This paper aims to provide a better understanding for small companies in the food sector to devel... more This paper aims to provide a better understanding for small companies in the food sector to develop their internationalization effort through event marketing. The main research question of the study is: What is the role of event marketing in the internationalization of small food companies? The empirical study consists of quality interviews that highlight internationalization through event marketing of five small Finnish companies. Christmas markets in Germany are the specific type of events chosen for empirical study. The results indicate that event marketing has the advantage of being a sales tool that combines different promotion activities in a single place and in that sense results in cost effective. The identified goals of the companies for participating in events can be expressed as increasing sales, promoting the company and the products, and networking. For an event marketing project the support from funding institutions and regional public entities are needed.
The aim of this study was to analyze industrial waste utilization in Oulu region, and to establis... more The aim of this study was to analyze industrial waste utilization in Oulu region, and to establish the existence of an environment business cluster in the region. Qualitative interviews were conducted in the beginning of the year 2005. The existence of the cluster and factors affecting it were studied based on cluster- and business theories. Finding and implementing business opportunities and the theory of environmental business was also studied. The present state of the environmental industry in Oulu region was analysed and the possibilities for improvement and adding diversity were investigated through interviews. The following factors effecting on the development of environmental industry were taken into account: markets, legislative drivers, available and non-available resources, the will and the capacity of entrepreneurs to co-operate, grow and take risks. According to the respondents, the main driver of environmental business was European environmental legislation. It has been...
The adoption of European Union’s directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) ca... more The adoption of European Union’s directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) causes essential changes in the field of electronic scrap recycling. In Finland the new legislation was put in force in August 2005. The aim of the study is to discuss the problems of WEEE logistics considering the requirements of WEEE directive. This paper first describes the requirements of the legislation and the current situation of recycling management in Finland. The case study presents how collection of WEEE has been organised in Northern Finland. The problems and challenges of collection phases are discussed and an optimal model for the future is presented. The results prove that logistical costs are high and there are unnecessary handling and transportation stages in the current reverse supply chain of WEEE. The study also shows that legislation constraints, diverse characteristics and reuse value of EEE have an important impact on the strategic priorities of the future reverse lo...
This study is based on the “Accessibility of local and organic food in Northern Ostrobothnia (Ruo... more This study is based on the “Accessibility of local and organic food in Northern Ostrobothnia (RuokaGIS)” project, which aim was to analyse local and organic food in geographic context and to develop their availability and access to markets at Northern Ostrobothnia. The project was funded by European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia. The project covered the period from 1. Oct. 2012 to 30. Sept. 2014. The project combines quantitative and qualitative approaches by applying geographic information system (GIS) based accessibility analyses and structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The aim of the project was to 1) explore areal patterns of local on organic food accessibility, 2) visualise supply surplus and unsaturated demand and 3) recognise factors to develop local and organic food production in geographic context. Due to a long logistic chain of food markets, the empha...
Purpose This paper examines the role of export intermediaries in the internationalization of smal... more Purpose This paper examines the role of export intermediaries in the internationalization of small and medium sized companies in Finland. The empirical study focuses on small Finnish food companies that export to German and Chinese markets. Design/methodology/approach The research method of this study is qualitative. Data is collected through semi-structured interviews with six respondents presenting exporting companies and export consultants. Findings The paper provides an empirical contribution to the food internationalization debate. First, the paper discusses the definitions of export intermediaries and their role in export based on the literature. Second, by examining how Finnish food companies experience the role of export intermediaries, the paper contributes to the current discussion on internationalization modes. The empirical results highlight that export companies need transaction-creating services from intermediaries especially when entering physically and culturally dis...
Purpose of this paper: The amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) will contin... more Purpose of this paper: The amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) will continue to increase, and, therefore, it is crucial to set up efficient collection systems. The main objective of this descriptive paper is to increase understanding of how the reverse logistics of WEEE are managed in a national context. First, the paper examines how the reverse supply chain of WEEE is organized in Finland and Sweden. Second, the paper discusses the structure and efficiency of recovery systems of WEEE based on the literature and the empirical data. Design/methodology/approach: The research is explorative in nature and rests on interviews and a real-life experience founded on the three years experiences from Finland. Findings: Both in Sweden and Finland, the supply chains of WEEE are open-looped so that municipalities, other organisations, and private service providers are responsible for WEEE reverse flow without any involvement of product manufacturers. The Swedish collecting system has been very effective: By owning the total WEEE recycling flow in Sweden, the service organisation has been able to offer practical and cost-effective solutions and optimized transportation from collection points to treatment plants. In Finland, the system is more diversified. The activities of the WEEE recovery business are still an early stage in Finland and, therefore, some inefficient practices still exist. Practical implications: The paper gives insight information of the WEEE collection systems in Finland and Sweden. Originality/ value: Reverse supply chain management has been so far under-represented in the logistics and supply chain literature. This paper complements current discussion.
... paradigm that emphases outsourcing operation networking and agility much discussed the genera... more ... paradigm that emphases outsourcing operation networking and agility much discussed the general level but very little empirical research has been done these issues The main aim the study increase the understanding the evolution process subcontracting chains and explain ...
This paper aims to provide a better understanding for small companies in the food sector to devel... more This paper aims to provide a better understanding for small companies in the food sector to develop their internationalization effort through event marketing. The main research question of the study is: What is the role of event marketing in the internationalization of small food companies? The empirical study consists of quality interviews that highlight internationalization through event marketing of five small Finnish companies. Christmas markets in Germany are the specific type of events chosen for empirical study. The results indicate that event marketing has the advantage of being a sales tool that combines different promotion activities in a single place and in that sense results in cost effective. The identified goals of the companies for participating in events can be expressed as increasing sales, promoting the company and the products, and networking. For an event marketing project the support from funding institutions and regional public entities are needed.
The aim of this study was to analyze industrial waste utilization in Oulu region, and to establis... more The aim of this study was to analyze industrial waste utilization in Oulu region, and to establish the existence of an environment business cluster in the region. Qualitative interviews were conducted in the beginning of the year 2005. The existence of the cluster and factors affecting it were studied based on cluster- and business theories. Finding and implementing business opportunities and the theory of environmental business was also studied. The present state of the environmental industry in Oulu region was analysed and the possibilities for improvement and adding diversity were investigated through interviews. The following factors effecting on the development of environmental industry were taken into account: markets, legislative drivers, available and non-available resources, the will and the capacity of entrepreneurs to co-operate, grow and take risks. According to the respondents, the main driver of environmental business was European environmental legislation. It has been...
The adoption of European Union’s directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) ca... more The adoption of European Union’s directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) causes essential changes in the field of electronic scrap recycling. In Finland the new legislation was put in force in August 2005. The aim of the study is to discuss the problems of WEEE logistics considering the requirements of WEEE directive. This paper first describes the requirements of the legislation and the current situation of recycling management in Finland. The case study presents how collection of WEEE has been organised in Northern Finland. The problems and challenges of collection phases are discussed and an optimal model for the future is presented. The results prove that logistical costs are high and there are unnecessary handling and transportation stages in the current reverse supply chain of WEEE. The study also shows that legislation constraints, diverse characteristics and reuse value of EEE have an important impact on the strategic priorities of the future reverse lo...
This study is based on the “Accessibility of local and organic food in Northern Ostrobothnia (Ruo... more This study is based on the “Accessibility of local and organic food in Northern Ostrobothnia (RuokaGIS)” project, which aim was to analyse local and organic food in geographic context and to develop their availability and access to markets at Northern Ostrobothnia. The project was funded by European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia. The project covered the period from 1. Oct. 2012 to 30. Sept. 2014. The project combines quantitative and qualitative approaches by applying geographic information system (GIS) based accessibility analyses and structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The aim of the project was to 1) explore areal patterns of local on organic food accessibility, 2) visualise supply surplus and unsaturated demand and 3) recognise factors to develop local and organic food production in geographic context. Due to a long logistic chain of food markets, the empha...
Purpose This paper examines the role of export intermediaries in the internationalization of smal... more Purpose This paper examines the role of export intermediaries in the internationalization of small and medium sized companies in Finland. The empirical study focuses on small Finnish food companies that export to German and Chinese markets. Design/methodology/approach The research method of this study is qualitative. Data is collected through semi-structured interviews with six respondents presenting exporting companies and export consultants. Findings The paper provides an empirical contribution to the food internationalization debate. First, the paper discusses the definitions of export intermediaries and their role in export based on the literature. Second, by examining how Finnish food companies experience the role of export intermediaries, the paper contributes to the current discussion on internationalization modes. The empirical results highlight that export companies need transaction-creating services from intermediaries especially when entering physically and culturally dis...
Purpose of this paper: The amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) will contin... more Purpose of this paper: The amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) will continue to increase, and, therefore, it is crucial to set up efficient collection systems. The main objective of this descriptive paper is to increase understanding of how the reverse logistics of WEEE are managed in a national context. First, the paper examines how the reverse supply chain of WEEE is organized in Finland and Sweden. Second, the paper discusses the structure and efficiency of recovery systems of WEEE based on the literature and the empirical data. Design/methodology/approach: The research is explorative in nature and rests on interviews and a real-life experience founded on the three years experiences from Finland. Findings: Both in Sweden and Finland, the supply chains of WEEE are open-looped so that municipalities, other organisations, and private service providers are responsible for WEEE reverse flow without any involvement of product manufacturers. The Swedish collecting system has been very effective: By owning the total WEEE recycling flow in Sweden, the service organisation has been able to offer practical and cost-effective solutions and optimized transportation from collection points to treatment plants. In Finland, the system is more diversified. The activities of the WEEE recovery business are still an early stage in Finland and, therefore, some inefficient practices still exist. Practical implications: The paper gives insight information of the WEEE collection systems in Finland and Sweden. Originality/ value: Reverse supply chain management has been so far under-represented in the logistics and supply chain literature. This paper complements current discussion.
... paradigm that emphases outsourcing operation networking and agility much discussed the genera... more ... paradigm that emphases outsourcing operation networking and agility much discussed the general level but very little empirical research has been done these issues The main aim the study increase the understanding the evolution process subcontracting chains and explain ...
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Papers by Ulla Lehtinen