eKourier July 2017

FEATURES What’s In A Location

A catchcry of the real estate industry is ‘location, location, location’, and at Kennards we are no different. When deciding on a future investment and especially in property for either business or personal use, there are certain location aspects to consider before making a decision to buy. Many businesses such as Kennards choose a location that gives them direct exposure to customers in a region. • Proximity - to our suppliers and customer base. • Image - is the area consistent with the image of our Brand. • Growth - we think about whether we’ll need extra space in the future if storage business grows. • Brand exposure - to passing road traffic such as main arterial corners. • Property size - to house a minimum 6000 sqm of development space. • Neighbours - you can smell a McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, Red Rooster. • Close proximity - to large retail outlets such as Bunnings, IKEA, Harvey Norman. • Site zoned - to incorporate a minimum building height 12 metres. Any ideal new storage facility needs to consider:-

who has the same qualified services with more convenient parking. For those storage facilities with internal driveway access, it’s important to manage a customer’s time spent on site. Parking availability outside the perimeter building is therefore of paramount importance. Service and Sales Business services and sales opportuni- ties can be greatly affected by storage centre locations. Selecting a site location should centre on targeted customers (an even split between domestic and commercial areas is ideal), and a prospective storage site should be able to generate walk-in traffic. Foot Traffic For most retail businesses, foot traffic is extremely important. You don’t want to be tucked away in a back-block of an estate where potential storer’s are likely to bypass you. Accessibility Considering how accessible the facility will be for everyone who’ll be using the storage facility - customers, employees, and suppliers. If located on a busy street, how easy is it for customer vehicles’ and removalist vans to get in and out of the parking or storage areas. What sort of deliveries are you likely to receive and will your suppliers be able to easily and efficiently get materials to your business? Trucking companies need adequate roads and loading docks if receiving freight on pallets etc.

public transport or by Toll, Highways or Freeways? • Are complementary businesses nearby i.e. Universities, industry, Shopping Centres? Local communi- ties play an important role in locating a business. • Does the community have a stable economic base that will provide a healthy environment for the business. Being cautious when considering communities that are largely dependent on a particular industry, for their economy may lead to a downturn and be bad for future business growth. • Is the surrounding area ‘run-down’ with empty premises, or is it a thriving hotbed of commercial activity? • Thinking about the workforce availa- bility in the area is also important. What skills does a Storage Team need to operate the business, and are people with those talents available in any projected storage area. Customer Convenience If the business draws customers to a store location, the site must be conven- ient to the customer. The location must be easily accessible and provide the customer with a feeling of security. Parking Ample parking is important for customers and employees. If customers are unable to find suitable parking, they might choose to visit a competitor

• Is there convenient and affordable parking?

• Is the location easily accessible by

8 Kennards Kourier July 2017