LSN : News : Stat: People in the US face a growing financial safety-net crisis

Dior reopens magical New York flagship store

House of Dior New York. Photography by Jonathan Taylor, US

US – Dior has reopened its Madison Avenue flagship with an expanded four-floor footprint, just a block from its first Manhattan store, which opened in 1948.

Designed by Peter Marino, the space is intended to feel like an Upper East Side townhouse and unfolds in stages. The window display draws the attention of passers-by with an animatronic forest of squirrels, birds and bees which have been crafted from upcycled Dior materials, while the internal staircase glows with a ‘Colorama’ of 3D-printed accessories.

Each corner of the store introduces a moment of magic, such as the abstract flower paintings by artists Jean-Michel Othoniel and Nir Hod that line the walls of the first Dior Spa in the US. A separate entryway leads to the country’s only Dior Maison store.

Unlike other Dior stores, the flagship is home to a number of exclusives, which are based on vintage Dior designs. These include 47 pairs of B27 sneakers as a nod to Christian Dior’s first visit to New York in 1947, limited-edition J’Adior slingbacks and Lady Dior bags.

The flagship’s enchanting design aligns with our Culture-coded Retail macrotrend report, which unpacked how brands are creating story-living environments that blend retail and hospitality to create immersive brand experiences that align with cultural moments and build an emotional connection with customers.

Strategic opportunity

Design spaces as unfolding narratives, with hidden reveals, kinetic art and sensory layers that reward exploration. Turn physical stores into brand stages that drive repeat visits and social amplification

Boots expands home health market with new testing kits

UK – Boots is stepping up its role in preventative healthcare with the expansion of its home testing kits, which have been developed in partnership with diagnostics firm MyHealthChecked.

The kits can be used to monitor a range of health issues, including food intolerance, low energy, testosterone and cholesterol levels, and to assist with weight management.

Samples are analysed at MyHealthChecked’s lab and the results are delivered to the customer along with personalised advice from doctors and nutritionists. Patients can share findings via the NHS App through Patients Know Best to ensure that there is integration with existing health records.

This initiative reflects growing consumer demand for proactive health monitoring, as longer lifespans drive the pursuit of better quality of life – a shift we identified in our Longevity Lifestyles report.

As people seek to take control of their health and wellbeing, Boots is positioning itself as a diagnostics provider and a support hub, in step with the NHS’s 10-year plan for patient-led, digitally accessible care.

Boots, UK

Strategic opportunity

Develop products and services that enable individuals to track, understand and enhance their long-term wellbeing and position your brand as a trusted partner in preventative health and lifestyle optimisation

Stat: People in the US face a growing financial safety-net crisis

MoneymBag$ by Mackenzie Freemire, US

US – A new Credit One Bank survey of 1,150 Americans reveals a widening generational gap in financial resilience. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Gen Z have no emergency savings, almost double the Baby Boomers’ rate.

Overall, two-thirds of Americans have just six months of savings or less, with Gen X the least prepared for long-term shocks. High earners aren’t immune either – 56% of those making over £59k ($80k, €69k) couldn’t cover six months’ expenses.

If faced with a £369 ($500, €428) emergency, 70% of students and 60% of under-35s would use a credit card, compared to a 51% national average. This reliance is also gendered, with 55% of women saying they would turn to credit in a crisis, compared to 47% of men.

The study highlights the financial precarity of many in the US amid an ongoing Cost of Living Crisis. For more insights into each generation’s financial attitudes, and the brands and businesses successfully targeting each demographic, head to our Generations Now and Next macrotrend report.

Strategic opportunity

Adapt financial services campaigns to address distinct generational needs: empower Gen X with pension confidence and equip Gen Z with financial literacy and starter saving tools, using relatable language and platforms they trust