An investigation into the success factors of operating a spaza shop in Hillbrow
- Authors: Kalombo, Fredy Tshiyamba
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Small business - South Africa - Johannesburg , Immigrant business enterprises - South Africa - Johannesburg , Informal sector (Economics) - South Africa - Johannesburg , Success in business
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/478373 , uj:43232
- Description: Abstract: The informal sector in South Africa plays a vital role in reducing the level of unemployment. Hillbrow, close to the Johannesburg Central Business District, inhabits many spaza shops due to the pressure and demand for job creation. This technical report investigates the success factors of running a spaza shop by immigrants in Hillbrow. The study focuses on the factors that sustain the success of the spaza shop in urban areas and the research methodology was used to explain the appropriate approach and data was collected from the African immigrant-business owners in Hillbrow with the help of questionnaires provided to them as voluntary participants. The proliferation of spaza shops in Hillbrow run by African immigrants is mainly due to unemployment. Some possess essential skills that they apply as business principles to run a spaza-type shop or small business as a source of survival or lucrative business... , M.Com. (Local Economic Development)
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Analysing the impacts of e-commerce in South African retail sector: the case of Johannesburg small-medium enterprises
- Authors: Mputle, Imorgen Keetseng
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Small business - South Africa - Johannesburg , Electronic commerce - South Africa - Johannesburg
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/480448 , uj:43494
- Description: Abstract: Before e-commerce, SME retailers remained limited to the local consumers only, a practice that limited their sales. E-commerce is now making it possible for SME retailers to sell their products on a bigger scale with better brand visibility and global presence. E-commerce permits SMEs to sell products at any time anywhere while maintaining minimum operational costs. However, the inability of SMEs to adapt to technology means they will potentially lose out on many opportunities. The research objective of this study was thus to examine the impact of online businesses in the South African retail sector with particular focus on Johannesburg SMEs, as well as to identify the factors limiting the growth of SMEs in Johannesburg. A quantitative research approach was adopted, and data were collected from 101 respondents through structured questionnaires to analyse the impacts of E-Commerce in SMEs in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, RSA... , M.Tech. (Quality and Operations Management)
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Challenges facing Nigerian-immigrant business owners in Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD)
- Authors: Mbakwe, Uchechukwu Solomon
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Foreign workers, Nigerian - South Africa - Johannesburg , Minority business enterprises - South Africa - Johannesburg , Small business - South Africa - Johannesburg , Immigrants - South Africa - Johannesburg
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/474804 , uj:42809
- Description: Abstract: South Africa’s successive post 1994 administration made concerted efforts to address the inequalities and the prevailing high level of unemployment that arose from the apartheid regime. One of the efforts was an approach aimed to promote the development of small businesses which suggests an understanding of the importance of SMEs to the economy as small businesses have been globally recognised as an important part of a solution to high levels of unemployment. However, existing literature illustrates that there are more closures of small businesses than formations in South Africa. This also applies to Nigerian immigrant businesses’ which are predominantly small businesses in Johannesburg CBD. However, there appears to be limited research which aims to ascertain the causes of these failures in Johannesburg CBD. Consequently, this research project seeks to examine the challenges faced by Nigerian immigrant small businesses’ in Johannesburg CBD... , M.Com. (Local Economic Development)
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The adoption of strategic planning practices by retail SMEs in Johannesburg
- Authors: Mashako, Irame Yvette
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Small business - South Africa - Johannesburg , Strategic planning - South Africa - Johannesburg
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/292256 , uj:31757
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , Abstract: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the main pillar of economies around the world. Some evidence exists to prove the important and crucial role played by SMEs in economic growth. Among the multiple types of SMEs, there is one that specialises in retailing activities. Retailing involves all business activities involved in the selling of goods or services to the final consumer for a personal use. One advantage of retailing is that it makes products and services available to customers and clients in terms of distance. However, despite the incontestable importance of SMEs and the numerous roles they play in economic development, they face several constraints that negatively affect their success to perform in a business environment. These constraints include financial difficulties, lack of managerial skills, and lack of access to the international markets. Although SMEs are essential to the economy, many struggle to survive and to develop themselves. Nonetheless, one of the best management tools to face this dilemma has proven to be strategic planning. Such planning helps an organisation to face all the above-mentioned challenges, and allows it to be more proactive. Strategic planning helps as well appropriately allocate important resources and more. The aim of this study was to explore different factors that retail SMEs consider important for the adoption of strategic planning practices in Johannesburg CBD. A deductive approach and a survey strategy were used in this study followed by a quantitative method. Data were collected from 230 entrepreneurs and managers using a self-administered questionnaire from which a data analysis was conducted ranging from descriptive analysis, factor analysis, correlation analysis to regression analysis. The results revealed that there are five factors that retail SMEs operating in Johannesburg CBD consider important in the practice of strategic planning, namely: monitoring and evaluation, competitiveness, staff involvement, financial resources, and technology.
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The economic impact of small and medium enterprises on the local economy of Johannesburg
- Authors: Hlahane, Magdalinah Mmakgantse
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Economic development - South Africa - Johannesburg , Small business - South Africa - Johannesburg
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/292187 , uj:31749
- Description: Abstract: South Africa is facing enormous socio-economic issues which introduce several challenges to the economic growth and development of the country. Amongst these issues is the high unemployment rate of 27.5% (Trading Economics, 2018), income inequality and poverty. In examining the role of small and medium enterprises in local economic development, Ayandibu and Houghton (2017) found that SMEs are more efficient than large enterprises since they use more labour-intensive production processes as compared to large corporations. Therefore, SMEs help to break the cycle of poverty by contributing towards meeting the financial needs of individuals and their families through creating employment opportunities. Governments offer a wide range of support to small and medium enterprises in both developed and developing countries (Hallberg, 2000). Since most SMEs have no access to finance, several economies across the globe have introduced SME financing programmes as mediums of intervention, (Kersten, Harms, Liket and Maas 2017; Quartey, Turkson, Abor, and Iddrisu 2017). Despite SMEs contributing to the local economic growth of Johannesburg, the 2008 financial crisis was detrimental to the economic growth of Johannesburg. As a result of the financial crisis, there was contraction in domestic and foreign demand, affecting employment, exports and sales. It is recommended that the Government introduces support programmes and policies that will help SMEs should there be another negative external shock. These programmes will provide a buffer when external shocks impact the demand of goods and services. Such programmes and policies will also help to prevent many SMEs from closing, thus preventing the loss of jobs as a result. Additionally, more research focussing on the Government support towards SMEs and the impact of external shocks should be undertaken. , M.Com. (Local Economic Development)
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