Title of e-export trends of entrepreneurs: Obstacles and solution suggestionsthesis

E-commerce has emerged as a new trading method different from traditional commerce with the development of technology and the emergence of the internet. Developing technology and increasing opportunities have increased the share of e-commerce in the total trade volume by improving trading skills. With the development of e-commerce, subcategories have emerged and one of them is e-export. E-export enables international trade and export of products and services abroad in a global world where borders become less important. Entrepreneurs have had the opportunity to reach much larger markets than local markets thanks to e-export. Entrepreneurs who want to increase their profits prefer e-export, which is an easier and more practical method than classical export. However, entrepreneurs face various obstacles when starting e-export and in the ongoing processes. The main purpose of this research is to identify national or international obstacles that new entrepreneurs may encounter when starting e-export or during the e-export process and to offer solutions to these. In this study, new entrepreneurs' perspectives on e-export obstacles were examined and evaluated. In line with the purpose of the research, e-export obstacles that entrepreneurs may encounter were examined within the scope of the entrepreneur candidates included in the research and the perception levels of these obstacles were determined. This research was prepared for entrepreneurs and entrepreneur candidates interested in e-export and the survey method was used as a data collection tool. The fact that the target audience of the research does business over the internet made it appropriate to conduct the survey over the internet. For this reason, the prepared survey was delivered via the internet to entrepreneurs and entrepreneur candidates who carry out or aim to carry out e-export activities. First, a survey was sent to 300 members of a company that provides e-export consultancy and 137 answers were received. 250 surveys were sent to page members who are active in entrepreneurship and e-export issues on social media and 63 responses were received. A survey was sent to approximately 200 students taking international business courses at the university and 112 responses were received. A wholesaler company that markets products to e-commerce companies was visited in the industry and 237 surveys were sent to its customers and 74 responses were received. The survey was sent via e-mail to 150 e-commerce entrepreneurs registered with the Yalova Chamber of Tradesmen and Craftsmen, and 50 responses were received. In total, 436 answers were received from 1137 entrepreneurs or entrepreneur candidates to whom the survey was delivered. 5 of these surveys were not deemed suitable for analysis. When the answers to the remaining 431 surveys were examined, 87 of the participants did not consider engaging in entrepreneurial activity, while 344 responded as entrepreneurs who would engage in e-export. According to the findings obtained from the research data, it has been determined that entrepreneur candidates perceive obstacles in e-export processes arising from marketing and product, country rules, market and logistics factors. It has been determined that the e-export barriers perceived by entrepreneur candidates vary on a factor basis according to the independent variables. These independent variables include the entrepreneur candidates' gender, age, education level, current professions, the province where they will establish their enterprise and the sector in which they will operate, the size of the enterprise and the target international markets. It was determined that the independent variables differ in the sub-dimensions of general perception of e-export barriers, marketing and product, country rules, market and logistics. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, E-export, E-export barriers, International trade