In retail, the old adage is 'location, location, location' – but in today's data-driven world, the real mantra should be 'analytics, analytics, analytics.'
The success of any brick-and-mortar business hinges not just on where you place your next location, but on how thoroughly you've analyzed every factor that influences its performance. Whether you're a retailer looking to expand your footprint or a healthcare provider planning new facilities, the right site selection solution transforms raw data into actionable insights that drive confident location decisions.
In this blog, we'll explore different types of site selection solutions and how Buxton's comprehensive approach helps businesses turn the art of site selection into a science.
Related: When Do Businesses Need Site Selection?
Site Selection Solutions
Think of site selection solutions as your business's GPS for growth – they combine advanced analytics, customer insights, and market intelligence to navigate you toward optimal locations that align with your strategic objectives. But just as there are different ways to reach a destination, there are several approaches to site selection. Let's explore your options:
Site Selection Software
At its core, site selection software puts a powerful analytical engine at your fingertips. These specialized platforms come equipped with relevant metrics, mapping capabilities, and reporting tools. This approach provides both autonomy and flexibility, allowing your team to navigate and interpret market data according to your specific business needs.
With the right software solution, your team can leverage technology to understand data patterns and translate insights into action. It's like having a sophisticated telescope that helps you see opportunities others might miss, empowering you to make more informed decisions about your next location.
Site Selection Consultant
Working with a site selection consultant is like partnering with an experienced guide who knows the terrain. These professionals bring industry expertise and can craft tailored recommendations based on your specific needs. The best consultants offer:
- Deep industry knowledge backed by proven success stories
- Access to comprehensive data sources
- Clear, tested methodologies for evaluating locations
- Strong analytical capabilities
- Experience in your specific sector
Site Selection Companies
Site selection companies span a wide spectrum - from software only, to consultation only, to a combination of both. Consider where you need the most support when selecting a partner and look for an experienced one with a track record of success.
Products and Services Buxton Provides
At Buxton, we've spent over three decades perfecting the science of site selection. Our solutions and suite of software applications are built to answer the critical questions that keep real estate decision-makers up at night:
Trade Area Analysis
A trade area represents far more than just a radius around your location – it's the geographic region where most of your customers live, work, and spend. While defining these boundaries is crucial (whether through visitor pattern analysis or core customer mapping), the real power comes from what you evaluate within those boundaries.
Trade area analysis tools allow you to thoroughly examine key factors within your defined market area. You can identify areas with high concentrations of potential customers, evaluate the competition, spot potential drive-time overlap with existing locations, and find neighborhoods with complementary businesses that might boost your performance. This comprehensive approach helps you understand not just where your customers are coming from, but the complete competitive landscape and opportunity within each potential market.
This evaluation is especially crucial in today's convenience-driven market, where consumers increasingly prefer shorter travel distances for their everyday needs. By thoroughly assessing what's happening inside each trade area, businesses can make more informed decisions about site selection.
Site Scoring Insights
Our site scoring solutions deliver detailed evaluations that go far beyond basic demographics, offering different modeling approaches tailored to your business's needs and data availability. From pre-built industry models that require no historical data to fully custom models that leverage your performance metrics, we provide options for businesses at every stage of growth.
These scoring solutions enable your team to evaluate and compare potential sites with confidence, ensuring each new location has the strongest possible foundation for success whether you're in the retail, restaurant, or healthcare industry.
How Buxton Compares
What makes Buxton different isn't just our technology or our data – it's how we bring everything together to create actionable insights. Here's what sets us apart:
- Proprietary Analytics Platform: Our platform includes applications like SCOUT and Mobilytics that make complex analytics accessible and actionable.
- Comprehensive Data Integration: We weave together multiple data sources to paint a complete picture of market potential.
- Scalable Products and Services: Every business is unique, and our solutions adapt to your specific needs.
- Industry-Specific Expertise: We speak your language, whether it's retail, healthcare, hospitality, or restaurants.
- Proven Track Record: We have over 30 years of partnerships with leading brands.
- Ongoing Support: Our dedicated customer success teams ensure you maximize every insight.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Retail Site Selection
Ready to Get Started?
The cost of a poor location decision compounds over time, but so do the returns on a data-driven choice. Which story will your next location tell?
Buxton's site selection solutions combine relevant data, analytics, and industry expertise to help you write the success story your business deserves. From site selection software to custom analytics, we provide the tools you need to make location decisions with confidence.
Ready to transform your site selection strategy from guesswork to science? Book a demo to learn more about how we can help.
