I’m a sucker for a good business news story, and just came across on in the Asheville Citizen-Times, examining “Why no Bass Pro or Academy sports in Asheville area?” The basics:
The request list goes on: Macy’s, Hobby Lobby, Academy Sports, Bass Pro Shops, Ikea, Zara, Forever 21.
So, why don’t all these retailers just locate here and satisfy the mountains’ voracious shoppers?
The reasons get complicated, but it comes down to the numbers — household income, population density, potential profitability and more — and then finding land, a building and rent that fit the budget.
Some of it also comes from the fact that retailers occasionally overlook or undervalue the Asheville market when strictly adhering to basic data, experts say.
And yes, the best-run retailers have complicated statistical models that predict store profitability.
