Omni Talk Retail – Lightning Round: Advent Calendars, Slop Bowls & Mariah’s $60M Holiday Reign | Fast Five Shorts

Date: December 4, 2025
Hosts: Chris Walton & Anne Mezzenga

Episode Overview

In this lively "Fast Five" lightning round episode, Chris and Anne share rapid-fire, insightful, and often humorous takes on trending holiday retail topics. From luxury advent calendars and consumer food habits to nostalgic cookie debates and the enduring dominance of Mariah Carey’s Christmas classic, the conversation highlights both the whimsy of the holidays and evolving shopper behaviors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Advent Calendar Craze (00:00–00:33)

• Topic: Advent calendars have become a must-have seasonal trend for specialty retailers, with brands as diverse as Skims, Ocni Fishing Lures, and Bridgman’s Ice Cream getting in on the action.
• Anne’s Question: “What brand would you like to have an advent calendar from?”
• Chris:
  • Regretted missing the Nike PSG Jordans drop that morning.
  • Dreamed big: “For me, I want 28 days of Nikes. And I mean, what. Hell of an expensive calendar, but. But I would love that. That’d be.” (00:24)
• Anne:
  • Pointed out the lack of price ceilings for these calendars: “The skims calendar is, like, in the three hundreds or something. It’s like one pair of underwear per day... There’s no price limit... So I think if you really wanted your Nike one, it’s possible.” (00:33)

2. Slop Bowls vs. Sandwiches: Changing Lunch Preferences (00:46–01:27)

• Topic: Bloomberg’s report suggests that Americans are tiring of “slop bowls” (build-your-own bowls), favoring sandwiches instead, possibly due to rising prices.
• Chris:
  • Asked Anne if rising prices affect her loyalty: “Are you two getting put off by the prices?... You are quite the salad fan and the slop bowl fan.” (00:46)
• Anne:
  • Endorsed slop bowls despite high prices: “I still love it all the time. I mean, the prices are getting to be ridiculous. But that’s. That’s not a reason. I still think I’m investing in putting the best quality food in my body.” (01:08)
  • Emphasized customizability and health: “You can change all the ingredients. Like, I don’t know.” (01:13)
  • “You need the roughage... Especially when you’re traveling.” (01:27)

3. Gingerbread and the Holiday Cookie Hierarchy (01:27–02:29)

• Topic: The White House’s use of 120 pounds of gingerbread in their holiday decor led to a discussion about favorite holiday cookies.
• Chris:
  • Expressed awe: “120 pounds. That’s insane... God, it’s like an entire person of gingerbread.” (01:45)
  • Listed his top three: “I’d go the Mexican tea cookie... Then I’d go butter cookies with some green and red spritzing. And then I’d go gingerbread.” (01:50)
• Anne:
  • Curious about the “Mexican tea cookie,” asking if it’s similar to Russian tea cakes: “Is that like the tea cake? Like the balls, the shortbread balls wrapped in powdered sugar? Oh, I thought that was a Russian delicacy.” (02:18)
• Chris:
  • Admitted uncertainty: “We’ll have to do some research… I’m not Mr. Walton Gourmet.” (02:29)

4. Mariah Carey’s $60 Million Holiday Hit (02:29–03:57)

• Topic: According to The Economist, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has generated over $60 million in royalties, securing Mariah Carey’s status as queen of the holiday season.
• Chris:
  • Quizzed Anne on the song’s ranking: “Where does the song...rank on your holiday playlist? You’re the playlist.” (02:29)
• Anne:
  • Did not hesitate: “It’s top three for sure. I mean, really, it’s probably my number one...it gets you that drop hits and you’re like, oh, yeah, it brings me back.” (02:59)
  • Deep nostalgia: “Was one of my first CDs...I played every holiday. Still play it on Spotify...as many times as possible. I love it.” (03:10)
  • Gave Mariah her flowers: “I think everybody knows that song. And it’s so great. It’s like, wow. Hits that high note. I mean, come on, Mariah.” (03:27)
• Chris:
  • Shared his preferences: “I’d go like George Michael. I’d go Kylie Minogue. I might even go a little Bing Crosby in there...You go number one. Interesting. I didn’t expect you to see that at all.” (03:36)
• Anne:
  • Remained steadfast: “It’s fun. It’s a great song. I love it. Keep going. I hope Mariah is set for life.” (03:47)
• Chris:
  • Summed it up: “One hell of an annuity for her. My God.” (03:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Chris on advent calendars: “For me, I want 28 days of Nikes. And I mean, what. Hell of an expensive calendar, but. But I would love that.” (00:24)
• Anne on slop bowls: “I still think I’m investing in putting the best quality food in my body.” (01:11)
• Chris awed by gingerbread: “120 pounds. That’s insane... God, it’s like an entire person of gingerbread.” (01:45)
• Anne on Mariah’s holiday queen status: “It’s top three for sure. I mean, really, it’s probably my number one... I still play it on Spotify, every year, as many times as possible. I love it.” (02:59–03:10)
• Chris on holiday playlists: “I’d go like George Michael... Kylie Minogue... a little Bing Crosby in there...” (03:36)
• Anne on holiday joy: “It’s fun. It’s a great song. I love it.” (03:47)
• Chris, closing out on Mariah: “One hell of an annuity for her. My God.” (03:57)

Timestamp Guide

• 00:00–00:33 – Advent calendar wish lists
• 00:46–01:27 – Bowl vs. sandwich lunch debate & price sensitivity
• 01:27–02:29 – Gingerbread and holiday cookie rankings
• 02:29–03:57 – Mariah Carey's all-time Christmas classic and its payday

This episode captures the quirky side of retail trends during the holidays, all delivered in Chris and Anne’s signature quick-paced, candid style. It's an enjoyable blend of industry insight, food talk, nostalgia, and a celebration of all things festive.