An Analysis of Past, Present and Temporal Changes in Bi-Way's Market Areas for Metropolitan Toronto

Abstract

<p> This research paper looks at the past, present and temporal changes in Bi-Way's market areas for Metropolitan Toronto. Each of the stores trade or market areas was defined by using Thiessen polygons which gave boundaries in which specific census data was collected and analyzed. The analysis essentially three questions; the first being to see if there are any differences between the trade areas of those stores built in the 1970's and those built in the 1980's, the second was to see if there were any changes between the two groups of stores but in terms of 1981 data, and the third was to see if there were any changes between the groups of stores and their changes between 1971 and 1981. The results showed that for thesis number one it was only the 1980's potential trade areas which revealed any specific market characteristics which could be used to define its target markets. The results from the second hypothesis that both sets of stores showed similar and different trade area characteristics and target markets. The results from the third hypothesis revealed that overall the stores built in the 1970's underwent the most significant changes in its market characteristics. Overall however, it was shown that although some similarities and differences came through for these two sets of stores a more indepth analysis is needed.</p>