Location still key in selection of business premises

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In selecting a suitable location for a business, rising transportation costs, including fuel and the proposed e-tolling, traffic congestion and the need for ease of access are just some of the relevant factors that are important.

Supply and demand are influenced by many factors, including awareness of the product or service on offer. However, location has a major impact on all these, even to the extent whereby having good exposure or visibility to passing traffic provides an ideal marketing opportunity that can save on advertising costs. Being in an acceptable location close to suppliers and customers or clients, having ease of access to highways and key transport routes, close proximity to public transport - particularly for staff, good overall security and having sufficient secure parking, all play a significant role in the choice of location.

Depending on the type of business and its target market, comfort factors such as general aesthetics and quality of the building may be relevant. Furthermore, it may be advantageous to be situated close to destinations that have synergies or something in common with the business, eg businesses offering financial services tend to be within easy reach of each other, in well-known nodes. Some businesses may prefer to be close to their competitors because of these nodal factors, such as retailers in high-traffic zones. Consideration should also be given to whether competitors situated close by can be bypassed by customers, so ease of communication with target markets is an important factor.

Restaurants and distribution centres are good examples of businesses that need to be in the right location.

Poor locations affect all business aspects

The immediate and long-term consequences of being situated in the wrong location should be considered. It can result in customers reviewing their source of supply ie going elsewhere, staff may experience transport problems or there may be a lack of suitability on the part of the new location, resulting in low morale and a danger that not all the factors that affect the feasibility of the business are taken care of.

In the end, if the business location proves over time to be a bad one, sound advice is to rather get out sooner than later - if one is an owner-occupier, put the property on the market even if it means a loss and do what is right for the business and its long term sustainability. If one is renting, consider the length of the lease and what the options for relocation are. Some businesses prefer to rent rather than purchase, as it affords them far greater flexibility should their business expand or if their requirements may change in the future. A courier company, for example, may well prefer to rent space - a factor that gives them the flexibility in order to relocate if needed.

If a business is situated in an area that has become run down owing to a lack of service delivery, one needs to try to mitigate the problem. If service delivery is poor, get together with other businesses in the area and be pro-active in trying to find a solution. In rejuvenating a location, one may find a number of landlords in an area or precinct are willing to join forces and perhaps set aside some of their proceeds from rentals for rejuvenation. Good examples of this are The Main Street precinct in Johannesburg and Braamfontein and the successful creation of pedestrian access and rejuvenation of Cape Town's central city.