Exploring brand identity and entrepreneurship as drivers of small specialist retailer internationalisation: a German case study

While the comparatively sparse literature on small specialist retailing typically supports a proactive interpretation of the drivers of retail internationalisation, a more differentiated picture exists with regard to understanding the role of the brand construct in this process. The wider marketing literature recognises that brand identity, as well as brand image, can inform the process of internationalisation; yet, research focusing on small specialist retail internationalisation remains underdeveloped in this regard. Neither the notion of a multi-faceted brand concept nor its function as a strategic device in the internationalisation process has been analysed with sufficient depth. Furthermore, a better understanding of how and to what extent brand identity is interdependent upon the characteristics and activities of the entrepreneur is yet to emerge. This paper explores the construct of brand identity and its role within small specialist retail internationalisation, and the related influence of the entrepreneur on the internationalisation process. A case study approach is adopted, examining one German small specialist retailer. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with owner-managers and other senior management, an assessment of company documentation as well as participant observation, providing in-depth insights into distinctive internationalisation patterns. The study finds that a simple ‘either-or’ approach, in terms of characterising the retailer’s motivation to internationalisation as being either reactive or proactive, is inadequate in understanding this particular case. Whilst initial motivation was characterised as being reactive, the motivations underpinning further planned internationalisation are determined to be more proactive. More particularly, analysis reveals how brand identity is considered to play an important role in the internationalisation of the case study retailer, and highlights the numerous ways in which the characteristics and activities of the entrepreneurial owner-managers impact the firm’s internationalisation. This research contributes to retail and management research concerning SME internationalisation as well as to the retail branding literature.     

中部地区中小企业竞争力动态评价

已有的研究文献中对地区中小企业竞争力的评价主要是静态的评价,其实竞争力应该是一个动态的、相对的概念,对地区中小企业竞争力进行动态评价更有必要。通过构建一套度量中小企业区域竞争力的评价体系,并对中部地区6个省中小企业竞争力进行了动态评价。     

我国中小企业现状分析与发展对策研究

中小企业对国民经济的发展起着十分重要的作用。为保证我国中小企业健康、稳定、持续发展,必须从建立中小企业创新机制、构建中小企业良好的融资环境、提升中小企业的国际竞争力等方面制定我国中小企业的发展对策。     

后疫情背景下金融机构开展服务科技型中小（微）企业融资的探索与实践：以浙江为例

由于新冠肺炎疫情的持续影响,科技型中小（微）企业面临着资金周转和融资难的困境,财务脆弱性风险较为明显。这其中既有企业内部的原因,也有社会经济环境、市场状况和金融服务等外部环境因素。本文将对后疫情背景下金融机构服务和促进科技型中小（微）企业融资问题进行理论溯源,并以浙江为例,分析金融机构服务科技型中小（微）企业融资实践中面临的难题,并提出建立风险偿债基金、构建多层次信息平台、将人力资本作为授信额度担保的重要依据、聚焦创新创业生态体系建设等对策和建议,以期助力科技型中小（微）企业“转危为机”,推动投融资服务转型升级。     

中小企业发展的信誉制度障碍

中小企业在我国经济发展中发挥着重要的作用 ,但是中小企业存在的信誉制度障碍会严重影响其发展 ,如何突破这一瓶颈就是应该研究的重点。应在信誉成本这个概念的基础上 ,从供求角度来分析中小企业信誉制度障碍的生成机理 ,并了解中小企业忽视其信誉度的深层次原因 ,从而提出深化信誉制度的策略     

The Role of Location as a Selection Criterion in FDI: The Case of SMEs in Greece

The study examines the internationalization of Greek SMEs in Western Europe and the Balkan area, focusing on the role of location as a selection criterion in their FDI decisions. Data aimed at capturing SMEs’ perceptions with regard to incentives affecting their FDI based on location criteria. We find that location plays a significant role with regard to the benefits that firms gain, highlighting OLI paradigm's theoretical relevance in the examination of FDI, while presenting internationalization trends in the global environment. Findings further contribute to the adaption of effective practices to enhance firms’ competitiveness through more rational and targeted investment decisions.     

全球疫情和经贸摩擦背景下中美服务贸易合作思路与对策

美国是全球最大的服务型经济体和服务贸易强国,中国近年来大力推进服务业开放和服务贸易创新发展,中美两国加强服务贸易合作,符合两国经济产业互补优势和发展战略。近年来,服务贸易在中美双边经贸合作中的地位明显上升,但是相对于两国服务经济和服务贸易体量,中美双边服务贸易合作潜力仍有较大成长空间。但是,当前中美服务贸易面临全球新冠肺炎疫情严重冲击和中美经贸摩擦的双重压力,给中美第一阶段经贸协议项下服务采购计划执行和中美服务贸易合作带来了挑战。在此背景下,中美双方应以共同抗击全球疫情为契机,管控好经贸摩擦走向,为中方进一步扩大服务业开放,挖掘双边服务贸易合作潜力创造条件。     

Credit granting to small firms: A Brazilian case

Transaction costs limit the supply of credit to small and medium-sized firms (SMEs). From a sample of 65,535 SME credit proposals submitted to a large Brazilian bank between January 2004 and September 2006, this research analyzes credit granting decisions. Results suggest that small firms face credit rationing and that low risk credit contracts with liquid collateral are their primary source of credit. Also, the bank captures private information through its lending relationships with borrowers, which affects its credit granting decisions. The findings reveal that the bank under study faces difficulties in expanding the supply of credit to small firms mainly because of cost, collateral-dependency and constraints due to asymmetric information.     

完善中小企业信用担保的实践与思考

我国在中小企业信用担保实践中存在着诸多方面的问题,制约了担保作用的有效发挥,并严重威胁到担保组织自身发展的可持续性。为此,有针对性地提出完善中小企业信用担保的对策,合理构建我国中小企业信用担保体系,扶持和促进中小企业发展是相当紧迫的。     

我国中小企业融资困境及对策研究

我国中小企业融资难,资金紧缺问题严重阻碍了我国中小企业发展,早已是不争的事实。应加快国有商业银行的市场化改革,完善国有商业银行信贷管理体制,建立适合我国中小企业特征的间接融资市场体系、直接融资市场体系、信用管理体系和融资服务配套体系,促进中小企业发展。     

资源匮乏、拼凑策略与中小企业产品创新关系研究

资源对创新的作用研究多集中在资源富余的一面,但是在竞争日趋激烈的今天研究资源匮乏的作用同样很有必要。尤其是,已成为社会创新中坚力量的中小企业在资源普遍匮乏的同时,又灵活通过拼凑致力于创新,分别有研究据此推断资源匮乏和拼凑策略可能引致中小企业创新,但是这些论断尚需细化分析与验证。文章分类分析并以科技型中小企业为样本证实：资源匮乏和中小企业产品创新之间存在显著的倒U型关系;只有选择拼凑有利于中小企业产品创新,并行拼凑的作用恰好相反;连续拼凑负向调节资源匮乏和中小企业产品创新关系,选择拼凑则正向调节这一关系。分类别和多角度探讨资源匮乏、并行策略对于中小企业创新的作用表现是对相关研究的拓展和推进,对理解和促进我国当前中小企业的创新实践也具有参考价值。