“Daigou” (代購), a term originally from mainland China, has become a robust industry and novel business model in China for a few years with the market expanding 19 times between 2008 and 2012. Due to government intervention and trust-related problems, Daigou market size has been in decline since 2014 with sales volume of only about 40 billion CNY in 2015 (as compared to 57 billion CNY in 2014). In order to fully understand what Daigou is and how it works, this paper focuses on the Chinese market. The Thesis not only investigates many aspects of the Daigou industry including its key elements, target products, customer groups, market potentials, development trends, and influences, but also sums up all information about the current Daigou market in China and to analyze how its future may be. As Daigou business grows from startup to maturity, different problems and opportunities arise, demanding different business solutions. The change of business models is necessary to suit today’s market needs because what worked a year ago might no longer be the best approach nowadays. The evolution of Daigou is presented by making use of five major business models to show how each business model changed to keep up with the market. The impacts of diverse factors on different business models and to the individuals, community and other businesses, are also covered with the use of literature review, personal interviews and qualitative research.

As estações metroferroviárias sempre fizeram o papel urbanístico de agregar atividades econômicas e sociais nos seus arredores. Contudo, as estações do Metrô de São Paulo foram concebidas visando o embarque e o desembarque rápido de passageiros, e não foi previsto nos projetos o uso de espaços para atividades comerciais no interior das estações ou em áreas agregadas aos edifícios. Na atualidade, em função da necessidade de facilitar os deslocamentos das pessoas na metrópole, as estações devem acomodar outras atividades e serviços que possam agregar facilidades ao cotidiano dos usuários. Assim, verifica-se a ocupação de espaços com comércio e serviços nas estações existentes cujos projetos não contemplaram este uso. Da mesma forma, foram implantados os empreendimentos associados na modalidade de shopping centers em áreas agregadas às estações ou no seu espaço aéreo. A presente pesquisa, a partir de estudos de caso, utiliza-se dos métodos e técnicas de Avaliação Pós - Ocupação - APO aplicados em estações metroferroviárias, focando na utilização de áreas para o desenvolvimento de atividades comerciais. O escopo deste estudo se restringe à análise dos impactos da utilização de espaços para comercialização pós - ocupação dos edifícios. A partir dessa análise, identificou-se as melhorias que podem ser adotadas para os próximos projetos e para as estações estudadas. Foram selecionados os instrumentos que se mostraram adequados para avaliação desses espaços, e após sua aplicação foram analisados os resultados. A partir do diagnóstico, contendo os pontos positivos e negativos, foram propostas melhorias para os estudos de caso e diretrizes para os projetos de novas estações. A utilização de espaços para o desenvolvimento de atividades comerciais nas estações deve ser contemplada no programa arquitetônico, de modo que possa ser considerada nos estudos econômicos financeiros que nortearão os investimentos destinados à construção de uma linha de metrô. / Metro rail stations have traditionally played a role in the urban planning process by contributing to the incorporation of economic and social activities to adjacent areas. However São Paulo\'s metro stations were designed for rapid passenger boarding and disembarking. As such, the original designs did not include the designation of areas within or adjacent to metro stations for retail and service activities. Yet, because of the importance today of facilitating the movement of people throughout the greater metropolitan area, a need has arisen to accommodate retail and service offerings capable of providing users with added convenience. To this end, retail and service spaces have been occupied in existing stations in which the original designs did not set aside specific spaces for these activities. Similarly, shopping centers have been opened in areas adjacent to or above existing stations. This survey drew on case studies to apply Post-Occupancy Evaluation techniques and methods to metro rail stations, with a view to analyzing the use of specific areas for retail and service activities. The scope of the study was limited to examining the impact of using designated spaces in metro facilities for post-occupancy retail and service activities. Through the survey, enhancements to future design projects and existing stations were identified. Appropriate instruments for evaluating the respective spaces were selected and, following their application, the corresponding outcomes analyzed. The diagnostic study, which considered and laid out advantages and disadvantages of the proposal, offers a series of recommended improvements on the individual case studies as well as the project guidelines for new metro stations. Finally, the designation of dedicated spaces for retail and service activities in metro stations should be contemplated in the respective architectural designs as a means to ensure consideration of this important factor in the economic-financial studies aimed at determining the investment requirements for new metro lines.

Este trabalho procura demonstrar que a multifuncionalidade dos centros comerciais planejados contribui de forma decisiva para acelerar a sua consolidação. A parte teórica se apoia particularmente nos trabalhos de Eberhard Ziedler, Heliana C. Vargas, Lucrécia D\'A. Ferrara, Herman Hertzberger, Richard Rogers e Carlos J. L. Balsas. Quanto à base empírica os centros comerciais escolhidos foram estudados a partir de uma abordagem generalista, até uma análise mais pormenorizada, crítica, de quatro estudos de caso (o Shopping Parque D. Pedro de Campinas, o Centro Industrial e Empresarial AlphaVille de Barueri, o Catuaí Shopping Center de Londrina e o BarraShopping do Rio de Janeiro), chegando-se à definição de três fases em seu processo evolutivo: a de implantação, de desenvolvimento e consolidação. A partir da análise dos padrões atuais, foi possível a idealização de um cronograma hipotético de instalação de um centro comercial condizente com a realidade brasileira. Algumas recomendações para um melhor planejamento e projeto foram elaboradas. Ao final, apenas para ilustrar a metodologia idealizada, apresenta-se um exercício de aplicação que propõe um centro comercial multifuncional para a cidade de Maringá - PR. / This text advances the premise that the multifunction of planned commercial centers contributes in a decisive way to accelerate its consolidation. Eberhard Ziedler, Heliana C. Vargas, Lucrécia D\'A. Ferrara, Herman Hertzberger, Richard Rogers and Carlos J. L. Balsas, researches, support the theoretical part. With regard to the empiric basis, the chosen commercial centers were studied from a generalist approach toward a detailed and critical analysis concerning four cases (Shopping Parque D. Pedro - Campinas, Centro Industrial e Empresarial AlphaVille - Barueri, Catuaí Shopping Center - Londrina and BarraShopping - Rio de Janeiro). This leaded to the definition of the commercial centers three-evolution phases: implantation, development and consolidation. The recent standard analysis turned possible the idealization of a hypothetical chronogram viewing a commercial center installation suitable to Brazilian reality. For better planning and design some recommendations were elaborated. Finally to illustrate the idealized methodology, an application exercise proposing a multifunction commercial center to the City of Maringá -PR, is presented.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:19:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007 - Mauricio Maynard do Lago.pdf: 1453290 bytes, checksum: f1ff06a85d47592bda4843eedd2807c8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-07-23 / The Shopping Centers has shown to be the places of safer purchase and to leisure for the populations of the great centers and the cities of the interior that present one sped up growth. The Prompt Shopping Center, situated in the Round city in return in the State of Rio De Janeiro, opted to a organizacional structure that does not benefit its functioning. The present work considers, through the use of consecrated tools of diagnosis, a model of capable organization to make with that the enterprise fulfills its function, that is to offer a space of chances for the storekeepers in it installed, beyond contributing for the development of a strategy model that if adapte the reality of the sector of the commerce, in particular the Shopping Center. It was used for elaboration of this work, the bibliographical research in sites in the Internet for the theoretical recital of the subject in question, complemented with the field research. Of ownership of the gotten information, it was possible to consider a organizacional structure and a model of management capable to allow the Prompt Shopping Center to identify to which its main problems and at the same time to assist it na elaboration of a viable strategy. / Os Shopping Centers t?m mostrado ser os locais de compra e lazer mais seguros para as popula??es dos grandes centros e das cidades do interior que apresentam um acelerado crescimento. O Pontual Shopping Center, situado na cidade de Volta Redonda no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, optou por uma estrutura organizacional que n?o beneficia o seu funcionamento. O presente trabalho prop?e, atrav?s da utiliza??o de ferramentas consagradas de diagn?stico, um modelo de organiza??o capaz fazer com que o empreendimento cumpra sua fun??o, que ? o de oferecer um espa?o de oportunidades para os lojistas nela instalados, al?m de contribuir para o desenvolvimento de um modelo de estrat?gia que se adapte a realidade do setor do com?rcio, em particular o Shopping Center. Foi utilizada para elabora??o deste trabalho, a pesquisa bibliogr?fica em sites na Internet para a fundamenta??o te?rica do tema em quest?o, complementado com a pesquisa de campo. De posse das informa??es obtidas, foi poss?vel propor uma estrutura organizacional e um modelo de gest?o capaz de permitir ao Pontual Shopping Center identificar quais os seus principais problemas e ao mesmo tempo auxili?-la na elabora??o de uma estrat?gia vi?vel.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:23:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elaine Maria Sarapka.pdf: 2953888 bytes, checksum: 20841f0271c1c173789f32fa6126e324 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-15 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / Shopping Centre is an urban facility which that is becoming very important in the cities landscape, during these last forty years in Brazil. Their number has increase significantly and they occupy large parts of the territory and concentrate different activities. This work analyses the impacts of the implementation of shopping centers, in three different ways: the territorial impacts, studying the transformations in the urban tissue relating to the need of road system adaptations for access; and the changes of land use in order to generate densification and gentrification; the social impacts, analyzing the shopping center contribution to the population that although of private character can be used in a public space for leisure and recreation, with quality and safety. Combining commerce and services it offers many possibilities for the daily tasks of the population, as well as it generates employments; the environmental impacts related to the air quality, the solid wastes produced and the noise level. It considers how these aspects can be minimized and which solutions can be transformed into benefits. The identification and analysis of these impacts in the case studies selected, located in Campinas in the hinterland of the State of São Paulo the Iguatemi Shopping, the Galleria Shopping and the Parque Dom Pedro Shopping the intention is to understand the positive impacts and to understand how the urban policy contributes to better urban areas. / O Shopping Center, é um equipamento urbano que tem mostrado expressividade na paisagem das cidades, nesses quarenta anos de sua existência no Brasil, pois além de ter aumentado significativamente seu número, ocupa grandes extensões no território e concentra diferentes atividades. Esse trabalho analisa os impactos resultantes da implantação dos shopping centers, onde se destacam: os impactos territoriais, estudando-se as transformações que ocorrem no espaço físico: quanto à necessidades de adaptações do sistema viário para seu acesso; a sua característica de mudar o uso do solo, e gerar adensamento e gentrificação; os impactos sociais, analisando sua contribuição à população em oferecer um espaço, que embora de caráter privado pode ser utilizado como espaço público de convívio e lazer, com qualidade e segurança. Sua contribuição ao reunir comércio e serviços, agilizando as tarefas diárias da população. E ainda a sua capacidade em gerar empregos; os impactos ambientais, identificando quais são esses impactos em relação à qualidade do ar atmosférico, ao despejo de resíduos e a dispersão de ruídos. Observando-se como eles podem ser reduzidos e como as soluções utilizadas podem ser transformadas em benefícios. Com a identificação e análise desses impactos, aplicados nos estudos de caso escolhidos, que são os shopping centers localizados em Campinas no estado de São Paulo - Shopping Iguatemi, Galleria Shopping e Parque Dom Pedro Shopping - pretende-se identificar os impactos positivos e entender como o poder público contribui para se obter melhor qualidade do meio ambiente urbano.

Trots att e-handeln har ökat under de senaste decennierna, är konverteringsgraden för onlinebutiker inom modesegmentet fortfarande låg. Detta kan bero på det fenomen som kallas “shopping cart abandonment”, vilket innebär att kunder lägger varor i sina virtuella varukorgar men inte sluför köpet. Det finns många anledningar till varför kunderna agerar på detta sätt. En av de vanligaste orsakerna är att det föredragna betalningsalternativet inte är tillgängligt. Eftersom alla fall av shopping cart abandonment innebär en förlorad försäljning är det viktigt för onlineföretag att arbeta mot en högre konverteringsgrad då även den minsta ökningen av slutförda köp innebär en ökad lönsamhet. Därför bör det vara av intresse för alla onlineföretag att upprätta rutiner för att se till att kunderna kommer att slutföra sina köp. Ett sätt att göra detta är att påminna kunderna via e-mejl om produkterna i den övergivna kundvagnen. Dessa mejl kallas reaktiveringsmejl och innebär i grunden att företaget skickar ett mejl till de kunder som övergivit sin virtuella varukorg. Huvudfokus i denna studie är reaktiveringsmejl med syfte att undersöka hur e-handelsföretag inom mode och textilbranschen använder reaktiveringsmejl och om de i så fall sett en ökning i konverteringsgraden. För att uppfylla syftet har två olika datainsamlingsmetoder använts. Först och främst genomfördes ett experiment bland e-handelsföretag inom det valda segmentet för att på så vis få en bild av hur vanligt det är att använda reaktiveringsmejl. Efter detta genomfördes telefonintervjuer med ett antal av dessa företag för att få en mer djupgående förståelse kring reaktiveringsmejl. Undersökningens resultat visar att användningen av dessa e-postmeddelanden inte är så vanlig, men däremot att det är ett framgångsrikt sätt att minska förekomsten av shopping cart abandonment samt öka konverteringsgraden. / Even though e-retail has increased over the last few decades, the conversion rate for online stores in the fashion segment is still relatively low. This might be due to a phenomenon called “shopping cart abandonment”, which means that online customers place products in their virtual carts but never follow through with a purchase. There are many reasons why customers balk before the very last click. One of the more common causes is that the preferred payment option is not available. However, since all cases of shopping cart abandonment mean lost sales, it is important for online companies to work towards a higher conversion rate since even the smallest increase in completed purchases results in increased profitability. Therefore, it should be of interest for all online enterprises to establish procedures to ensure that customers will complete their online purchases. One way to do this is to remind the customers via e-mail about the products in the abandoned cart, which is called reactivation e-mails, and basically means that online companies send e-mails to the customers who abandoned their virtual carts. The main focus for this thesis is reactivation e-mails, with the purpose to examine how online enterprises in the fashion and textile segment use reactivation e-mails and if they have seen an increase in their conversion rate. To fulfill the purpose, companies within the chosen segment that offer online retail to their customers, have been interviewed about the subject and the findings show that the use of these e-mails is an effective way to increase the conversion rate and decrease the occurrence of shopping cart abandonment. Two different methods for data collection have been used for this study. Firstly, an experiment was conducted among e-commerce companies within the selected segment in order to determine how common it is to use reactivation emails. Secondly, telephone interviews were conducted with several of these companies to gain a deeper understanding of reactivation emails. The results of this survey show that the use of these emails is not very common, but it is clearly a very effective way to reduce the occurrence of shopping cart abandonment. It also increases conversion rates and given the relatively low cost to implement, it should be embraced industry wide.

To date much of the literature on consumers' concerns about business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce has described findings from quantitative research. As a result, much of that literature has focused on specific previously-identified concerns (e.g., privacy of personal information, use of credit cards for on-line payment). Also, there has been little research into the concerns of New Zealand consumers, and all of it has been quantitative. In order to gain a broader understanding, this study took a qualitative approach. Three focus groups were conducted, in order to identify consumers' concerns. The concerns that were thus identified were combined with those that a review of the literature had previously identified, and were used to draw up a set of guidelines to be used in semi-structured interviews. Fifteen interviews were then conducted, in order to gain consumers' views about each concern. It seems that at a higher level, consumer's concerns have shifted. The literature suggests that in the past consumers' concerns about Internet shopping have focused on the fact that Internet shopping is conducted via the Internet – as a result of which consumers have, for example, been concerned about the privacy of their personal information ('if I give them my e-mail address, will I get spam?') This study suggests that now consumers' concerns focus on the fact that Internet shopping is a form of shopping – as a result of which they are now only prepared to use the Web sites of 'reputable companies', and they now require to be able to evaluate an item adequately before buying it. And it seems that another result of this is that consumers now expect that the 'reputable companies' whose Web sites they visit will – as a matter of course - address to their satisfaction issues such as the privacy of their personal information. While there are some types of products that consumers are prepared to buy on-line (e.g., air travel), there are many about which they are reluctant. Concerns were expressed about a wide range of potential purchases, and for a variety of reasons; also, some data was inconsistent (for example, some consumers were not prepared to buy clothes on-line, but others were). This appears to be an area in which consumer attitudes are still evolving. It is suggested that it may be helpful for further research on this matter to consider both demographic factors and the degree of consumer involvement in particular types of purchases.

Acoustic design of shopping malls which have become very popular in recent years, has gained importance and it has been considered as an integral part of the design &ndash / construction and life cycle treatment of such complex &ndash / functional buildings. In this study, acoustic qualities of shopping malls are to be inquired by focusing on circulation areas and atrium spaces where noise is one of major disturbances. In this context, first taxonomy of shopping malls regarding their geometrical forms is to be proposed together with plan layouts, construction materials and spatial organizations. Then some of these malls in representing major characteristics of the each class in the taxonomy are to be acoustically analyzed and compared with standards by aiming to provide some guiding principles for acoustical design of such spaces.

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Although culture and subcultural norms have been subjected to increased scrutiny in recent years as explanatory constructs for various dimensions of consumer behaviours, religion as a subsystem of culture has received only slight attention in the marketing literature. The purpose of this study was to examine the religious influences on some selected aspects of consumer behaviour. Utilising consumer behaviour model of retail patronage as a framework, religious influences on the following aspects of consumer behaviour were examined: lifestyle, use of information source, shopping orientation, store attribute importance and store patronage. Consistent with previous research, religion was viewed from two different perspectives namely religious affiliation and religiosity. Religious affiliation is the adherence of individuals to a particular religious group while religiosity, or religious commitment, is the degree in which beliefs in specific religious values and ideals are espoused and practiced by an individual. Fieldwork for this study was carried out in Malaysia where the populace contains sizable percentages of adherents to four of the world’s leading religions, namely Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity. The research data was collected by means of a survey through personal interviews with a structured questionnaire. Out of three hundred respondents targeted, two hundred and twenty-six questionnaires were deemed usable for statistical analysis. Statistical tests were calculated using statistical procedures of SPSS version 11.5. The main statistical techniques used include exploratory factor analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), multivariate ANOVA and multiple linear regression analysis. Findings indicated significant differences between religious affiliation groups in the areas of lifestyle, store attributes and store patronage. Significant differences between religiosity groups were also revealed in the areas of lifestyle, information source, shopping orientation and importance of store attributes. The usefulness of religious variables was further tested using multiple linear regression analysis with demographics and lifestyles were entered as extraneous variables. Results indicated that when the effect of other predictor variables were explicitly controlled (i.e. held constant) during the regression analysis, religious affiliation appeared to influence the perceived importance of store attributes. Intrapersonal religiosity, when controlling for the effect of other predictor variables, appeared to influence the use of information source, shopping orientation and perceived importance of store attributes. Similarly, interpersonal religiosity, when controlling for the effect of other predictor variables, was found to influence the use of information source, shopping orientation and importance of store attributes. Overall, findings indicated that consumer religiosity, as compared to religious affiliation, was more useful in predicting aspects of retail patronage activities. Thus it is suggested that religiosity variable should be given consideration in future patronage behaviour model building and research efforts. The implications of these results for theories of consumer behaviour along with the practical implications of the findings were discussed and opportunities for future research were provided.