Breaking-out? A reconceptualisation of the business development process through diversification: the case of Polish new migrant entrepreneurs in Glasgow

• Published in: Journal of ethnic and migration studies Vol. 44; no. 15; pp. 2524 - 2543
• Main Authors: Lassalle, Paul, Scott, Jonathan M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 18-11-2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: breakout strategies; Business; Constraints; Diversification; diversification process; Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; ethnic market; Ethnicity; Markets; Migrants; New migrant entrepreneurs; polish migrants in the UK; Qualitative research
• ISSN: 1369-183X; 1469-9451
• DOI: 10.1080/1369183X.2017.1391077

This paper examines the business development process of 20 Polish new migrant entrepreneurs in Glasgow, Scotland. Based on a qualitative analysis of their business development activities - including how they broadened their market and product or services offerings - it unveils the incremental nature of this process as a route to break out from the saturated, hypercompetitive ethnic niche market. We, therefore, contribute to debates on breakout strategies to new markets and networks, and on barriers to new migrant entrepreneurs' growth by reconceptualising new migrant entrepreneurs' business development process. To achieve this aim, we propose a novel diversification process theoretical framework to analyse their business development process and specific activities.