LSN : News : Need to Know 21 : 05 : 18

1. Palms Casino reveals artistic new identity

Palms: From Dust to Gold for Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas.

Las Vegas – Palms Casino Resort has announced the opening of its newly renovated venue with the launch of the From Dust to Gold campaign.

Accompanying the campaign’s microsite is a short film that playfully evokes the destruction of the old Palms hotel, leaving behind its traditional heritage, while revealing its fresh identity. Highlighting a new era of Las Vegas tourism, the hotel is targeting younger, culture-driven customers with bold interiors and original works from artists including Damien Hirst and Adam Parker Smith.

‘More and more guests are looking for a 360-degree experience. They want to be impressed visually and experientially. We are in a hyper-visual society that has created even more interest in art. The [art] collection is created for this Millennial generation,’ the resort’s creative director Tal Cooperman said in a statement.

Alongside its remodelled casino, the hotel’s latest iteration will include casual and fine dining options, and renovated entertainment spaces such as the soon-to-open APEX Social Club and Camden Cocktail Lounge.

2. Sustainability underpins new luxury watch brand

Baume, Geneva

Geneva – Luxury goods group Richemont has launched Baume, a new luxury watch label, incorporating sustainability and accessible prices as USPs.

While maintaining the luxury appeal of its parent label Baume & Mercier, sister brand Baume will offer collections priced between £482 ($560, €552) and £742 ($1,000, €850). Catering for younger individuals that appreciate good craftsmanship but seek meaningful contributions from luxury purchases, each timepiece will be produced from sustainable materials, avoiding the use of any precious metals. The straps, meanwhile, will be made from recovered plastics, through a partnership with Waste Free Oceans.

‘Our goal is to fulfil the utmost standards of quality and craftsmanship, while committing to the power of collaboration within a circular economy,’ says Marie Chassot, Baume brand leader.

3. Chinese bank facilitates automated commerce

Shanghai – China Construction Bank has opened its first human-free branch, manned only by robot assistants.

In response to China’s increasing digital competence, the bank has introduced the robots to assist customers with services such as money transfers, foreign exchange and account openings. In addition, the robots will act as a security measure, permitting customers to enter and leave via facial recognition.

As human interaction becomes redundant in banking processes, consumers are increasingly comfortable interacting with artificially intelligent bots, allowing brands to deliver one-to-one customer service on a mass scale.

China Construction Bank robot, Shanghai

4. Ostrich egg yolk skincare targets US market

Adsorb Beauty

US – Following success in Japan, skincare brand Adsorb, best known for using unfertilised ostrich egg yolk as an active ingredient, hopes to make its mark in the US market.

The products, which are now being distributed by BioBoutique Lab in North America, emphasise the repairing properties of the antibodies found inside ostrich egg yolk. After extracting the antibodies in the most humane and sustainable way possible, the solution is injected into Adsorb’s product formulas to help with skin anti-ageing and protection against exposure to pollution.

Regarding its entry into the US market, Tom Winaric, founder of BioBoutique Beauty Lab, says: ‘When people hear the story, they are affected by the fact it is part of a bigger picture than just skincare. Research on using the antibodies also includes fighting cancer, influenza and other viruses such as Zika and Ebola. Skincare was just the first to come to market because it is topical.’

For more on how Japanese beauty brands are channelling science in their products, see our dedicated Japanese Beauty report.

5. Americans hesitant about online food shopping

New research by Mintel suggests that, although consumers are spending more time and money online, they are still concerned about online food purchases, with just 10% of Americans saying they buy fresh produce, meat, poultry and/or fish online.

Despite this, frozen food companies are increasingly establishing their place in the grocery market, promising fresh and nutritious foods in a convenient form, while meeting the taste and health requirements of consumers.

6. Thought-starter: Can beauty routines delay male ageing?

Beauty products aimed at older demographics are typically skewed towards women, but growing numbers of Baby Boomer men are seeking brands to address their later-life skin needs.

As a large demographic, with the highest discretionary income, Boomer men are dedicating more money to their aesthetic upkeep than is perhaps expected of them. British women spend about £35.30 ($47.53, €40.35) a month on beauty products, but men spend an average of £40.90 ($55.06, €46.75) (source: Barclaycard).

But while spending power is high, it is not as simple as applying the same anti-ageing, anti-wrinkle strategy that brands have long used when marketing to women in this category. Men tend to have a more relaxed and accepting attitude towards ageing. With men opting for a more simplified approach to skincare, Roshida Khanom, associate director of beauty and personal care at Mintel, suggests that ‘products should target maintaining appearance rather than fixing a problem’.

While the global anti-ageing market is expected to exceed £193bn ($260bn, €220.7bn) by 2020, according to Global Industry Analysts, the Asia-Pacific market is experiencing the fastest growth, expanding at a CAGR of 6.3%.

For more on how older men are disrupting the South Korean and Chinese beauty markets, read the full report here.