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Location Planning Analyst, Costco, Watford

Costco LogoSalary: Excellent Salary and Benefit package

Responsible to: Nick Deeks, Director of International Real Estate

Location: UK Home Office, Hartspring Lane, Watford, Herts WD25 8JS


A vacancy currently exists within the Property team at our UK Home Office for a Location Analyst to take the lead in assisting us to identify new sites for warehouse openings across the UK and Europe.

Costco currently utilises CACI location planning consultancy to assist in making location decisions. We are keen to bring the function in house and to begin to fully utilise the value of the systems and data we possess in support of our expansion plans.

The appointed candidate will help us to understand the sales potential of new sites utilising a range of GeoDemographic and consumer data. In addition, the candidate will create formal reports for review by the Board to assist in making key expansion decisions across the UK and Europe.

In addition to office based analysis you will be required to travel from time to time to proposed sites to qualify their potential on the ground. This will include France and Spain to support Costco’s intended expansion.

We would also be keen to apply the selected candidate’s GeoDemographic analysis skills to assist the Marketing Department to ensure we are reaching our target audience.

The ideal candidate will possess solid analytical skills gained ideally through a couple of years working experience within a location planning or analysis environment but not necessarily limited to retail, as we are keen to consider candidates who possess the key GeoDemographic analysis skills from a range of backgrounds.

  • Strong analysis skills
  • Experience of working with a range of GeoDemographic and non-spatial data
  • Understanding of sales forecasting
  • Solid GIS skills
  • Highly numerate
  • Articulate (verbal and written)
  • Can do attitude and a willingness to learn and grow

This is a fantastic opportunity for a location planning/analysis professional, who is looking to progress their career to join a well-recognised organisation and to help shape the site research and location analysis strategy.

To apply for this vacancy please email your CV to Pam Broadhurst, HR Admin Assistant at Costco Wholesale UK Limited on pbroadhurst@costco.co.uk

Retail Location Analysis (RLA) – Finding the locations that matter, 28-30 April 2014

OXIRM RLA training courseThe programme offers managers with oversight of planning, development and site assessment – from retail, consumer service, property and other professional services businesses – the opportunity to explore the latest thinking in retail location analysis. The programme remains the only one of its kind.

Developed markets across Europe continue to experience economic challenges, which have direct effects upon consumers’ confidence and retail spending. Combined with the impact of non-store retailing on established retailers, the main priorities for location analysis professionals will be the continuous evaluation of existing sites, the optimisation of network performance – and, where relevant, the consideration of selective disposals.

We know that all kinds of locations – High Streets or out-of-town – and all sizes of organisation are under pressure. For some businesses, however, exploring the opportunities presented by newly vacated sites, or running the slide rule over potential acquisitions, whether nationally and internationally, is still a real possibility.

We believe that our three-day residential programme is the only one of its kind. Our tried and tested, deliberately small-scale approach, encourages discussion with speakers and individual learning through techniques workshops.

Dr Jonathan Reynolds ran the 2013 programme in tandem with Dr David Rogers from DSR Marketing Systems in the US. Between the two of them they have over 50 years of experience in site location issues. Other contributions were made by visiting practitioners and experts.

And for the third year running, we were delighted that location planning experts from CACI supported the programme.

Sessions offered in 2013 included:

  • Developing a Location Research Methodology
  • The Analogue Method
  • UK store forecasting and location planning: the state of the art
  • Property, economics and retail planning
  • Network rationalisation and research for existing stores
  • Data workshop: new sources, new methods
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Emerging issues in retail location planning
  • Optimising networks in an omni-channel world
  • Retail location analysis in international markets
  • Shopping centres and retail locations: the case of Trinity, Leeds
  • Gravity & spatial interaction modelling in theory and practice

To book email OXIRMenquiries@sbs.ox.ac.uk

http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/ideas-impact/oxirm/education-and-more/executive-education/retail-location-analysis

The Southern Co-operative, Store Location Analyst, Portsmouth

We are looking for a Store Location Analyst reporting to the Store Location Planning Manager.

The job will be based at our Central Support offices in Portsmouth however the successful candidate will be expected to occasionally travel across our trading area.

The role is to provide a professional site assessment service to support growth strategies for the food retail business.

Key Accountabilities:

  • Research and analyse store location potential using a variety of data sources including proprietary censusbased GIS software, society store performance data, and the internet.
  • Generate preliminary sales forecasts – “Stage 1 desktop analysis” – to inform site selection and investment decisions for new stores, refits and store extensions.
  • Carry out detailed site location analysis – “Stage 2 fieldwork analysis” – on designated development projects.
  • Monitor competitor acquisition activity through local authority websites and other on-line sources (eg Planning Portals, premises licence applications, press coverage), identify and escalate potential threats and opportunities.
  • Undertake ad-hoc research and analysis (deskwork and fieldwork) to support retail development activity, including producing documentation for Board submissions or other presentation or reporting purposes.
  • Provide location analysis to support marketing planning for specific stores – eg tactical promotional mailing.
  • Provide admin and project support to the Head of Retail Business Development and development team as required.

Applicants should possess the following skills and attributes:

  • Competent in the use of geo-demographic market analysis software eg MicroMarketer, InSite.
  • Able to apply a variety of modelling and forecasting techniques to explain and predict store performance including “bottom-up” analysis.
  • A pragmatic approach to combining data outputs with observation and experience to produce sound commercial judgments on site potential.
  • A broad understanding of the retail property market and convenience grocery sector including competitor formats and market trends.
  • Degree level or equivalent qualification in geography, town planning, economics or business studies.
  • Ability to communicate with colleagues from different disciplines and work cross functionally.
  • Good numeracy and computer-literacy, competent in the use of spreadsheets.
  • Good geographical knowledge of the UK retail landscape generally and The Southern Co-operative’s target trading territory in particular.
  • Full UK driving licence, prepared to travel across the south of England on an occasional basis, including overnight stops.

If you have the skills and abilities we are looking for we’d like to hear from you.

Candidates are unable to apply online however can visit www.tscjobs.co.uk and download an application form and send it to Michaela Griffiths, HR Administrator, The Southern Co-operative, 1000 Lakeside, Western Road, PORTSMOUTH PO6 3FE.

Please email your CV and covering letter advising your salary expectations to careers@southerncoops.co.uk