Case Article—The RealPro Customer Benefits Program: Rekindling Shopper Loyalty Through a Subscription Service

In this case study, students combine data-based insights with strategic considerations to make fundamental business decisions at the German grocery retail chain Real. In response to dwindling numbers of customers and reduced revenues, Real developed the RealPro customer benefits program to achieve a quick turnaround. For a fixed annual fee, RealPro members receive substantial and permanent discounts of 20% on nonpromoted items from a broad range of food categories. Students employ data analytics methods to extract insights from the provided data set, which contains point-of-sale information from the actual market test of RealPro. Based on these insights, decisions concerning the rollout and design of the RealPro program must be made. We provide data analysis solutions in both Excel and R to analyze 75 thousand customer transactions. In the case extension, students can apply the difference-in-differences method and two covariate balancing algorithms for in-depth statistical analyses. For this purpose, we provide an additional unbalanced data set with 83 thousand transactions, on which the students can test and analyze propensity score matching and entropy balancing models.

Pre-Project Selling in A Property Business: The Perspective of Islamic Law

Actors in the real estate market have developed a marketing strategy in the form of pre-project selling. This strategy is conducted to perform a market test for any property a developer intends to market. However, in practice, the system often poses problems, such as misrepresenting the property and inflicting customers' financial losses. From the perspective of Islamic law, this type of transaction is characterized as gharar (uncertainty, deception, and risk), having no exact object, and having forbidden. This article uses a Sharia-based perspective to analyze the characteristics of pre-project selling. This research aims to determine the legality of pre-project selling under Sharia law and prescribe solutions for society. The method used in this article is legal research, using legislation-based, conceptual, and case-based approaches, along with a comparison of national legislation with the written text of the al-Qur’an and hadith. The paper concludes that while pre-project selling should not be legally banned, there need steps taken to reduce its risks. This could be applied, for example, by creating minimum prerequisites for allowing pre-project selling, such as the existence of a plot for construction or the requirement of permits to be obtained before the pre-project sale. This research contributes to the development of legal science in general and Islamic jurisprudence, especially regarding Islamic law agreements' validity.Pelaku usaha dalam bidang properti telah mengembangkan strategi pemasaran berbentuk pre-project selling. Strategi ini dilakukan untuk melakukan tes pasar properti yang hendak dipasarkan oleh pengembang. Namun, dalam praktek, system ini sering menimbulkan masalah, seperti misrepresentasi terhadap properti, yang menimbulkan kerugian finansial pada pembeli. Dari perspektif hukum Islam, transaksi semacam ini merupakan transaksi gharar, yang tidak memiliki obyek yang jelas, dan dengan demikian dilarang. Artikel ini menggunakan perspektif berbasis syariah untuk menganalisa karakteristik dari pre-project selling. Tujuan riset ini adalah untuk menentukan legalitas pre-project selling dalam hukum Syariah dan memberikan solusi bagi masyarakat secara umum. Tulisan ini menyimpulkan bahwa sementara pre-project selling tidak perlu dilarang secara hukum, perlu ada langkah-langkah yang diambil untuk mengurangi risikonya. Hal ini dapat dilakukan, misalnya, dengan membuat prasyarat minimum untuk mengizinkan pre-project selling, seperti keberadaan sebidang tanah untuk konstruksi, atau persyaratan bahwa izin diperoleh sebelum penjualan. Penelitian ini berkontribusi pada pengembangan ilmu hukum pada umumnya dan ilmu hukum islam pada khususnya, terutama terkait keabsahan perjanjian di dalam hukum Islam.

LAMPU HIAS DENGAN DEKORASI MOTIF BATIK PARANG DAN KAWUNG INOVASI PENCIPTAAN KERAMIK

ABSTRACTProduct innovation is a strategy that must be carried out by(UMKM) in the craft business in order to always have a competitive advantage. This research is a discussion to get ceramic products that have an assessment of Indonesia so that they can compete in the global market. Parang and Kawung traditional batik motifs representing the freedom of choice of Indonesia were chosen as a form of innovation that was tried to be mixed with ceramic decorative lighting products. This batik motif is not only placed on ceramic decorative lighting products, but will be made together and become a part or character of the ceramics. This study uses a renewal method in the design of ceramic products, starting from the exploration of trends, analysis, sketching, and the last is per work design drawings or designs. Embodiment or production is done by experimentation to get the right material composition, technique, and production method or process. It will also conduct a market test by exhibiting prototype products in art-shops owned by ceramic craftsmen.The research target in the first year is the creation of techniques or production methods, and 10 ceramic designs that are in accordance with market trends and tastes. In the second year the creation of 10 prototype products and submitted to IPR, approved scientific articles, and market testing. The results of this study are expected to help craftsmen diversify their products to increase sales for the export market.ABSTRAKInovasi produk adalah strategi yang harus terus dilakukan oleh usaha mikro kecil menengah (UMKM) kerajinan agar selalu memiliki keunggulan kompetitif. Penelitian ini adalah sebuah eksplorasi penciptaan untuk mendapatkan produk keramik yang memiliki nuansa etnis Indonesia sehingga dapat berkompetisi pada pasar global. Motif batik tradisional Parang dan Kawung mewakili nuansa etnis Indonesia dipilih sebagai bentuk inovasi yang dicoba untuk di-mix-kan dengan produk lampu hias keramik. Motif batik tersebut tidak hanya sekedar ditempelkan pada produk lampu hias keramik, akan tetapi dibuat menyatu dan menjadi bagian atau karakter dari keramik tersebut. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode pendekatan estetis dalam merancang desain produk keramik, dimulai dari ekplorasi trend, analisis, pembuatan sketsa, serta yang terakhir adalah perancangan gambar kerja atau desain. Perwujudan atau produksi dilakukan dengan eksperimentasi untuk mendapatkan komposisi bahan, teknik, dan metode atau proses produksi yang tepat. Selain itu juga akan dilakukan uji pasar (market test) dengan memamerkan produk prototype di art-shop yang dimiliki oleh pengrajin keramik. Target penelitian pada tahun pertama adalah terciptanya teknik atau metode produksi, dan 10 desain keramik yang sesuai dengan trend dan selera pasar. Pada tahun ke dua terciptanya 10 produk prototype dan mendaftarkan ke HKI, penerbitan artikel ilmiah, serta uji pasar. Hasil penelitian tersebut diharapkan dapat membantu para pengrajin melakukan diversifikasi produk guna meningkatkan penjualan terutama untuk pasar ekspor.

Documenting the Antitrust Revolution over Seven Editions of Kwoka and White

By a market test of longevity, seven successive editions of The Antitrust Revolution (“TAR”) is a remarkable publishing event. John E. Kwoka and Lawrence J. White (editors) assembled a collection of antitrust disputes written by economists who have expertise in each case. The result has been seven books that are both textbook and treatise. The peg on which TAR hangs is the proposition that economic analysis has “revolutionized” antitrust enforcement. This article unpacks the contents of the editions and shows how the multiple editions reveal the evolution of antitrust law in response to structural changes in the economy as well as advances in economic analysis. We also discuss the one industry found in every edition (telecommunications) and assess external indicators of the book’s influence. The Appendix lists all of the case studies and the authors over all editions.

Willingness to Pay for a Specialty Blend Compost Product Developed from Brown Seaweed Harvested from Coastal Regions in Texas

Composting is the biological decomposition of organic materials, such as plant tissue, food scraps, paper, animal fodder, and wood chips. The end-product, compost, is a beneficial soil amendment because it can contain a diversity of beneficial microorganisms, has high nutrient and water-holding capacities, can increase total soil porosity, and contains essential plant nutrients that improve soil productivity. Coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Atlantic and European shorelines, have witnessed a proliferation of brown seaweed (Sargassum sp.). When piled on beaches, tourism appeal is reduced, threatening the local economy. When amassed offshore, thick brown seaweed mats can hinder fishing. Excessive decomposition rates can lead to eutrophication, which threatens coastal areas economically and environmentally. Despite these problems, seaweed may be considered a valuable compost ingredient. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct a market test to determine the potential value of a seaweed-incorporated compost to consumers in Texas and to identify attributes of likely consumers. A marketing survey was developed and distributed to gardeners in the central and south Texas regions. Contingent valuation questions measured participants’ willingness to pay for the seaweed compost products. Participants were able to see, smell, and touch a sample of the compost while completing the survey. Despite 92% of respondents ranking themselves as inexperienced in compost behavior, results indicated a potential for a specialty, competitively priced seaweed-incorporated compost to be introduced to the market. Respondents were most willing to pay $4.00/ft3 to $5.00/ft3 for seaweed-incorporated compost. Additionally, participants who responded positively to buying local, buying compost in the past, having positive environmental attitudes, and buying American were more likely to pay more for the seaweed-incorporated compost. There was not an obvious pattern between willingness to pay for seaweed-incorporated compost and demographic responses.

PENGEMBANGAN INOVASI PRODUK UMKM BERBASIS KULIT MENGGUNAKAN METODE MODEL TRANSFORMING TRADITION ATUMICS (STUDI KASUS : JAVALORE)PENGEMBANGAN INOVASI PRODUK UMKM BERBASIS KULIT MENGGUNAKAN METODE MODEL TRANSFORMING TRADITION ATUMICS (STUDI KASUS : JAVALORE)

AbstrakPenelitian ini mengangkat transforming design dalam produk berbasis kulit sehingga muncul poduk yang mampu bersaing di tingkat internasional. penelitian ini mempunyai tahap awal yaitu melakukan identifikasi faktor potensi Nusantara dan faktor potensi UMKM dari tempat studi kasus yaitu Javalore. Kemudian menggunakan metode pendekatan ATUMICS dilakukan proses transformasi tradition, yang menggabungkan unsur potensi dari Kearifan lokal Nusantara dengan Produk kulit Javalore, kemudian menghasilkan rancangan konsep inovasi produk kulit. Proses sketsa desain, hingga digitalisasi dan pembuatan prototype produk, pada tahap berikutnya akan dilakukan uji tes pasar dan uji kelayakan produk. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan deskriptif kualitatif yang berupa reduksi data, penyajian data, dan verifikasi data Produk dianalisis untuk kemudian mendapat sebuah susunan ideal dari enam elemen dasarnya, yaitu teknik, kegunaan, bahan, ikon, konsep, dan bentuk. Level makro yang akan terkait oleh factor yang luas, yaitu nilai-nilai filosofi dan pemaknaan pada kearifan lokal Nusantara. Adaptasi elemen Kearifan lokal nusantara ke dalam produk kulit Javalore yaitu ke dalam elemen fungsi dan estetika sebagai inovasi produk yang mampu meningkatkan potensi atau daya saing produk. Luaran dari penelitian hasil dari transforming tradition ini merupakan sebuah produk inovasi kulit. Hasil uji pasar menyatakan bahwa produk hasil dari Javalore mampu meningkatkan minat pasar hingga 55% (lima puluh lima persen) dan memperluas segmen pasar dengan menggunakan penggabungan pasar. Penelitian juga menunjukkan bahwa konsumen cenderung mempunyai ketertarikan akan produk yang mempunyai preferensi terhadap gender, semakin tinggi tingkat identitas gender pada suatu produk tampak, maka semakin mudah konsumen untuk tertarik. Kata Kunci: transforming tradition, inovasi, ekonomi kreatif.AbstractThis Research examine about transformation design in skin-based products so that products can compete at the international level. This research has an initial stage which is to identify the potential factors of the archipelago and the potential factors of MSMEs from the case study place that is Javalore. Then using the ATUMICS approach the traditional transformation process, which combines the potential elements of the local wisdom of the archipelago with Javalore leather products, then produces a draft concept of innovation in leather products. The process of design sketching, to digitizing and making prototype products, in the next stage will be conducted market tests and product feasibility tests. This research method uses descriptive qualitative in the form of data reduction, data presentation, and data verification Product is analyzed to obtain an ideal arrangement of the six basic elements, namely technique, utillity, material, icon, concept, and shape. Macro level is related to broader aspects, namely philosophical values and the meaning of the local wisdom of the archipelago. Adaptation of elements of the local wisdom of the archipelago into Javalore leather products, namely into the functional and aesthetic elements as product innovations that are able to increase the potential or competitiveness of products. The output of the research results from this transforming tradition is a product of skin innovation. Market test results state that products from Javalore can increase market interest by up to 55% (fifty-five percent) and expand market segments by using market mergers. Research also shows that consumers tend to have an interest in products that have a preference for gender, the higher the level of gender identity in a product appears, the easier it is for consumers to be attracted.. Keywords: transforming tradition, innovation, creative economy.