Multiple Store Locations - Advantage?

In real life, there is an advantage to having multiple stores, all of which sell very similar products (think Walgreens) located in convienent spots for customers to shop at.

I've noticed that some stores have multiple locations in SL, as well. Does it really make sense? Do you find that multiple stores generate more traffic and revenue that one store alone?

I'm very curious, as many of the factors that make it necessary to do so IRL do not exist in SL --> In SL, one just needs to teleport - and voila - one is there. But IRL, one must drive, wait in traffic, etc etc...

Looking forward to your perspectives.

I've found it helps. I've been moving to the model of having one main store and several, smaller outlets.

The best thing to do is test it out for yourself. Make sure you label your goods with some kind of tag to identify the selling location or use a vendor (I think Gigas has one like this) that will report the sales location.

Every shop location is another advertising venue. I have some small locations primarily as a place to stick a sign and a notecard/landmark dispenser. Also, more locations means more sales to people who buy on impulse. And some people don't just look in Find for a specific item, they mall crawl instead, looking for something, they don't know what yet. Lots of gift shoppers do that, especially.

Interesting. Thank you for your responses.

When I first opened my store in Miramare, I figured with the Find search engine, people would find my store and come to me.

At some point, a friend sold me land next to Abbotts Aerodrome, so I put up a store. Turns out the store makes pretty good income just from being next to a very visible SL landmark.

The other day I decided to use a little of my extra tier and open a satellite shop in Samoa. It paid for the land purchase within two days.

Not all stores will make money, however. I have had shops in other places that rarely made sales. I do think the SL world is now large enough that having stores in multiple locations can be a good investment.

It depends what you are selling - I try and have stores where people go - but what works for clothes may not work for more specialist items.

It really depends on what ya sell. I sell furry-centric items so it makes sense for me to have shops near where furs hang out. When the Forest opened I put in a shop there and it has done well, the shop in Dusun (the old furry hangout sim other than Lusk) my sales there dropped to nothing where before it was very good. I sold the land and moved on. I had a shop in Centreville mall for 4 months and had just a couple of sales. One of my better shops is on the Pippen Liner Mall even though it is a couple lightyears away from a telehub. Teazers Island has strong sales too. On the other hand, The Edge was a total flop in sales.

Best thing to do is try it and see for yourself. rents aren't usually too terrible in a lot of places. Give it a few weeks and if sales don't cover the rent, move on.