Internationalization Strategies for Sport Industry SMEs in Quebec

It is widely accepted in Canada that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the engine of the national economy responsible for 98% of businesses and employing more than 10 million individuals. To continue growing and supporting the national economy, SMEs can internationalize to seek increased profits and gain a competitive edge. One industry that can benefit from internationalization is sports businesses. Although technological advancements have created opportunities for sports organizations to enter international markets, sports SMEs still face challenges entering and competing in the global market due to their limited resources and barriers operating internationally. Studies on the internationalization of sports SMEs have shown it has the potential to expand sales and customer base, build competitive advantage, and establish an international position. This is particularly relevant in Quebec, which according to the Government of Canada, is among the provinces with the highest potential to expand into international markets. However, there is a lack of empirical knowledge connecting sports entrepreneurship and international business. This impacts the fulfillment of the potential of Quebec-based sports SMEs. Thus, the purpose of this project is to address this gap gaining a better understanding of the internationalization process and its benefits for sports SMEs in Quebec.

Faculty Supervisor:

William Falcao

Student:

Partner:

Universidade de Brasília

Discipline:

Business

Sector:

Finance and Insurance; Commercial Services; Other

University:

Concordia University

Program: