Need to Know
01 : 04 : 19

Kuwait – % Arabica is bringing a stripped-back coffee shop experience to the Middle East.

The Arabica Coffee brand is based in Kyoto, Japan, and has been expanding its shops throughout Asia and Europe. For its latest % Arabica opening, on the coast of Kuwait, the brand asked Japanese design studio Nendo to design a striking store with a contemporary, pared-back interior.

The luxurious interior, punctuated by gold-tone details, is designed to reinforce the quality of the brand’s coffee. Reflecting the design of an amphitheatre, the seating comprises stair-like tiers, encouraging interaction between customers and baristas.

In our Craft Coffee Market, we explore the opportunities in Asia for premium coffee as more brands enter this market of tea-drinkers.

London – The active beauty brand’s Training Sticks are designed to be applied before exercising.

FaceGym, one of our Global Futures Forum 2016 disrupters, offers a new category of skincare focused on non-invasive facial workouts. As its latest product launch, the Training Sticks are applied to the face before exercise, becoming activated by the moisture and heat produced by skin during movement.

Available in four varieties, the Training Sticks include a multi-vitamin option for hydration, an activated charcoal option for detox and renewal, Brazilian pink clay to brighten and glow, and spirulina to lift and sculpt the skin. According to FaceGym, ‘the harder you work, the harder the product performs.’

Inspired by growth in the athleisure market, beauty brands are making functional, high-performing products designed to be worn before, during and after a workout.

New York – Opening at Hudson Yards, the store will allow shoppers to try items on but not make any purchases.

People browsing The Conservatory can discover fashion, wellbeing and lifestyle products from over 50 brands in one, curated space. However, the store is transaction- and inventory-free, meaning customers can’t take products home with them – they can only purchase items online. By adhering to this format, The Conservatory becomes a form of retail influencer, as its purpose shifts away from transaction and towards inspiration.

‘Our job is to focus on what makes a bricks-and-mortar experience special – product curation, visual presentation, and human interaction, not inventory management,’ says Brian Bolke, the brand’s founder. ‘We want to guide the customer to purchase fewer, better things, and create a welcoming environment that celebrates what we’re calling ‘luxurious minimalism.’

As stores understand that their salvation relies on a combination of physical touchpoints and digital technology, retailers are reconsidering the purpose of bricks-and-mortar shops.

Young and educated Africans are most likely to consider moving abroad, according to a new study by Afro Barometer. Despite substantial economic growth in many African countries, the report says nearly half of young people on the continent are considering leaving their own country in search of a better future.

These young people aren’t necessarily leaving Africa, however. According to the study, more than one-third (29%) would like to move to another country in Africa, highlighting the wealth of opportunities they recognise within the region. Finding work and escaping economic hardship are the most frequently cited reasons for emigrating.

In countries like Nigeria, where the most affluent of families send their children to be educated overseas, many young people are finding routes to success before returning to share their knowledge and experience within their home nations. For more, read our Emerging Youth Market.