News 13.12.2023

Need to Know

Ikea unveils home fitness and wellness essentials, UK bakery chain Greggs launches bistro pop-up and concerns grow about the global cost of depression.

Ikea unveils collection of home fitness and wellness essentials

Dajlien collection by Ikea, The Netherlands
Dajlien Collection by Ikea, The Netherlands
Dajlien Collection by Ikea, The Netherlands

Global – Ikea is stepping into the home fitness arena with the launch of Dajlien, a limited-edition collection set to hit markets in January 2024. Showcased at Miami Art Week 2023, the collection boasts 19 versatile, portable and compact fitness products, including a stylish wooden bench that doubles as storage, inspired by vintage gym equipment. Designed for convenience, the bench transforms into a non-slip mat-topped coffee table.

Dajlien offers a range of fitness gear, from non-slip mats and bamboo step-up boards to ring-shaped dumbbells. Going beyond conventional exercise equipment, the brand integrates stress relief and recovery products into this new line, such as an air purifier, yoga straps, kneepads, a massage ball and a portable Bluetooth speaker.

Ikea’s Dajlien addresses the challenges of limited time and space, providing smart solutions for a convenient and motivating home exercise space. Akanksha Deo, a designer at Ikea, said: ‘Dajlien is all about supporting movement and helping people live more active lives at home.’

As explored in Home States Futures: Residential Retail, the multi-faceted roles of the home are pushing brands to release new products and services for home gyms, home offices, home spas and more.

Strategic opportunity

Homeware and furniture brands should consider how to develop adaptive furniture to tap into the growing demand for multifunctional home spaces

Greggs and Fenwick open Bistro Greggs pop-up restaurant

Sausage Roll by Bistro Greggs at Fenwick Newcastle, UK Sausage Roll by Bistro Greggs at Fenwick Newcastle, UK
Bistro Greggs at Fenwick Newcastle, UK Bistro Greggs at Fenwick Newcastle, UK

UK – Department store group Fenwick and popular high street bakery chain Greggs have collaborated on a Bistro Greggs pop-up restaurant at the Fenwick store in Newcastle, from 1 to 31 December 2023.

Celebrating two powerhouse brands founded in the northeast of England, Bistro Greggs’ Parisian-inspired venue will serve bespoke iterations of Greggs’ favourite menus, paired with Fenwick Food Hall wines and a signature The Pink Jammie Fizz cocktail – inspired by Greggs’ hard-to-resist iconic Pink Jammie doughnut.

The menu – designed by Fenwick executive head chef Mark Reid in collaboration with Greggs – includes items such as a Greggs Festive Bake served with duck-fat roasties, smoked pancetta, chestnuts and sprouts, a Greggs Benedict (Greggs Sausage, Bean and Cheese Melt re-imagined with smoked ham, poached Cacklebean eggs and a velvety Hollandaise sauce), and a Greggs Yum Yum with caramel sauce and macadamia brittle.

In a celebration of humble everyday food, the collaboration uses the cultural hype around Greggs to provide instant credibility and ‘cool’ to Fenwick’s new French-inspired fine dining experience, while simultaneously feeding into Food’s Fashion Strategy, merging fashion and food to attract the attention of a wider audience.

Strategic opportunity

Consider unexpected brand partnerships that merge high and low culture to put your brand in front of new eyes and create an instant buzz around your campaign

Meet Obayaty, the unapologetically masculine beauty brand

Obayaty Obayaty

Global – Make-up by men for men – that’s the promise of newly founded beauty brand Obayaty. As most beauty brands looking to introduce men to colour cosmetics opt for unisex lines, Obayaty is designed specifically with the male consumer in mind, from the packaging to formulations catering for male skin concerns.

Backed by high-profile creatives including songwriters and producers Max Martin and Savan Kotecha, the brand is opening an alternative path into the landscape of beauty for male-identifying consumers. The goal is to promote daily beauty routines that elevate wellbeing and confidence, an inclusive approach to cosmetics but with the aesthetic and messaging that will resonate with the target audience.

Obayaty’s initial collection includes multipurpose skincare products and colour cosmetics, ranging from lightly covering eye cream to eye pencils in bold and bright colours. Most products come in sleek, dark metal packaging with a refillable system to help reduce waste while allowing a luxurious user experience.

In our Identities topic, we track developments relating to diversity and inclusion – including evolving masculinity.

Strategic opportunity

Obayaty’s approach shows how businesses can normalise and democratise gender non-conforming habits. With men’s mental health being raised as a growing concern, how can your business empower men to engage in wellbeing rituals and self-care routines?

Stat: US surgeon general raises concern about global cost of depression

Dr. Tony Nader encouraged a moment of consciousness at the start of Global Wellness Summit 2023, Miami, US Dr. Tony Nader encouraged a moment of consciousness at the start of Global Wellness Summit 2023, Miami, US

Global – Dr Vivek Murthy, the US surgeon general, has told Fortune that the economic toll of depression is immense, costing the global economy some £795.4bn ($1 trillion, €925.6bn) annually, which shows the severity of the issue. Furthermore, he highlighted the crucial link between the growing loneliness epidemic and rising depression rates. The World Health Organization estimates that 280m people globally suffer from depression. Murthy urges workplaces to adopt supportive environments to mitigate these mental health issues.

Dr Murthy’s advisory suggests that such environments not only combat loneliness but also enhance employee satisfaction and productivity. This is supported by an Ipsos survey, which found that 88% of US workers reported increased productivity when they felt a sense of belonging, underlining the significant impact of workplace wellbeing on both mental health and economic productivity. This is an important concern that businesses should consider tackling when developing their Work States Futures plans.

Strategic opportunity

Businesses and players in the care industry should also consider turning to artificial intelligence to create AI Companions that can offer assistance and emotional support to those suffering from loneliness

Previous News Articles
Opera Air turns browsing into a mindful experience

News

Opera Air turns browsing into a mindful experience

Norwegian software company Opera is reimagining web browsing with the launch of Opera Air, a first-of-its-kind browser designed around mindfulness.
Health & Wellness : Technology : Pop-culture & Media
Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

News

Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

Every Friday, we wrap up the topics, issues, ideas and viral moments everyone’s been discussing. This week, deputy foresight editor Dan Hastings de...
Society : Pop-culture & Media : Technology
Stat: Consumers admit to choosing inaction on climate change due to eco-guilt

News

Stat: Consumers admit to choosing inaction on climate change due to eco-guilt

More than a quarter of people (28%) in 31 countries fall into the category of ‘anxious inactives’, according to the latest GlobeScan Healthy & ...
Society : Sustainability : Retail
Key takeaways from Live Retail Week and The Grocer 2025

News

Key takeaways from Live Retail Week and The Grocer 2025

At Ocado, the three key principles driving its double-digit growth ambitions are clarity, culture and collaboration, according to Amit Chitnis, chi...
Retail : Food & Drink : Events
Equinox and Stripes Beauty launch luxury menopause spa experience

News

Equinox and Stripes Beauty launch luxury menopause spa experience

The Spa by Equinox Hotels has partnered with pro-ageing beauty and wellness brand Stripes Beauty to introduce a high-tech, luxury wellness spa circ...
Health & Wellness : Luxury : Travel & Hospitality
Stat: Teens say Victoria’s Secret Pink is one of North America’s coolest brands

News

Stat: Teens say Victoria’s Secret Pink is one of North America’s coolest brands

According to YPulse’s annual Cool Brands Report, released in early 2025, 71% of North American teenagers say it is important that the brands they p...
Fashion : Youth : Society
LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

News

LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

Meet our new AI tool, Ember.
The Future Laboratory
The Ordinary’s new platform shatters skincare myths

News

The Ordinary’s new platform shatters skincare myths

The Ordinary is dispelling skincare myths with its new platform, TheTruthShouldBeOrdinary.com.
Advertising & Branding : Beauty : Health & Wellness
Stat: Super Bowl smashes viewership records

News

Stat: Super Bowl smashes viewership records

Fox’s broadcast of the 2025 Super Bowl LIX drew a record-breaking 126m viewers across platforms, cementing its place as the most-watched Super Bowl...
Sports & Leisure : Advertising & Branding : Pop-culture & Media
Harrison Ford brings Hollywood charm to Glenmorangie whisky

News

Harrison Ford brings Hollywood charm to Glenmorangie whisky

Scotch whisky distillery Glenmorangie has unveiled actor Harrison Ford as its new global ambassador.
Advertising & Branding : Food & Drink : Pop-culture & Media
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN