Why do similar stores always open side by side?

[Mirroredshades]

Why the hell are they always in the same damn places?

Lowes and Home Depot are always side by side. McD's and BK are always on the same intersection.

I have to drive 10 miles to the nearest autopart store. From the same intersection, I could throw a rock and hit Napa, Autozone, Advance Auto, O'Reillys or Quality Auto.


Is the field of market research dead?

[jaxgator]

Originally Posted by Mirroredshades

Why the hell do they always in the same damn places?

Lowes and Home Depot are always side by side. McD's and BK are always on the same intersection.

I have to drive 10 miles to the nearest autopart store. From the same intersection, I could throw a rock and hit Napa, Autozone, Advance Auto, O'Reillys or Quality Auto.


Is the field of market research dead?

Competition, pure and simple. Notice the same thing with banks and gas stations as well.

[lspencer534]

Market research may be dead, but competition isn't. It makes sense to me having similar stores close to each other; If I head to MD's, I might change my mind if there's a BK across the street.

[ChasC5]

Actually because of the market Research they are proximity closer.

No one is going to drive out of their way for variety.

[prospero63]

Originally Posted by ChasC5

Actually because of the market Research they are proximity closer.

No one is going to drive out of their way for variety.

Dang, we have the smart user posting as Chas today.

[ChasC5]

Originally Posted by prospero63

Dang, we have the smart user posting as Chas today.

He'll be back sometime next week.

I'm not telling when.

[Mirroredshades]

I hear what you gomers are saying about competition but why would you choose to compete when there are plenty of places where you wouldn't have any competition.

[ChasC5]

Originally Posted by Mirroredshades

I hear what you gomers are saying about competition but why would you choose to compete when there are plenty of places where you wouldn't have any competition.

Actually I’m glad my Home Depot and Lowes are opposite corners from each other …

Depending on where I’m coming from, sometimes I’m so lazy to wait to make a Left Turn.

Most of the time they both have the same thing I’m looking for ... with Lowes costing less.

Both have idiots as helpers.

[C5SilverBullet]

I wish ours were closer. Lowe's is here in Texas City, and Home Depot is in Galveston. McDonald's is next door to Taco Bell, BK is a mile down the road by Whataburger, and Jack in the Box is another mile, with Wendy's in between. Just put this shit closer.

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by Mirroredshades

I hear what you gomers are saying about competition but why would you choose to compete when there are plenty of places where you wouldn't have any competition.

That would work for about a month. Then your competition would move closer to you.

[CuzzinJack]

This reminds me of a story here in the UK ..

Back in the day the first spare rib take out opened in London and people were saying things like wow look how good it's doin , they're making a fortune , lucky owners etc ..

Someone said the difference between the US and the UK was that in the UK people see the rib joint takeout and are jealous , amazed etc. --- in the US there would be three others on the same block within a week ...

[Kerrmudgeon]

First thing they teach you in economics is the best place to open a widget factory or store is next to another one. People get used to going to that area to get what they're after.

[ChasC5]

Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon

First thing they teach you in economics is the best place to open a widget factory or store is next to another one. People get used to going to that area to get what they're after.

WTF is a Widget?

[prospero63]

Originally Posted by ChasC5

WTF is a Widget?

A honky midget.

[ChasC5]

Originally Posted by prospero63

A honky midget.

[CuzzinJack]

Originally Posted by ChasC5

WTF is a Widget?

Ask Thrakk....

In the meantime ; i think it's that thaing in the base of a beer can that makes it frothy man ..

[ChasC5]

Originally Posted by CuzzinJack

Ask Thrakk....

In the meantime ; i think it's that thaing in the base of a beer can that makes it frothy man ..

You sure that's not spit ...

[mrvette]

Moved here from DC region where that was not so well established as a pattern, probably because it's the most expensive commercial real estate land in the NATION.....

so large tracts are not available for buy up that way, and to boot tightly controlled by the local .govs....

NOW in the outlying areas, I have noticed that here in Florida, have to drive maybe ten miles to either location, but there in the new malls are Lowes/Despot in the same locations.....even appliance chains like HHGregg....

now where first here, there was HD all alone with a failing Monkey Wards next door, and a small Target food store.....soon as Wards went belly up, the brought in the plows...and Target is now maybe 100 acres in size....

3 more depots in easy drive, and Lowes on the next corner just up the block....all of this next to Orange Park Mall, another overdone shopping mall....ALL of this is about a mile or two from my house....

[CuzzinJack]

Originally Posted by ChasC5

You sure that's not spit ...

Could well be with some brands . ..

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Originally Posted by Mirroredshades

Why the hell are they always in the same damn places?

Lowes and Home Depot are always side by side. McD's and BK are always on the same intersection.

I have to drive 10 miles to the nearest autopart store. From the same intersection, I could throw a rock and hit Napa, Autozone, Advance Auto, O'Reillys or Quality Auto.


Is the field of market research dead?

The field of market research is why they are there together.

Demo- and geo-graphic analysis shows the locations with the most likely inclined buyers. So that's where you build your store. If you have intelligent competition who are targeting the same customers, they are using the same info to site their store.

One market research firm I know carves up society into 88 different segments and can tell you not only at what intersection to build your store, but which corner of that intersection will generate the most traffic.