LSN : Daily Signals : Kith opens new flagship store in Malibu

Australia Presentations Tour 2024

Chris Sanderson at Future Hospitality Summit, Saudi Arabia

In October 2024, The Future Laboratory co-founder Chris Sanderson will embark on a tour of Australia, presenting the company’s latest trend insights. These keynotes promise a unique opportunity to delve into future trends, markets and consumer behaviours, all tailored to the specific needs of attendees’ businesses, customers and strategies.

‘It’s never been more important to have access to great insights, and to be informed and inspired. The Future Laboratory’s in-house presentations take your teams away from the everyday and lift their line of sight towards the extraordinary, while always delivering practical insights and strategic implications that enable your teams to make a better future happen,’ says Sanderson.

The presentations are crafted by LS:N Global’s expert team of researchers, analysts and strategists. The selected topics, drawn from the company’s comprehensive global research, are designed to meet current industry demands.

This tour represents a rare chance for Australian businesses to gain practical and vital insights directly from one of the leaders in trend forecasting. For more details on the event schedule and to register, click here.

Kith opens new flagship store in Malibu

Kith Malibu, US

US – The US luxury streetwear brand Kith has opened its new store in the picturesque coastal city of Malibu, its third flagship location in California, alongside those in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.

Situated just off the Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu Lagoon State Beach, Kith Malibu exudes a chic beach vibe. The store features sand and natural light brown hues, complemented by wooden elements throughout its exterior and interior design, perfectly blending into its environment.

Opened on 4 July, the store offers Kith’s in-house and collaborative apparel, accessories and footwear for men, women and children. Customers can also enjoy treats courtesy of Nobu, which will re-introduce the Caramel Soba Cha Swirl. Kith has also partnered with New Balance to redesign the iconic 1300 and 580 models in colours inspired by the new store's aesthetic.

Kith’s Malibu flagship store aligns with our World Retail Congress 2024: Let’s Get Hyperphysical recap in which we reveal how retailers are tapping into hyper-locality to create destination-worthy stores in order to build community.

Strategic opportunity

The desire for third spaces among Gen Z is high. Retailers should consider using design to elevate their storefront to foster an environment in which consumers can work, eat, exercise or simply hang out

Hound House opens private members’ club for dogs

Canada – A new ‘canine social collective’ is coming to Toronto, Canada, at the end of 2024. Hound House is an indoor dog park, co-working space, café, bar, premium pet shop and social club for dogs and their owners.

Somewhere between Soho House and WeWork (with a lot more dogs), Hound House offers a co-working space inside an off-leash dog park for owners to work while their dog plays under the supervision of human ‘cha-paw-rones’, a self-grooming station, doggy daycare services and a busy social calendar.

Dogs and owners can drop in for the day or purchase a monthly membership for unlimited access to the house and events, as well as reduced doggy daycare fees.

With the tagline, Life is Short, Spoil your Hound, Hound House is a product of the booming Prestige Pets market. In our Innovation Debrief 2024–2025 report, we delved into how the double-income, no-kids, with-a-dog (DINKWAD) community is driving this demand for human-grade pet care and pet-centric social spaces, such as Hound House.

Park’s Best, US

Strategic opportunity

For many Gen Z and Millennial consumers, pets have evolved from animal companions to an extension of their lifestyle and identity. How is your brand adapting to recognise this evolving relationship?

Stat: ‘Sunxiety’ sparks shift in sunscreen preferences

Faces of Travel by Delta Air Lines and Adobe, US

US – Growing awareness of sun exposure risks means American consumers are prioritising sun protection, according to a report from behavioural research company Veylinx.

Following a survey of 1,609 US consumers in June 2024, the study found that while 71% enjoy being in the sun, 38% never feel fully relaxed while they’re in the sun. More than 60% report burning very easily and 41% express concerns about skin damage.

As a result, 30% of respondents apply sunscreen daily during the summer and 65% prefer sunscreens with SPF40 and above. The study also found that the most popular sun protection products have anti-ageing and hydrating qualities or contain vitamin C.

Interestingly, 27% choose reef-safe sunscreens and are willing to pay 14% more for reef-safe products, but only 16% choose sustainable packaging where available and are unwilling to pay more for it.

In our How Climate Change is Re-routing Travel report, we explored how consumers are opting for off-season travel and northern destinations as the climate crisis causes traditional beach destinations to become unbearably hot. The beauty, health and wellness industry must similarly adapt as demand for sun protection products grows, particularly in regions experiencing extreme weather.

Strategic opportunity

As sunscreen becomes a daily-use product, brands should develop multifunctional creams and serums that offer UV protection and improve skin health with ingredients like vitamin C