Where you choose to locate your retail business will have a major impact on everything your shop does. The difference between selecting the wrong location and the right site could be the difference between business failure and success.
Before choosing a retail store location, define how you see your business, both now and in the future.
What do your customers look like?
Can you visualize your building?
Do you know what you want to sell and what you want your business to be known for?
Have you determined how much retail space, storage area, or the size of the office you need?
Type of Goods
Examine what kind of products you sell, as some goods will require certain types of locations. Would your store be considered a convenience store, a specialty shop or a shopping store?
Convenience goods require easy access, allowing the customer to quickly make a purchase. A mall would not be a good location for convenience goods. This product type is lower priced and purchased by a wide range of customers.
Specialty goods are more unique than most products and customers generally won’t mind traveling out of the way to purchase this type of product. This type of store may also do well near other shopping stores.
A shopping store usually sells items at a higher price which are bought infrequently by the customer. Furniture, cars and upscale clothing are examples of goods found at a shopping store. Because the prices of theses items are higher, this type of customer will want to compare prices before making a purchase.
Therefore, retailers will do well to locate their store near like stores.
Without the answers to these basic questions, it will be hard to find the perfect location for generating the maximum amount of profit for your retail store.
Population and Your Customer
If you are choosing a city or state to locate your retail store, research the area thoroughly before making a final decision. Read local papers and speak to other small businesses in the area. Obtain location demographics from the local library, chamber of commerce or the Census Bureau. Any of these sources should have information on the area’s population, income, and age. You know who your customers are, so make sure you find a location where your customers live, work and shop.
Accessibility, Visibility, and Traffic
Don’t confuse a lot of traffic for a lot of customers. Retailers want to be located where there are many shoppers but only if that shopper meets the definition of their target market. Small retail stores may benefit from the traffic of nearby larger stores.
How many people walk or drive past the location?
Is the area served by public transportation?
Can customers and delivery trucks easily get in and out of the parking lot?
Is there adequate parking?
Depending on the type of business, it would be wise to have somewhere between 5 to 8 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of retail space.
When considering visibility, look at the location from the customer’s viewpoint. Can the store be seen from the main flow of traffic? Will your sign be easily seen? In many cases, the better visibility your retail store has, the less advertising needed. A specialty retail store located six miles out of town in a free-standing building will need more marketing than a shopping store located in a mall.
Signage, Zoning, and Planning
Before signing a lease, be sure you understand all the rules, policies and procedures related to your retail store location. Contact the local city hall and zoning commission for information on regulations regarding signage. Ask about any restrictions that may affect your retail operation and any future planning that could change traffic, such as highway construction.
Competition and Neighbors
Other area businesses in your prospective location can actually help or hurt your retail shop. Determine if the types of businesses nearby are compatible you’re your store. For example, a high-end fashion boutique may not be successful next door to a discount variety store. Place it next to a nail or hair salon and it may do much more business.
Location Costs
Besides the base rent, consider all costs involved when choosing a retail store location.
Who pays for lawn care, building maintenance, utilities, and security?
Who pays for the upkeep and repair of the heating/air units?
If the location is remote, how much additional marketing will it take for customers to find you?
How much is the average utility bill?
Will you need to make any repairs, do any painting or remodeling to have the location fit your needs?
Will the retailer be responsible for property taxes?
The location you can afford now and what you can afford in the future should vary. It is difficult to create sales projects on a new business, but one way to get help in determining how much rent you can pay is to find out what sales similar retail businesses are making and how much rent they’re paying.
Personal Factors
If you plan to work in your store, think about your personality, the distance from the shop to home and other personal considerations. If you spend much of your time traveling to and from work, the commute may overshadow the exhilaration of being your own boss. Also, many restrictions placed on a tenant by a landlord, management company or community can hamper a retailer’s independence.
Special Considerations
Your retail shop may require special considerations. Make a list of any unique characteristic of your business that may need to be addressed.
Will the store require special lighting, fixtures or other hardware installed?
Are restrooms for staff and customers available?
Is there adequate fire and police protection for the area?
Is there sanitation service available?
Do the parking lot and building exterior have adequate lighting?
Does the building have a canopy that provides shelter if raining?
What is the crime rate in the area?
Are there (blue laws) restrictions on Sunday sales?
Don’t feel rushed into making a decision on where to put your retail store. Take your time, research the area and have patience. If you have to change your schedule and push back the date of the store’s opening, then do so. Waiting to find the perfect store location is better than just settling for the first place that comes along. The wrong location choice could be devastating to your retail business.
Source: The Balance
