Employability in graduates is considered to be an outcome universities should seek to achieve. At the same time, scholars rarely differentiate between “graduateness as a state after the completion of a course, and employability as an...

Retailers have traditionally prioritised younger customers, often overlooking the distinct needs of older consumers. As this demographic grows, it is increasingly important to cater to their shopping preferences. This study explores the behaviours, needs, and challenges of Croatian consumers aged 60+ through qualitative semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that older urban customers in Croatia prioritise quality over price, are brand-loyal yet discerning, and balance price consciousness for necessities with the willingness to spend on desired items. The study contributes to consumer behaviour theory by highlighting older consumers’ selective brand loyalty and self-directed decision making. It expands on ageing population theories by challenging assumptions that older consumers are passive shoppers, emphasising their preference for informed, self-directed purchasing. From a retail strategy perspective, it emphasises experience-based retailing, advocating for enhanced customer service, clear store navigation, and tailored marketing. Practically, our research provides actionable insights for retailers to optimise service, enhance operational efficiency, and improve profitability. Adapting retail environments to better serve older customers can foster a more engaging and rewarding shopping experience, benefiting both consumers and businesses.

This paper explores the role of Communities of Practice (CoPs) as a potential teaching tool to better promote an entrepreneurial mindset, particularly in the context of higher education. Through a systematic review of existing learning theories and the concept of CoPs, this paper identifies the challenges of entrepreneurial education and proposes changes in higher education that focus on creating entrepreneurial awareness, enhancing entrepreneurial competencies and developing students' entrepreneurial identity to foster an entrepreneurial mindset by supporting formal higher education with informal educational practices such as CoPs. The originality of this paper lies in the presentation of the alternative concept of Accountable Entrepreneurial Education. By combining theoretical insights with practical examples, this paper serves as a valuable resource for educators, researchers and practitioners in the field of entrepreneurship education.

The European Commission defines corporate social responsibility (CSR) as the responsibility of companies for their impact on society and the environment. Corporate social responsibility is increasingly becoming a key element of the modern business world, with a focus on integrating economic, social and environmental responsibility into corporate strategies. In the context of economic development, the role of CSR in promoting sustainable development is emphasized from the perspective of business ethics and environmental responsibility. Based on a literature review, corporate social responsibility is conceptually defined and elements, areas of activity and types of responsibility are analyzed. This academic article examines the extent to which gender, age, level of education and income level are related to the understanding of the concept of corporate social responsibility among Croatian consumers. This article also examines whether there is a preference for buying from certain retail chains and cosmetics stores, and it places a special emphasis on the activities in the environmental dimension of CSR and their importance among Croatian consumers. Although the results were obtained using a qualitative method (focus groups) and it is a small sample, it is possible to draw certain conclusions. Gender and the amount of monthly income have no significant influence on the understanding of CSR, while the influence of age and level of education is more present. Those younger than 45 and those with a higher level of education have a better understanding of the concept of CSR. The analysis of the records from the focus groups did not reveal that the amount of monthly income, the age of the participants or the level of understanding of CSR significantly influenced the choice of cosmetics and consumer goods stores. Quality, price and recommendation were found to play a much greater role in customers’ purchasing decisions. Participants with lower monthly income mostly chose BIPA, while those with higher income most frequently chose DM and Müller . Interestingly, all participants older than 45 years preferred Müller . Participants emphasized that both cosmetics chains have recycling programs, participate in humanitarian actions and are committed to respecting human rights and the right of employees to fair wages and working conditions. Participants who were familiar with the principles of CSR mostly chose Lidl/Kaufland, and all of those who showed the highest understanding of the concept of CSR chose these two retail chains. It was also found that participants in these focus groups did not generally rate socially responsible initiatives in the environmental dimension as more important than initiatives at an economic and social level. This research is subject to certain limitations. As it is not possible to make generalizations based on qualitative research, the findings need to be further explored, verified and complemented by some quantitative methods.

Population aging is reshaping retirement trajectories, challenging traditional models that conceptualize retirement as a definitive withdrawal from productive roles. While bridge employment has been widely studied, research has largely focused on former salaried employees, leaving the post-retirement pathways of entrepreneurs underexplored. This qualitative case study research examines how seven retired Croatian entrepreneurs engage in bridge employment (paid or voluntary work undertaken after formal exit from their primary businesses) and how they interpret this engagement in later life. Drawing on Continuity theory, the findings suggest that entrepreneurial retirement is better understood as a process of role reconfiguration rather than role exit. Participants strategically redeployed accumulated human, social, and symbolic capital into advisory roles, mentoring, new ventures, and community activities. Contrary to dominant assumptions emphasizing financial necessity, engagement was predominantly intrinsically motivated, grounded in autonomy, competence, and purpose preservation. The study refines Continuity theory by demonstrating that identity continuity among entrepreneurs is structurally scaffolded through retained ownership, networks, and agency. By situating the analysis within a post-socialist transition economy, the paper contributes to retirement and entrepreneurship research by conceptualizing entrepreneurial bridge employment as a redistribution model of engagement in later life. The findings offer theoretical insights and inform policy discussions on active aging and the societal value of retired entrepreneurs.