This research aimed to assess the impact of green packaging and green advertising on competitive advantage and business performance of manufacturing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). A research conceptual model was produced to determine the relationships from that model. A quantitative research approach was utilised for this investigation and a simple random sampling procedure was embraced. The target population for this examination was confined to heads of marketing departments within manufacturing SMEs in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The data analysis was done in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 25 for demographic data analysis and AMOS 25 was utilised for the structural equation modelling. The tested relationships produced satisfactory results consistent with how they were hypothesised. Unequivocally, it was discovered that green packaging and green advertising had a positive influence on competitive advantage and business performance. This investigation expands the knowledge base that presently exists in the field of green marketing, competitive advantage, as well as SMEs business performance. Likewise, this examination is important to manufacturing SME proprietors and supervisors since most them endeavour to have a competitive advantage and additionally, to boost profitability, as well as the business’ interest.

The Journal of Business and Retail Management Research

In today’s post-modern era, the role of women entrepreneurs in economic development is inevitable and women are willing to take action in business and contribute to the nation’s growth. Women are stepping up to own and run businesses in numbers that would have been hard to imagine a mere few decades ago. However, women entrepreneurs face a wide variety of challenges both in starting and in growing their business ventures. The objective of this paper is to investigate the challenges women entrepreneurs face in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Exploring the challenges that women entrepreneurs face in South Africa, is of paramount interest to potential women entrepreneurs, researchers, the government of South Africa and other stakeholders. The paper used a qualitative research design using in-depth interviews and focus groups. The findings were that the challenges were identified as impediments to women entrepreneurs, which comprises lack of education and training, lack of access to finance, gender discrimination, negative attitudes and inadequate resources. Recommendations were made to women entrepreneurs, to the government of South Africa and other stakeholders. Lastly, limitations of this paper as well as future research directions were enunciated clearly.

Purpose: This study aims to determine the impact of innovation conviction, innovation mindset and innovation creed on the need for achievement and the success of women entrepreneurs. The study also investigates the impact of entrepreneurial education in moderating the relationship between the need for achievement and women’s entrepreneurial success.Design/methodology/approach: The study used a structured questionnaire and a quantitative research design. Data were gathered from 304 women entrepreneurs in South Africa’s Gauteng province. The data were analysed using smart partial least squares.Findings: The results showed that innovation conviction, innovation mindset and innovation creed have positive and significant impacts on the need for achievement. It was also discovered that the need for achievement and entrepreneurial education have a positive and significant impact on women's entrepreneurial success. Moreover, the results showed that entrepreneurial education had a positive and significant moderating effect on the nexus between the need for achievement and women's entrepreneurial success.Practical implications: By comprehensively examining the impact of innovation conviction, innovation mindset and innovation creed on the need for achievement and women's entrepreneurial success, this study has valuable implications for academics.Originality/value: This research will add to the corpus of information on women's entrepreneurship and small business management in Africa, which is generally overlooked by academics in developing countries.

Acta Commercii is a journal that seeks to promote research within the ambit of management and related disciplines. As such, the Journal endeavors to serve as a platform for refreshingly new and invigorating approaches to, and findings of, research relating to management and associated disciplines. It includes disciplinary, multi-disciplinary and problem orientated work.