PETCO Improves Location Selection

By Matt Pillar, Integrated Solutions For Retailers magazine

In the context of a discussion about PETCO Animal Supplies' use of GIS (geographic information systems) technology for store site selection, Shawn Hanna is quick to point out that the chairman of his company is an ace at picking winning spots at which to build. "We've historically managed a site selection committee that boasts many decades of combined experience making field-level site selection decisions," Hanna, PETCO's director of financial analysis, explains. "Our chairman is well known for being able to make quick assessments regarding the viability of a location but also has an uncanny ability to remember extensive details about specific sites." That said, the pet supplies store that has ballooned to 950 locations in recent years knew it couldn't bank on one man's incredible intuition forever.