Innovative Strategies for Small Retail Companies' Sustainability

Forty-one percent of small American retail companies fail to succeed beyond 5 years. The purpose of this multiple case study is to explore strategies small retail business owners need for sustainability beyond 5 years. This study's data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 4 small successful retail business owners located in the United States southeastern region. Based on the conceptual framework of Schumpeter’s innovation theory, the paper provides 3 strategies that may prevent failure and lead to small business sustainability: passion and determination, market development and customer satisfaction, and business model innovation.