For retail network planning analysts, evaluating potential store locations is a complex puzzle. They must balance current operations against future opportunities, protect existing stores from cannibalisation, and build compelling business cases for major capital investments.
At the heart of this analysis lies a critical equation:
Future Sales = Average Spend per Household × Number of Future Households
While loyalty programs and transaction data provide reliable household spend figures, forecasting the number of future households (the population multiplier) requires specialist demographic forecasting that most organisations can't maintain in-house. This is where .id's National Forecasting Program becomes invaluable.
Network planning analysts combine multiple data sources to evaluate locations:
While all these factors matter, the household forecast acts as a multiplier in the analysis.
Think of it this way: if your household count is off by 10%, your entire revenue projection shifts by that same magnitude - even if you've perfectly calculated average spend, drive times, and competitor impacts. This is why analysts and their stakeholders need confidence in how the forecast was developed - it's the number that amplifies everything else in the model.
A typical workflow shows how analysts turn these insights into action:
Maintaining demographic forecasts in-house presents several challenges:
By using .id's National Forecasting Program, analysts can:
The forecasts support multiple stakeholders:
Network Planning Teams:
Property Teams:
Finance Teams:
The data supports decisions across multiple timeframes:
Short-term (1-2 years):
Medium-term (2-5 years):
Long-term (5-20 years):
In our conversations with network planners, they tell us they value having access to a single, credible forecast that represents the most likely future scenario. In particular;
For retail network planning analysts, reliable population forecasts from .id's National Forecasting Program are the foundation of confident investment decisions. By eliminating the need to maintain complex demographic datasets in-house, analysts can focus on their core strength: turning data into actionable insights that drive network growth and optimisation.
The combination of granular geography, nationwide consistency, and regular updates enables analysts to rapidly evaluate opportunities and produce trusted sales forecasts. This not only saves significant time but also provides the credibility needed to support multi-million dollar investment decisions.