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Towards Competitive Advantage Of Sustainable Marketing: Analysis Of Selected Croatian Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Ariana Nefat

    (Juraj Dobrila University of Pula)

  • Kristina Afric Rakitovac

    (Juraj Dobrila University of Pula)

Abstract

Considering the influence of marketing system on the environment, sustainability and sustainable marketing are becoming an imperative of business performance. The aim of the current paper is to present the theoretical background and to determine, on the sample of top ten Croatian socially responsible firms according to the CSR Index, sustainable marketing approaches and strategies that may be useful for achieving competitive advantage. The present survey-based study shows that firms follow certain aspects of sustainability integrated into their vision or mission and everyday activities. The primary factors of competitive advantage refer to human resources and continuous innovations. The strategy of primary importance refers to differentiation. The firms included in this study mostly consider that their socially responsible behaviour improves their relations with stakeholders. It has been concluded that the above-stated firms, through implementing theoretical suppositions of sustainable marketing, have the potential to achieve competitive advantage through all aspects of sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Ariana Nefat & Kristina Afric Rakitovac, 2013. "Towards Competitive Advantage Of Sustainable Marketing: Analysis Of Selected Croatian Firms," Economic Thought and Practice, Department of Economics and Business, University of Dubrovnik, vol. 22(2), pages 499-514, december.
    • Handle: RePEc:avo:emipdu:v:22:y:2013:i:2:p:499-514
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    sustainability; sustainable development; social responsibility; sustainable marketing; competitive advanatage; business strategies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • M31 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising - - - Marketing
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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