Retailing and Entrepreneurship Development: Insights from a Developing Country
Rina Makgosa, Olukunle Iyanda, Catherine Phambuka-Nsimbi, Godfrey Themba

Abstract
This study investigates the structure of the retail sector in Botswana and its potential in stimulating entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. The study utilized a descriptive design, collecting data from 227 managers in the clothing, food and furniture retail sectors through a semi-structured questionnaire, personally administered in the respondents’ places of work. Findings demonstrate that the retail sector in Botswana is dominated by small stores with food and furniture stores being relatively larger than clothing stores. Further results indicate that the contribution of the retail sector to entrepreneurship development in Botswana include activities such as informal staff training and development, employment of citizens at decision making levels and advisory support to local suppliers. However, the scale of the contribution is limited by amongst others lack of participation in decision making by citizen managers and the existence of few joint ventures and franchises among citizens and foreign owners.

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