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Location is a crucial factor in determining the success of a retailer. The right location can make all the difference in attracting customers and driving sales.
A well-chosen location can increase foot traffic by up to 50% according to research. This is because a prime location can put a store in front of more potential customers, increasing the chances of making a sale.
In fact, a location with high visibility and accessibility can be a game-changer for retailers. It's not uncommon for retailers to see a significant boost in sales within the first year of opening a new location.
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Why Location Matters
Location matters for a retailer because it directly impacts sales performance levels. Assessing the real estate market and submarket of prospective locations provides valuable insights into sales performance levels.
Your location is critical to your business's success for many reasons. Visibility is key, as a convenient location can make your company more visible to its target demographic, directly impacting revenue. Customer connections are also crucial, as operating a business in a convenient location can help you connect with more customers and develop lasting relationships with them.
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According to Statista, in-store and brick-and-mortar retail accounts for 85 percent of total retail sales, demonstrating the importance of foot traffic. If your retail store is in an inconvenient or inaccessible location, you could be missing out on a huge chunk of potential sales.
Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a location for your business:
* Visibility: A convenient location can make your company more visible to its target demographic.Customer connections: Operating a business in a convenient location can help you connect with more customers and develop lasting relationships with them.Employee satisfaction: A convenient site with an excellent atmosphere and location can help keep employees happy.Professionalism: A professional, attractive location can improve your reputation and how customers see you.
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Core of Business Success
Your business location is a crucial aspect of its success. According to Statista, in-store and brick-and-mortar retail accounts for 85 percent of total retail sales, demonstrating the importance of foot traffic.
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A convenient location can help you connect with more customers and develop lasting relationships with them. This is especially true for retail stores, where a good location can make all the difference.
A professional, attractive location can improve your reputation and how customers see you. On the other hand, a shoddier office in an inconvenient location won’t do you any favors.
Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating the importance of your business location:
- Visibility: A good location can make your company more visible to its target demographic, directly impacting your revenue.
- Customer connections: A convenient location can help you connect with more customers and develop lasting relationships with them.
- Employee satisfaction: A convenient site with an excellent atmosphere and location can help keep employees happy.
- Professionalism: A professional, attractive location can improve your reputation and how customers see you.
A retail store’s location may be much more critical than a company’s office headquarters. Consider your customers and employees and how the business’s location will impact them.
Why Location Matters for Your Business
Your business location can make or break your success, and it's not just about being close to customers. In-store and brick-and-mortar retail accounts for 85 percent of total retail sales, demonstrating the importance of foot traffic.
A convenient location can help you connect with more customers and develop lasting relationships with them. Your business location will speak to clients, and a professional, attractive location can improve your reputation and how customers see you.
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Visibility is crucial, as a location can directly impact your revenue. If your business is in an inconvenient location, you could be missing out on a huge chunk of potential sales.
Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a location for your business:
- Set a budget for your business location
- Outline your business's specific needs
- Determine crucial tax implications
- Research government incentives
- Research your target audience
- Research an area's specifics
- Plot competitors' locations
- Analyze individual properties
Understanding your customer base will inform your location decision, and it's crucial to choose a location your target market can easily access or frequently visit.
Core Factors for Choosing a Business Site
Location is crucial to a retailer because it can make or break a business. In fact, a retail store's location may be more critical than a company's office headquarters.
A convenient location can help you connect with more customers and develop lasting relationships with them. As mentioned in Example 5, operating a business in a convenient location can help you connect with more customers and develop lasting relationships with them.
The location of your retail store is the number one criterion to consider when starting a business. This is because the location will decide its success or failure, as stated in Example 2. Beyond the concept of the point of sale, the location is the factor that will decide its success or failure.
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In selecting a space, an entrepreneur needs to decide on a space that will suit their business needs and fit into their budget, as mentioned in Example 6. For instance, one cannot operate without a kitchen if the goal is to open a café.
Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a business site:
Your business location will speak to clients, and a professional, attractive location can improve your reputation and how customers see you, as stated in Example 5. A shoddier office in an inconvenient location won’t do you any favors.
Customer and Community
When selecting a location for your retail business, it's essential to consider the reputation and credibility of the neighborhood. This can greatly impact your business's ability to attract more customers.
A neighborhood with a good reputation can help improve your business's image and increase foot traffic. On the other hand, a neighborhood with a poor reputation can harm your business's reputation and deter customers.
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To determine the demographics of your potential location, check the United States Census information for the desired locations of your business. This will give you an idea of the population, income brackets, and age of the area.
Here are some key demographics to consider when selecting a location:
- Employment
- Marital status
- Parental status
- Home ownership rates
- Discretionary spending versus non-discretionary spending
These demographics will help you understand your target market and provide a more precise location to serve your customers.
Customers and Community
Understanding your customers and community is crucial when selecting a location for your business. It's essential to consider the reputation and credibility of the neighborhood, as it can significantly impact your business's success and customer attraction.
The demographics of your potential location play a vital role in determining the success of your business. For instance, if the average household income is over 50, a business catering to young families may not do well. You can find this information through the United States Census.
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Getting to know your target market is essential to the site selection process. Talking to neighboring small retailers can provide valuable insights into the local community. You can also inquire about demographic documentation through the local library, which can show population, income brackets, and age.
Employment rates, marital status, parental status, home ownership rates, and discretionary spending are all important factors to consider when selecting a location. You can find this information through ongoing surveys and specialty research companies that provide demographic data.
A large amount of research is needed when picking a retail store. Talking to other local businesses and retail store owners can provide valuable insights into the area. You can also obtain demographics about your desired location through the local town library or specialty research companies.
Here are some key demographic factors to consider when selecting a location:
- Employment
- Marital status
- Parental status
- Home ownership rates
- Discretionary spending versus non-discretionary spending
Do Customers and Employees Need Dedicated Parking?
Your business location's parking options can make a big difference in how customers and employees perceive your company. Consider your company's size, as employees will likely need to drive to your location.
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If your employees need to drive, parking availability is crucial. You'll want to ensure there's free, convenient, and accessible parking for them.
The size of your business also affects how many customers you'll have visiting your location. If you're a retail brick-and-mortar store, customers will need easy access to your location. Evaluate any potential location's on-site parking and accessibility to highways and major roads.
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Follow Demand
Following demand is a key strategy for success in retail. Find a retail location that is not surrounded by competition, where you know your product will be in high demand and competition is low, is effective.
Ideally, expanding to a retail location where surrounding shops and businesses are complimentary to yours is a great way to make sure your retail’s location fits into the local market. This approach helps to create a cohesive and attractive shopping experience for customers.
By choosing a location with low competition, you'll have a better chance of standing out and attracting a loyal customer base.
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Find a Safe
Finding a safe location for your retail business is crucial, especially if you'll be operating alone at night. Picking a location with good lighting and security cameras can help deter potential thieves.
Retail locations with high-value inventory, such as electronics or jewelry, are more likely to be targeted by burglars. This makes it essential to choose a location that's easily accessible by police and has a low crime rate.
A safe location can also boost employee morale and productivity. If your employees feel secure, they'll be more focused on providing excellent customer service.
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Competition and Neighbors
When choosing a retail location, it's essential to consider the competition and neighbors. A business that relies on local community support needs to analyze the competitive market.
If you're looking to attract a specific clientele, such as an upscale market, it's best to position your business near compatible businesses. For instance, an upscale clothing store may perform well near a beauty salon.
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A luxury fashion brand may not fare well located beside a discount or slashed prices retailer. This is because the same target market may be drawn to the discount store instead.
Businesses in the same market segment may benefit from being located near each other, as it can draw in a consumer group to the business area. However, if you're looking to dominate the market, it's best to choose a location where you're the primary service provider.
Ultimately, understanding your competition and neighbors can make or break your business.
Accessibility and Visibility
Accessibility and Visibility are crucial factors to consider when scouting out a retail location. A location with good accessibility can make all the difference in attracting and retaining customers.
You want to consider the type of customers walking into your business, not just the number. Business traffic is more than just foot traffic; it's about whether those customers meet your target demographic.
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Do more customers walk or drive past the location? Is the location accessible via public transportation? These are important questions to ask when evaluating a potential site.
Here are some key accessibility factors to keep in mind:
- Do more customers walk or drive past the location?
- Is the location accessible via public transportation?
- Is the parking area accessible to consumers and delivery vehicles?
- Does the parking area have adequate parking?
A good rule of thumb is to select a site with six to eight parking spaces per 1,200 square feet of your building.
Visibility is also a key factor in attracting customers. You want your store to be visible to potential customers, especially if you're operating a retail brick-and-mortar store. Consider the location's proximity to highways and major roads.
A location with good visibility can reduce the need for advertising, as customers are more likely to stumble upon your store.
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Convenience and Costs
Convenience is key when it comes to attracting customers. Stores selling convenient goods thrive in locations with easy access, allowing patrons to make quick purchases.
Consumers will often gravitate towards convenience shops during their commutes, so choosing a space on a heavily trafficked road or transit hub would be the best fit. This makes sense, given the products in many convenience stores cater to the general population.
Routine costs, such as lawn care and security, can add up quickly. You'll also need to budget for heating and air conditioning unit maintenance, painting and remodeling expenses, and property taxes.
Here are some routine costs to consider:
- Routine lawn care
- Security
- Heating and air conditioning unit maintenance
- Painting and remodeling expenses
- Property taxes
An inconvenient location for vendors and suppliers can lead to frequent delays and unhappy customers. This is especially true for businesses that rely on frequent inventory infusions.
Convenience
Convenience is key when it comes to retail sales, with stores selling convenient goods relying on accessible entry to make quick purchases. Consumers will gravitate towards convenience shops during their commutes, so choosing a space on a heavily trafficked road or transit hub would be the best fit.
A convenient location can make a huge difference in attracting customers. According to Statista, in-store and brick-and-mortar retail accounts for 85 percent of total retail sales, demonstrating the importance of foot traffic. If your retail store is in an inconvenient or inaccessible location, you could be missing out on a huge chunk of potential sales.
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A mall space wouldn't be the best fit for a convenience store since many products are of different price ranges than surrounding stores on the property. This can lead to confusion for customers and make it harder for the store to compete.
Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating the convenience of a location:
- Proximity to vendors and suppliers
- Accessibility for customers
- Visibility to the target demographic
- Atmosphere and location for employees
Assessing the real estate market and submarket of prospective locations provides insight into sales performance levels. You'll want to inquire about public disclosed documents concerning the site to forecast traffic and revenue.
Costs
As you start searching for the perfect retail location, it's essential to consider the costs involved. Routine lawn care and security are just a couple of the expenses you'll need to factor into your budget.
Location costs can vary depending on the area, but you can determine rent expenses based on sales projections and leases from similar businesses. This will help you stay on top of your finances and avoid any unexpected surprises.
You'll also need to account for heating and air conditioning unit maintenance, painting and remodeling expenses, and property taxes. These costs can add up quickly, so make sure to include them in your budget.
Here's a breakdown of some of the location costs you may need to consider:
- Routine lawn care and security
- Heating and air conditioning unit maintenance
- Painting and remodeling expenses
- Property taxes
Remember, these costs will vary between now and the future, so it's crucial to stay on top of your finances and adjust your budget accordingly.
Type of Merchandise and Goods
When choosing a retail store location, it's essential to consider the type of merchandise you'll be selling. Surprisingly, specific goods may require looking in certain types of locations.
Convenience goods, for example, require easy access to let customers make a quick purchase. This is because customers won't mind traveling out of their way to purchase these types of products because they can't procure them through convenience or general goods retailers.
Specialty goods, on the other hand, fulfill more unique needs than general-purpose products. These types of stores often perform well near other shopping locations because their offerings complement each other.
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Type of Merchandise
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The type of merchandise you sell can greatly impact where you should locate your store. Surprisingly, specific goods may require looking in certain types of locations.
Convenience goods, for example, require easy access to let customers make a quick purchase. This type of product is best sold in locations that are easily accessible.
Specialty goods, on the other hand, fulfill more unique needs than general purpose products. Customers are often willing to travel out of their way to purchase these types of products because they can't find them elsewhere.
Big-ticket shopping retail stores, which sell items at a higher price that are bought less frequently by the customer, tend to locate their stores far away from their rivals. This allows their customers to compare prices before making a purchase.
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Ongoing Shipments of Goods
If you're running a business that receives large supplies of goods, it's best to choose a location with warehouse storage space.
A business that specializes in shipping and holding goods needs specific structural amenities, such as loading docks.
Easy delivery options for clients and customers are crucial for a business that relies on ongoing shipments of goods.
In the industrial sector, it's essential to consider the logistics of receiving and storing goods, as well as delivering them to clients and customers.
Businesses that need to receive and store large quantities of goods should prioritize locations with easy access to transportation and loading facilities.
Consider a location with warehouse storage space and easy delivery options to streamline your business operations and reduce delays.
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Shopping and Foot Traffic
Retailers need to be located next to shoppers who are the type of shoppers they want. Human traffic is one aspect to consider, but it's not always a guarantee of success.
Retailers should think about their location from the customer's point of view. Greater visibility means less advertising necessary.
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A good rule of thumb is to consider the foot traffic in the area. Visit the location at various times to see how the crowds ebb and flow.
Retailers should aim for between 5 and 8 parking spaces per 1000 square feet of retail space. This will help ensure that customers and deliveries have adequate parking.
Here are some key factors to consider when assessing foot traffic:
- Human traffic
- Public transportation in the area
- Parking for both customers and deliveries
If you're weighing several great business locations, foot traffic may become a deciding factor. Excellent foot traffic can be the crown jewel for specific small businesses, including retailers and restaurants.
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Location Considerations
A convenient location can make a huge difference in your retail business's success. Your location is critical to your business's success for many reasons.
Visibility is key, and a location that's easily visible to your target demographic can directly impact your revenue. A professional, attractive location can improve your reputation and how customers see you.
Customer connections are also crucial, and operating a business in a convenient location can help you connect with more customers and develop lasting relationships with them. A location that's easy to access can make a big difference in customer satisfaction.
According to Statista, in-store and brick-and-mortar retail accounts for 85 percent of total retail sales, demonstrating the importance of foot traffic. This means that a location with high foot traffic can lead to more sales.
Here are some key location considerations to keep in mind:
- Visibility: Choose a location that's easily visible to your target demographic.
- Customer connections: Opt for a convenient location that's easy to access.
- Employee satisfaction: Consider a location with an excellent atmosphere and location to keep employees happy.
- Professionalism: Select a professional, attractive location that improves your reputation.
Sources
- https://mapchise.com/blog/how-much-does-location-matter-in-a-retail-business/
- https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2021/03/03/retailers-must-understand-how-location-affects-business/
- https://www.wdgconsulting.com/factors-to-consider-when-selecting-retail-store-locations/
- https://blog.ankorstore.com/location-choice/
- https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Important-of-Location-Decision-in-Retailing-FKVMCGPFECJP
- https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15760-choosing-business-location.html
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