I believe the core value of the Arc or social enterprise should be taken in consideration when answering the question why we would need them if the United Nations was fully funded. Bill Drayton, Ashoka once said “Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or
teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry.” Donations from non-profits and the UN cannot make a lasting effect in the poor and backward countries, as Arielle mentioned in the article, while practical and modern business skills offered by the Arc or social enterprise can add value to people’s daily life and create economic profit.

In addition, I think the Arc or social enterprise are offering win-win solutions while what the UN do is a unidirectional aid. By participating the Arc or social enterprise, the involvers are either making profits or accumulating experiences related to their careers. Furthermore, the relationship between the students/ social entrepreneurs and the people who receive help with their businesses isn’t an unequal benefactor-dependent relationship. The relationship is reciprocal because they are creating shared values and assuming joint responsibility.

Therefore, the role that the Arc and social enterprise play is irreplaceable and significant.

Inspired by the video on Zappo’s customer service department in class, I am curious how workplace can influence employees’ attitudes and behaviors. After reading a blog post by Sally Augustin, I got a general idea of an engaging workplace and its effects on employees’ work.

In the article, the idea of “chipmunk test” especially impressed me. In general, work environments are made open to increase work related collaboration. However, Sally pointed out that privacy and comfort should be considered into the layout of workplace as “humans are comfortable in the sorts of protected seats”, just like chipmunks in their comfy nest. It is recommended to “tuck small meeting spaces into alcoves off hallways or floors of workspaces” in the blog. Personally, I agree with this statement. To complement my opinion, the isolated and protected meeting place shown in the picture above is preferred to an open and stark one.

I believe that in a rather comfortable and relaxed meeting place, more innovative ideas can be generated. Actually, I think that it is more likely to spawn great ideas during a casual and smooth conversation than during an intense and formal meeting.Therefore, I think this post is valuable and worth thinking about.

Extracting from Neysa Fernanda’s post concerning Apple Pay’s sustainability, I am convinced that Apple should reconsider its value proposition. Meanwhile, I am also interested in the subtle battle between Apple Pay and some of the biggest retailers in the US, who are going to launch their own online payment system using a mobile device.

By doing some more research about CurrentC, I found that it would outweigh Apple Pay in some ways, especially in saving transaction fees for the retailers. In order to win this upcoming battle, I think Apple should take these recommendations:

• Utilize Apple’s Brand Influence & Implant Apple Pay in People’s Daily Life

The concept of mobile payments has been around for some time. However, this method wasn’t that popular until Apple started to offer its own mobile payment, who has a solid customer base. Just like iMessage, iTunes and iCloud, Apple should get people used to their products and services thus creating customer loyalty before the launching of CurrentC.

• Build Points of Difference

Inevitably, CurrentC will be a disruptive innovation as it will be really cheap for retailers. Apple should, consequently, producing more sophisticated services to ensure its market share. For example, fingerprint passwords is an appealing idea considering the safety issues.

In a word, Apple Pay should industriously prepare to face the challenging from CurrentC.

Considering the rising real estate prices in Vancouver, Calen recommended “some sort of screening process for the legitimacy of the buyer” in his blog post. Despite this constructive recommendation, I personally believe that the pros and cons should be considered thoroughly in the long run.

• Analyzing Using A Demand-Supply Curve

Using the tool of economics, I drew a diagram of the possible tendency of supply and demand, based on both facts and assumptions. The demand curve has been shifted out due to the influx of Asian investors. Since the supply is constant, which means the number of estates is unchangeable in a short period of time, the price will rise dramatically from P1 to P2. However, considering the effect of time, the supply will be more elastic, which means more estate will be built in the long run in response to the increasing demand. Consequently, the price will drop to P3, somewhere between P1 and P2.

• Development in Real Estate Industry

Although the money flow from the Asian investors jacked up the house prices, it accelerated the development of the real estate industry in Vancouver. In the meanwhile, more tax revenue was generated by the trading of luxury houses.

Therefore, I think there is no need worrying too much about the rising house prices in Vancouver.

According to the article, Target is closing as many stores as it has opened last year. Despite the data breach problem, Target together with other big-box retailers are facing troubles that shoppers turn to smaller stores and e-commerce sites.

Nowadays, people change their way of shopping. In the past, the consumer said,”I would like to feel the products before I buy them.” However, people would rather read the reviews and the rates online to decide whether to buy the products or not. It is not only because of the rapid development in e-commerce sites but also due to the accessibility of the Internet.

Although many big-box retailers such as Target and Walmart also has their own online stores, I can’t see the outstanding differences between these websites and Amazon. My recommendation is that big-box retailers should offer free shipping on every order. The costs are affordable due to their widespread warehouses. What’s more, the days of inventory can be shortened by incenting online shopping with free shipping. In a word, it’s a profitable and competitive strategy.

Best Buy turns the watering holes to be the showrooms of their new 4K TVs, which they believe will “plant the seed for a possible sale — and a lucrative one at that”. Despite the stagnant TV market, Best Buy think these Ultrahigh-definition TVs will be a “game changer” due to its innovation.

• Great Marketing Strategy

From my point of view, the strategy of hitting the bars to pitch sales can be categorized as a “Focus Strategy”, as it concentrates on the sport fans gathering in the bars and their products are unique with their high-edge technology.  Also, it is also a strategy with rather low costs that Best Buy can probably exchange their free 4K TVS with the bar showroom rentals in the watering holes. In addition, it tries to educate the potential consumers about what 4K or UHD stands for, which also saves money in publicity of the new products.

• The worthy reference of this strategy

Undoubtedly, the idea of moving the showrooms outside the stores to other places that are closer to potential customers is brilliant and is of great significance to the market popularization. Instead of merely staying in the stores and promoting the products to the customers walking in, businesses should break model conventions and actively approaches their potential customers who otherwise will not step into the stores.