Sport Retail and Economic Resilience: Logistics and Supply Chain Perspectives

This study addressed the determinants of performance and competitiveness in independent sporting goods retail, with a particular focus on digitalisation, sustainability, innovation, and risk management practices.Unlike prior research that mainly examined large multinational chains, the article provided original insights into resource-constrained retailers, highlighting how organisational readiness was shaped by structural and managerial factors.The objective was to evaluate the effects of these practices on sales performance, supply stability, and local competitive positioning.Data were collected through a structured questionnaire applied to 461 independent retailers of sporting goods, sports apparel, and sports footwear across Romania.An Ordered Logit Model (OLM) was employed to analyse the relationships between explanatory constructs and performance outcomes.The findings revealed that digitalisation and risk management significantly improved sales and supply stability, while innovation and green logistics primarily enhanced competitiveness.The article contributed theoretically by linking resilience and sustainability debates to small-scale retail contexts and practically by offering actionable recommendations for managers and policymakers.