Riding the waves of social commerce: an empirical study of Malaysian entrepreneurs

The emergence of social media has made it possible for a person with internet connection to communicate with thousands of other people. Because of the heavy usage of social media there is substantial interest in making this medium a commercial site, particularly among entrepreneurs who want to explore the potential of their businesses. Any entrepreneur can experience various benefits and effects from advertising their products and services on social media, including an increase in the number of fans and advertisement views and/or an increase in sales and return on investment as social media channel product and business information to targeted customers at a minimal cost. However, there are limited studies on social media, particularly how it affects business interaction, which formed the focus of this study. Face-to-face surveys were conducted involving 105 Malaysian entrepreneurs who had access to social media. The findings revealed that most entrepreneurs in this study believed that social commerce is the future way of doing their businesses. In fact, they believed that every entrepreneur needs to engage with social media as they would not only allow the entrepreneur to discuss his products and services with other people but also assist him to make vital and critical business decisions

The Rise of ICT for Commerce in Small Product Offerings Case studies from India

The paper makes a case for information and communication technologies (ICT) in small businesses against the broader backdrop of the developing economy of India. ICTs come to India through two routes; the global employment route of IT information companies or the development route of donor-driven services to bridge internal digital divide. Local and context specific ICT based services in small businesses are organic, market-driven and self-sustaining bringing affordable services to hitherto ‘underserved’ and ‘information poor’ contexts. It seems pertinent to ask if ICT as service offerings in small business can sustain and evolve a participatory eco-system resulting in expansion of benefits to the player/entrepreneur and customer/user of technology. From a case-study in urban India we observe that most ICT-based or ICT-empowered businesses, services and products are shaped by two factors 1. The nature of key players driving business 2. Local and evolving customer relevance of the product. The two can combine to produce a third- opportunities that can turn businesses round to a more aggressive consumer oriented service offerings to sustain business and increase ICT infusion into local markets

Emancipation through digital entrepreneurship: a critical realist analysis

Digital entrepreneurship is presented in popular discourse as a means to empowerment and greater economic participation for under-resourced and socially marginalised people. However, this emancipatory rhetoric relies on a flat ontology that does not sufficiently consider the enabling conditions needed for successful digital enterprise activity. To empirically illustrate this argument, we examine three paired cases of UK women digital entrepreneurs, operating in similar sectors but occupying contrasting social positionalities. The cases are comparatively analysed through an intersectional feminist lens using a critical realist methodological framework. By examining the relationships between digital entrepreneurship, social positionality, and structural and agential enabling conditions, we interrogate the notion of digital entrepreneurship as an emancipatory phenomenon producing liberated workers

Artistic Orientation, Financial Literacy, Digital Literacy, and MSME Performance

The limitations of research linking artistic orientation with performance motivate researchers to examine artistic orientation in creative MSMEs. Their uniqueness is that they combine art and economics, resulting in original creations and the ability to compete and succeed in the market. To combine these two things, a performance improvement strategy is needed, among others by increasing literacy. This study examines whether managers perform better artistically and whether financial and digital literacy affects performance. This study uses primary data from questionnaires to 344 creative MSMEs in Yogyakarta. Data analysis using Partial Least Square - SEM results show that artistic orientation has a significant effect on non-financial and financial performance. Financial literacy and digital literacy have a significant effect on financial performance

Entrepreneurial Marketing: Improving the Marketing Performance of the Creative Industry in the Embroider Stitching Sector in West Sumatra

Purpose:  This study's goal is to ascertain how entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation affect Micro Small and Medium-sized Enterprises’ marketing performance (MSMEs).   Theoretical Framework: Entrepreneurial Marketing is used to empower the creative industries as marketing and entrepreneurship are crucial in driving innovation, introducing new products, creating new ventures, and promoting economic development - all of which are key activities in the creative industries.   Design/Methodology/Approach: To achieve the objectives of this study, the quantitative approaches were utilized. The population of interest was Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in Embroider and Stitching located in West Sumatra Province, and a purposive sampling technique was employed to select the sample for this study. Multiple statistical techniques were employed for data analysis, including SPSS and Partial Least Square (PLS) for Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis.   Findings: The study's results indicate that Entrepreneurial Orientation has a positive impact on Marketing Performance. Additionally, Entrepreneurial Orientation has a positive impact on Market Orientation, and Market Orientation has a positive impact on Marketing Performance. Furthermore, Entrepreneurial Orientation has a positive impact on both Market Orientation and Marketing Performance.   Research, Practical, and Social Implications: This study offers theoretical and practical implications for improving the marketing performance of the Embroidery and Stitching industry in West Sumatra Province by applying Entrepreneurial Marketing, through the integration of local cultural values, it is expected that the competitiveness of the region will improve. The expectation is that government policy programs will subsequently stimulate the creative industry's growth in West Sumatra Province.   Originality/Value: This study examines the impact of Entrepreneurial Marketing on marketing performance, while previous studies have examined its impact on the financial performance of SMEs

Craftspeople and Designer Makers in the Contemporary Creative Economy

This open access book explores the experience of working as a craftsperson or designer maker in the contemporary creative economy. The authors utilise evidence from the only major empirical study to explore the skills required and the challenges facing contemporary makers in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Drawing upon 180 interviews with peak organisations, established and emerging makers, and four years of fieldwork across Australia, this book offers a unique insight into the motivations informing those who seek to make an income from their craft or designer maker practice, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing them as they do so at this time of renewed interest internationally in the artisanal and handmade. Offering a rich and deep collection of real-life experiences, this book is aimed both at an academic and practitioner audience