In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga and guest host Joe Laszlo of Shoptalk discuss: Meta's RayBans: Runway Ready or Runaway Lightning Round

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

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled new AR glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban, retailing at $299, sparking a lively discussion among the hosts about their potential success. Joe expresses a cautious optimism, noting that these glasses might solve the common problem of making users look like a "doofus." The conversation shifts to other innovative products, such as a new sneaker from Target designed to grow with the wearer, prompting a light-hearted debate about which clothing items would be most beneficial if they could also adapt to changes in size. Additionally, the hosts tackle the implications of United Airlines and Air France introducing Starlink Wi-Fi, which could allow passengers to stream videos and take Zoom calls mid-flight—an idea that raises mixed feelings about in-flight etiquette. Finally, the episode concludes with a whimsical exploration of untapped entertainment experiences, with Joe revealing his passion for a Star Trek-themed experience, highlighting the appeal of immersive, science fiction worlds.

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg just announced new AR glasses in partnership with Ray Ban that will retail at $299.

What are your thoughts on the success of this product, Joe?

Will they make you Runway ready, or should people run away?

That really does put me on the spot if I have to pick one or the other.

But I guess it feels weird to say this about an AR product, but Runway ready would be my.

My take on it, right?

They are cool.

Yeah.

Two problems with augmented reality, virtual reality things.

One, they make you look like a doofus.

And two, there's not really anything to do with them.

And I really think this may be the first product I've seen that solved that first problem.

You don't look like a doofus when you're wearing them.

So the bigger question is, like, once people have them, will there be cool things that they can do or useful things that they can do with them?

The answer on that is maybe, but at least you won't look like a doofus when you wear them.

Thanks for bringing doofus back into our vocabulary, Joe.

Good.

Good word for the lexicon, or at least for me.

They'll make me look more like a doofus, Joe is what I would say, probably.

All right, target released a new sneaker that, that will reportedly grow with you.

Grow, sorry.

Yes, grow with you.

And.

That's right, grow with you as your feet get larger.

Aside from footwear.

Footwear.

Having trouble today?

Aside from footwear, Joe, what other clothing item would you most want to grow with you?

I don't know.

I feel like we live in an era of that.

Right?

I mean, they already make men's trousers with enough elastic in the waistband that those grow with you a little bit.

Hats have adjustable brims.

Not that my head has really changed size.

Great point.

Great point in the last couple of years.

But I think it's such an interesting thing.

I mean, feet are very delicate objects, and, you know, who knows how well these growing shoes will actually work.

But.

But the thing in that, in that news piece that really got me was, uh, about people whose feet just happen to be two different sizes, so they have to buy, like, two pairs of shoes when they buy shoes.

And.

And even that just feels like it's going to make their lives a lot better if these things work, as promised there.

So did you give an answer, Joe?

I'm not sure you did.

I may have just skipped over that, because I'm honestly, nothing on me is, like, really changed size.

Thankfully, I'm shrinking, actually.

So maybe my answer is shirts and jackets that can get smaller with me as I get older and therefore shrink.

Oh, my God.

The opposite of the kids jackets that expand.

Joe just wants them to retract.

We would like to retract.

I was fighting about back to five years ago, and now I'm five eight.

All right, let's go to question number three, Joe.

United Airlines and Air France are adding Starlink Wi fi to their fleets.

And according to the airlines, the speed will be so strong that passengers will be able to stream videos and potentially even take Zoom calls.

What would you be willing to give up on a flight for reliable high speed Internet beverage service or legroom.

Beverage.

Service you're fine with?

I think I would tend to agree with you.

I feel like you can bring your.

Own drinks, my own water.

You can't pack your own leg room.

I mean, I kind of dread that you're.

When somebody next to me in coach on a long flight is on a Zoom call.

I relish the fact that those are currently, like, not technically feasible and or banned, but, but, I mean, there was an era when phones, they were, like, super expensive, you know, $5 phones on planes, and nobody really used them.

So, I mean, maybe.

Maybe this is just back to the future, but.

But I guess.

I guess we're marching towards that era of Zoom calls on films.

Oh, my God.

That's gonna be terrible.

I'm gonna hate that.

All right, last one.

A Bridgerton ball experience in Detroit is being hailed as a scam reminiscent of what transpired with a Willy Wonka event recently in the UK.

What yet untapped entertainment experience would you most want to be turned into retail tainment, Joe.

This one is super challenging.

People are already doing Star Trek, right?

So can I say it?

I love the science fictiony world of the Federation where everybody is happy and things just work, and we have transporters and replicators.

I would love to go to a Star Trek experience.

That'd be probably my first choice.

So you're a Trekkie, Joe.

That's what you're telling us of the various stars, like Stargate, Star wars, and Star Trek.

I'm a Star Trek person.

There's Stargate in there.

That's a good, that's the first one you said Stargate, Star Trek, and Star wars.

Very nice.

That gives us some keen insight into who you are, Joe, so thank you for that.