Main Content
Lembaga Kita Journal Portal
Open Access Articles

Navigating the Curated Economy: An Exploratory Case Study on Business Model Innovation of Independent Coffee Shop Within Urban ‘Third Place’

  • Ninda Rachmawati1*
  • Agung Winarno2
  • Puji Handayati3
  • Subagyo4
1,2,3,4 Universitas Negeri Malang
* Corresponding Author: Ninda Rachmawati

Abstract

This study examines how an independent coffee shop innovates its business model while operating within a curated urban cultural ecosystem, and how such innovation sustains its role as an urban “third place”. Design/methodology/approach: An exploratory single case study was conducted on Titik Temu Coffee Shop in M Bloc Space, Jakarta, Indonesia. Data were gathered over three months through semi-structured interviews (n = 12), 48 hours of non-participant observation, and the analysis of 150 digital and physical archival documents. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis via NVivo 12, following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework. Business model innovation (BMI) was examined along three dimensions: value proposition, value creation and delivery, and value capture. Findings: The case suggests that Titik Temu (1) reconfigures its value proposition through localized “slow storytelling” rather than the prevailing aesthetic template; (2) orchestrates value creation by linking digital community curation with physical events; and (3) captures value through a lean operating model aligned with the hub’s programming. Originality/value: The study extends BMI research to micro-enterprises in curated creative hubs and indicates that innovation in this setting is socio-spatial and context-centric rather than technology-centric. Practical implications: Independent entrepreneurs and hub developers can treat the surrounding ecosystem as a resource for differentiation, while recognizing the limits of single-case evidence.

Keywords

Business Model Innovation Curated Economy Independent Coffee Shops Urban Cultural Landscapes Slow Storytelling M Bloc Space

How to Cite

Citation Format
Rachmawati, N., Winarno, A., Handayati, P., & Subagyo, S. (2026). Navigating the Curated Economy: An Exploratory Case Study on Business Model Innovation of Independent Coffee Shop Within Urban ‘Third Place’. International Journal of Management Science and Information Technology, 6(2), 3077-3085. https://doi.org/10.35870/ijmsit.v6i2.8913

References

16 References
  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
  • Duan, Y., & Sun, Y. (2026). Digital platforms and the shaping of urban cultural landscapes: Spatial differentiation and public perception of coffee spaces in Beijing. Land, 15(8), 1530. https://doi.org/10.3390/land15081530
  • Fang, L., & Slaper, T. (2022). Nowcasting entrepreneurship: Urban third place versus the creative class. Sustainability, 14(2), 763. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020763
  • Ferreira, J., Ferreira, C., & Bos, E. (2021). Spaces of consumption, connection, and community: Exploring the role of the coffee shop in urban lives. Geoforum, 119, 21–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.12.024
  • Foss, N. J., & Saebi, T. (2017). Fifteen years of research on business model innovation: How far have we come, and where should we go? Journal of Management, 43(1), 200–227. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206316675927
  • Gasparin, M., Quinn, M., Green, W., Saren, M., & Conway, S. (2022). Stories of value: Business model innovation adding value propositions articulated by Slow Storytelling. Journal of Business Research, 149, 101–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.04.069
  • Gregg, K., Parker, J. N., Kickert, C., & Trivers, I. (2026). Culture, consumption, and the aesthetic homogenization of independent coffee shops in the United States and Canada. City, Culture and Society, 44, 100692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccs.2026.100692
  • Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage Publications.
  • Matzler, K., Bailom, F., von den Eichen, S. F., & Kohler, T. (2013). Business model innovation: Coffee triumphs for Nespresso. Journal of Business Strategy, 34(2), 30–37. https://doi.org/10.1108/02756661311310431
  • Oldenburg, R. (1989). The great good place: Cafés, coffee shops, bookstores, bars, hair salons, and other hangouts at the heart of a community. Paragon House.
  • Osterwalder, A., & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business model generation: A handbook for visionaries, game changers, and challengers. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Sandikci, Ö., Saatcioglu, B., & Fischer, E. (2026). Creating and maintaining digital third places: Orchestrating interaction ritual chains at a distance. Journal of Retailing, 102(1), 24–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretai.2025.08.001
  • Spieth, P., Breitenmoser, P., & Röth, T. (2025). Business model innovation: Integrative review, framework, and agenda for future innovation management research. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 42(1), 166–193. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12704
  • Teece, D. J. (2010). Business models, business strategy and innovation. Long Range Planning, 43(2–3), 172-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2009.07.003
  • Tracy, S. J. (2010). Qualitative quality: Eight “big-tent” criteria for excellent qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 16(10), 837–851. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800410383121
  • Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). Sage Publications.

Author Biographies

Ninda Rachmawati, Universitas Negeri Malang

Doctoral Program in Management Science, Faculty of Economics and Bussiness, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang City, East Java Province, Indonesia

Agung Winarno, Universitas Negeri Malang

Doctoral Program in Management Science, Faculty of Economics and Bussiness, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang City, East Java Province, Indonesia

Puji Handayati, Universitas Negeri Malang

Doctoral Program in Management Science, Faculty of Economics and Bussiness, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang City, East Java Province, Indonesia

Subagyo, Universitas Negeri Malang

Doctoral Program in Management Science, Faculty of Economics and Bussiness, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang City, East Java Province, Indonesia

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Ninda Rachmawati, Agung Winarno, Puji Handayati, Subagyo

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This is an open-access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction, and adaptation in any medium (even commercially), provided appropriate credit is given to the original author(s), a link to the license is provided, and any changes made are indicated. Authors retain copyright without restrictions and grant the journal the right of first publication as well as non-exclusive publishing rights for archiving, indexing, and scholarly dissemination.

Downloads

OJS UsageStats Plugin
Download data is not yet available.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Contrimetric

Recommended Articles