A comparison of two retail spheres of influence

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Year 11 MYP Geography

Sphere of Influence Field Investigation

Ms. Papper

Medora Choi 11AM

24th February, 2009

A Comparison of Two Retail Spheres of Influence

Introduction

        The purpose of this study unit is focusing on investigating a low order shop and a high order shop which enhance our knowledge towards the Sphere of Influence. Sphere of Influence is an area or region over which an organization or state disregards cultural, economic, military or political domination. But in this case we are studying, in some areas of habitation of where the customers come from, shopping or retail outlets or indeed destination outlets, have a sphere of influence over towns of certain areas, for example the  (CBD). In order for these shops to open, they have to look at the threshold population. According to Britannica Encyclopedia, threshold population is “the minimum number of people needed for a service to be worthwhile.” In order to fully understand the purpose of the study, it was best for us to explore it ourselves by going to a field study, experiencing it in real life, therefore, we can learn right on the spot. Therefore, with a prepared set of questions, we gathered in pairs and went to different areas in Hong Kong to collect data. For my investigation, I decided on two areas: Christian Dior in The Landmark in Central for the high order store and Wellcome in Causeway Bay.

After collecting all the data we need in both high order shop and low order shop, we all input the information into the Arc GIS map software to create a pattern and help us fully understand the clear definition of the Sphere of Influence.

Hypothesis

        The Sphere of influence is larger for the high order store than the Sphere of Influence for the low order store. Since people need daily necessities often, they travel to the closest low order shop. However, there are only a few stores of each high order store brand. Like Christian Dior, there aren’t any Christian Dior in Repulse Bay or Stanley. Therefore, for the high order shop, people are willing to travel; hence, the Sphere of Influence is larger.

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The range of transportation used to travel to the low order shop is less than the range of transportation used to travel to the high order shop. As I mentioned earlier, when there is a supermarket nearby your residential area every street, you wouldn’t need to take the taxi or the bus to there because it unnecessary as you can walk to the supermarket. And therefore, less transportation will be needed to travel to the low order shop. On the contrary, the high order shop is not seen everywhere and it is not located every street in every district, it ...

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