Phases of sustainable development in small and medium enterprise (SME) retail outlets

• Main Author: Brower, Marlon
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 2009
• Subjects: Sustainable development > South Africa > Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality; Small business > South Africa > Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality; Outlet stores > South Africa > Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018506

SMEs play a vital role in the country. For the purpose of the study the focus was on SMEs in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Jurisdiction. Businesses which met the SME criteria (refer to Chapter 1, Section 1.7.1), (Du Plessis, 1996: 162; Marx et al., 1998: 728) were included in this study. The study is formed around the aspects of business which contribute to the growth of the business in the long term. A specific study was conducted on the ethnic entrepreneur and the aspects that influence business growth. There are many factors which influence the growth of the business; for the purpose of this study, a specific focus was placed on: (1) knowledge with regard to business; (2) entrepreneurial culture; (3) brand management; (4) location of the business; (5) business relationships; and (6) cultural influences. These variables will determine how the growth of the business is ultimately influenced. The research can also discover from respondents what they view as important in their lives. The study then goes further to analyse whether the independent variables, as reacted to by the respondents, have a significant or non-significant effect on growth.