Analysis Of Marketing Activities Of Small Scale Business Enterprises In Abia State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study examined the Analysis of Marketing Activities of Small Scale Business Enterprises in Abia State, Nigeria. It determine the effect of sales volume on the market performance of the selected enterprises; find out the effect of price and profitability on the market of the selected enterprises. The study made use of primary data which were collected using questionnaire. These collected were analyzed using simple percentages; while the stated hypothesis were tested using multiple regression. After the statistical analyzed, the researcher concluded that product price, market shares, customers satisfaction and sales volume were the significant factors that led to market performance among the selected enterprises in the study area. However, the study reveals that most of the entrepreneurs in Aba state were middle aged people that are married with household size of 5 to 9 persons. They are small scale entrepreneurs who are relatively literature with adequate business skills and experience. That gender, level of education household size, business capital, productivity and profitability rate, interest rate charges were the major determinants in determining the marketing performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Abia State.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title ﾿ Page 

Title Page ﾿ i

Declaration ﾿ ii

Certification ﾿ iii

Dedication ﾿ iv

Acknowledgement ﾿ v

Table of Contents ﾿ vi

List of Tables ﾿ ix

Abstract ﾿ x

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 ﾿ Background to the Study ﾿ 1

1.2 ﾿ Statement of the Problem ﾿ 2

1.3 ﾿ Objectives of the Study ﾿ 3

1.4 ﾿ Research Questions ﾿ 4

1.5 ﾿ Statement of Hypothesis ﾿ 4

1.6 ﾿ Significance of the Study ﾿ 4

1.7 ﾿ Scope of the Study ﾿ 4

1.8 ﾿ Limitation of the Study ﾿ 5

CHAPTER TWO 

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 

2.1 ﾿ Introduction ﾿ 6

2.2     The Concept of Small Enterprise ﾿ 6

2.3 ﾿ The Importance of Small Scale Businesses ﾿ 7

2.4 ﾿ The History of Small scale Business Enterprises in Nigeria ﾿ 9

2.5 ﾿ The Contributions of SMEs to the Nigerian Economy ﾿ 11

2.6 ﾿ Motives for Establishing a Small Scale Business Enterprise ﾿ 12

2.7 ﾿ Limitations and Prospects of SMEs Business Development in Nigeria ﾿ 14

2.8     Government Contributions towards Small Scale Business Enterprises ﾿ 18

2.9     Entrepreneurship and Small Business Failure ﾿ 23

2.10   Entrepreneurial Skills and Small business Development ﾿ 23

2.11 ﾿ An overview of Marketing and Market Performance ﾿ 25

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 ﾿ Research Design ﾿ 29

3.2 ﾿ Study Area ﾿ 29

3.3 ﾿ Population of the Study ﾿ 29

3.4 ﾿ Sampling Techniques ﾿ 30

3.5 ﾿ Determination of Sample Size ﾿ 30

3.6 ﾿ Method of Data Collection ﾿ 31

3.6.1  ﾿ Instrument ﾿ 31

3.6.2 ﾿ Data Source ﾿ 31

3.7 ﾿ Method of Data Analysis ﾿ 31

3.8 ﾿ Model Specification ﾿ 32

3.9 ﾿ Validity ﾿ 33

3.10 ﾿ Reliability ﾿ 33

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 ﾿ Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Respondents ﾿ 34

4.1.1 ﾿ Distribution of Respondents according to Age ﾿ 34

4.1.2 ﾿ Distribution of Respondents according to Marital Status ﾿ 35

4.1.3 ﾿ Distribution of Respondents according to Household size ﾿ 35

4.1.4 ﾿ Distribution of Respondents According to Level of Education ﾿ 36

4.1.5 ﾿ Distribution of Respondents According to Years of Business Experience ﾿ 37

4.1.6 ﾿ Distribution of Respondents According to Earned Income ﾿ 38

4.1.7 ﾿ Determinants of Borrowing Behaviours of Entrepreneurs (Via Sectorial 

Choice Analysis) ﾿ 39

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 ﾿ Summary ﾿ 44

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 44

5.3 ﾿ Recommendations ﾿ 45

References ﾿ 47

Appendix