while keeping human associates in the loop for complex inquirie...

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five Lightning Round segment closes out the show with rapid-fire questions, unexpected takes, and a few laughs. Chris Walton and Ben Miller go from Danny DeVito tattoos to must-have Apple products and debate their Eddie Murphy Mount Rushmore, all while wrapping up a packed episode from London. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #LightningRound, #DannyDeVito, #Apple, #...

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment explores Aldi’s new modular store format and why it could unlock faster expansion across the U.S. Chris Walton and Ben Miller break down how flexibility in store design supports acquisitions, real estate strategy, and long-term growth for one of the fastest-growing grocers in the world. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #RetailNews, #Aldi, #GroceryRetail...

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment explores Walmart’s first major redesign of its Great Value private label brand in over a decade. Chris Walton and Ben Miller discuss how packaging, perception, and pricing power all play into private label growth and why this move could help Walmart win with higher-income shoppers. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #RetailNews, #Walmart, #PrivateLabel, #...

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment explores Instacart’s acquisition of InstaLeap and what it signals about the company’s global ambitions. Chris Walton and Ben Miller discuss why relationships with grocers may be just as valuable as technology and how this move could accelerate Instacart’s platform and retail media strategy worldwide. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #RetailNews, #Instac...

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment explores Starbucks’ new ChatGPT-powered drink discovery experience and whether it actually improves the customer journey. Chris Walton and Ben Miller debate if this is meaningful innovation or just experimentation, and question whether AI integrations like this solve real problems or create unnecessary complexity. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #Retai...

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment explores Walmart’s expansion into GLP-1 weight management and what it could mean for the future of grocery. Chris Walton and Ben Miller break down why GLP-1 adoption may significantly shift consumer spending across food categories and how Walmart is positioning itself at the center of that change through its pharmacy and digital ecosystem. ⏩ Tune in for the...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton caught up with George Sullivan, CEO & Founder of The Sole Supplier, to unpack why culture still sits at the center of sneaker and streetwear commerce. George shares how a personal obsession with sneakers turned into one of the UK’s leading platforms for discover...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton speaks with Richard Lim, CEO and Founder of Retail Economics, about the accelerating pace of change reshaping retail. Richard shares how today’s macroeconomic environment, from inflation pressures to global energy shifts, is forcing retailers to rethink how they ope...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton speaks with Marisa Poster, Co-Founder of PerfectTed, about how a deeply personal founder story turned into a fast-scaling global consumer brand. Marisa shares how her own experience with anxiety and ADHD shaped the creation of PerfectTed, and why leaning into that s...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at the Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton speaks with Simone Oloman, Co-Founder and CEO of NIFT, about how instant delivery is reshaping retail expectations. Simone breaks down the idea behind “Need It For Tonight,” a platform turning stores into hyper-local fulfillment centers with 90-minute and same-day delivery. She explains why s...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at the Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton speaks with Nikki Baird, VP of Strategy & Product at Aptos, about what is actually shaping the future of retail. Nikki explains why every meaningful technology decision must start with the consumer, and how understanding shifts in behavior is what ultimately drives operations, strategy, a...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton is honored to talk with Archie Norman, Chairman of Marks & Spencer, about what it really takes to lead a successful business turnaround in today’s retail environment. Archie shares why struggling organizations often create internal narratives that mask reality, and explains how transformation...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton sits down with Maria Hollins, CEO of Ann Summers, to discuss what it takes to lead a bold brand in a highly restricted digital landscape. Maria shares her unconventional journey to the CEO role and explains how Ann Summers found itself losing clarity by softening it...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton speaks with Kate Hardcastle, also known as the Customer Whisperer, about what truly drives consumer behavior in today’s retail landscape. Kate shares why shopping is fundamentally emotional, not rational, and explains how brands often misread customers by relying too heavily on data without under...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton speaks with Meriel Neighbour, Director of Technology Delivery and Transformation at River Island, about what it really takes to execute large-scale transformation in retail today. Meriel shares her unique career journey from hospitality into retail technology, and h...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton caught up with Giles Smith, retail technology consultant and advisor, to unpack how retailers should actually be thinking about AI right now. Drawing on experience across brands like Burberry, Selfridges, and Unilever, Giles shares a grounded perspective on why AI i...

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton catches up with with Iain Robertson, Chief Operating and Innovation Officer at Fortnum & Mason, to discuss how one of the world’s most iconic heritage retailers is approaching innovation while staying deeply rooted in human experience. Iain shares how Fortnum &a...

What does it really take to build and sustain a successful retail business over 50+ years? Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton welcomes Touker Suleyman, Dragon’s Den investor and retail veteran, to break down the fundamentals that still matter most in today’s rapidly evolving retail landscape. Touker shares why brand, product, customer service, and cash flow remain the fo...

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Duvo and Mirakl . In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: Best Buy CEO Corie Barry announces she will step down on October 31st, with Jason Bonfig, the company's Chief Customer, Product and Fulfillment Officer, named as her successor amid years of stagnating revenue and earnings. Dick's Sporting Goods partners wit...

Luxury retail is not about faster conversion. It is about deeper connection. At Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton sits down with Will Lockie, Global Digital Director at Noble Panacea, to explore how luxury brands approach digital differently, from storytelling and discovery to personalization and AI. Will shares why high-consideration products require more investment in education...

There is no version of modern retail where ESG, sourcing, and quality operate separately anymore. Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton sits down with Sophie Rycroft, Group ESG, Sourcing & Quality Director at Debenhams Group, to discuss how one of the UK’s largest digital retail groups is aligning sustainability, supply chain transparency, and product quality into a sin...

How do you build a retail brand around one of the most emotional, time-sensitive moments in a customer’s life? Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton connects with Sarah Ashby, Interim CEO & COO of Mamas & Papas, to discuss how the brand is redefining the parenting retail journey through service, timing, and trust. Sarah explains why winning the first-time parent is...

Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Omni Talk Retail’s Chris Walton sits down with Katya Denike, Chief Product Officer at Holland & Barrett, to discuss how one of Europe’s leading wellness retailers is using technology, product thinking, and AI to transform the customer experience. Katya shares why Holland & Barrett brought its mobile app in-house, how it grew from a strugglin...

How do you deliver world-class luxury service to millions of annual visitors while preserving exclusivity, personalization, and the magic of in-store retail? Live from Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton sits down with Mark Blundell, Chief Retail Officer at Harrods, to discuss how one of the world’s most iconic retailers continues to set the standard for customer experience, servic...