Small Business Management 6th Edition by Timothy Hatten

Exercise 11

Jodi has a problem. She has decided to go into business for herself selling used books, videos, music CDs, and DVDs. She lives in a community of about 200,000 in the northeastern part of the United States. No other stores in the area specialize in the used products she will sell. Her community has a large regional shopping center with four anchor stores. Two sites the size she needs (approximately 2,000 square feet) are currently vacant in the mall.
The CBD is thriving, primarily with small, boutique-type stores. The atmosphere is pleasant, with many trees, flower beds, and artistic sculptures lining the streets. The Downtown Business Association does a good job of arranging events like parades and music festivals to draw people to the CBD. One site with 2,500 square feet is available in the CBD.
The community has two primary traffic arteries lined with stand-alone commercial businesses. One stand-alone site is available that has ample parking and a traffic count of approximately 80,000 cars per day passing at 35 mph. This site is the right size, but it is not available to lease; she would have to buy the building. Foot traffic in the mall is the highest, but restrictions and lease payments are by far higher than in the other locations. Not as many people pass by the downtown location, but rent is much cheaper as well.
What additional information would you want to have to make this location decision?