Start a Co-op


Market study

Overview

4 Cornerstones in 3 Stages

Organizing Stage

Feasibility/Planning Stage

What’s the plan?

Implementation Stage

Market Study and Site Analysis

A market study will assess the market feasibility of your new, expanded or relocated co-op food store.

A 2-3 day market visit and site analysis will be followed by a report that will generally be accepted by banks and financial institutions as part of a loan application package. The market study will:

  • Review the site and location characteristics of any possible sites that you have identified
  • Identify and evaluate the competitive environment that your co-op food store will face
  • Evaluate access patterns and levels of retail synergy within the market area.
  • Provide a sales forecast(s) for the proposed site(s)
  • Provide a report summarizing the results/conclusions of the market study

 

Associated Consultants

Debbie Suassuna

Market/Location Analysis, Real Estate/Expansion Analysis, Consumer Research

“ We quadrupled our store size, so banks were understandably concerned with the size of the leap we were taking. Debbie’s market study included a clear statement of the site’s sales potential assuming certain actions on our part. We won over the bank, followed her recommendations closely, and ended up achieving the sales she forecast…almost to the dollar! ”

Chris Dilley, General Manager, People’s Food Co-op of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan

“ Our market study with Debbie Suassuna was right on the money. Even though we were expanding at the same location for our project, the study was invaluable in giving us confidence to go forward with our financial planning for the project knowing the expanded store would truly be able to support the costs involved. We’ve just completed our first year in our expanded store and our sales were just beyond the study predictions. The project has been a huge success and Debbie’s study was key to making it possible for our co-op. ”

Jacqueline Hannah, General Manager, Common Ground Food Co-op

“ Our market study was absolutely integral to our relocation. It was the foundation that allowed us to create a vision. The raw data was the backbone of our financials. The professional report impressed the lenders. Debbie’s work was worth every penny. ”

Margo O’Brien, General Manager, St. Peter Food Co-op, St. Peter, Minnesota

“ We conducted two market studies when we opened our second store. Debbie Suassuna's with CDS Consulting Co-op was by far the more accurate. Her ability to predict the sales potential for our new store, as well as its cannibalization impact on our existing store helped us with our financial planning. More recently we have used her services to help plan for new competitors entering the market. We highly recommend her services. ”

Sean Doyle, General Manager, Seward Community Co-op

Associated Case Studies

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