Location, location, location! This is something we’ve all heard at some point in our lives. Whether someone was referring to their favorite ice cream place off Main St. in Williamsville or a good cocktail bar down near the KeyBank Center, the right (or wrong!) location can be extremely impactful on any business. No matter what industry your business is in here in WNY, location should certainly be at the top of your priority list when looking for available office space.
So, what is it that actually makes a location “great?” This could mean one thing for one company, but something totally different for another. Today on the blog, we’re going to break down a few characteristics of an office’s location that you should consider when planning to find your business’s next home. Remember, we have several units available now in our Alberta Sheridan Office Park, made up of 3 buildings in Amherst NY!
Here are a few location considerations you should have when building your business vision.
- Accessibility & Transportation
- Amenities
- Talent Attraction
- Safety
- Flexibility
- Visibility
Accessibility & Transportation
Buffalo might feel like a small town, but if you’re not smart about where you position your office or storefront, you could end up off the beaten path. One of the most important factors in office location is the level of ease to find it, get to it, and ensure that the pathway is easy and simple for your employees and your clients. You know your business, you know if you will need parking for clients and customers. You know if you need to be able to get out to a meeting and hop on the 290. Ideally, if you can find a location that is easy to get to, easy to find, easy to park, and easy to depart, that would be perfect!
Amenities Around
Whether it’s just going to be you, or you and your whole team, find a place that has some good quality places around! This can make a huge difference for you and your employees’ morale. Think about the commute into work, what are you seeing, smelling, hearing as you pull in? How do you want your employees to feel when they’re pulling in or out of work? Be sure to have enough life around that your employees can smoothly run out for a quick bite or run a quick errand. This certainly improves everyone’s experience.
Talent Attraction
Location can attract or deter potential talent from wanting to join your team and stay on your team. Higher-skilled workers will prefer a quality central environment with local culture, entertainment, and amenities around. Without the right location, you may struggle to attract the right talent around you, and if your employees don’t approve of the location, you can’t expect them to stick around for very long.
Safety
This may be obvious, but we can’t omit safety from this list. Safety should certainly at the top of your priority list when planning a new office location! You want everyone who is on the premises, parking lot, and surrounding area to feel safe and comfortable. Safety doesn’t just mean making sure you’re in the right neighborhood. Safety might be related to ensuring a property manager has a good handle on snow and ice removal. Safety might be related to ensuring that your parking area is easily accessible and simple to pull into. It might mean that the parking lot is well-lit, or you have secure access to the building.
Flexibility
One thing to consider that may not be top of mind is the flexibility that a property or building may have in the event that your company changes. This could mean a sole proprietor growing and being able to expand into a larger unit, or it could mean a team of 4 growing into a team of 8 and needing more space. Ultimately, if you can find a quality property manager who gives you confidence that they will work with you to grow as you grow, you’re in a good spot!
Visibility
If you don’t want anyone to know you’re there, then this might not be important, but you should be proud of your business! The right location can shift the perception of your business through exposure and association with a hip and cool area. If you are a storefront, you know ful and well that visibility is paramount to building foot traffic and getting people in your store. Regardless of whether you have a store, a B2C, or a B2B business, brand recognition and getting eyeballs on your brand can be very impactful, and you can accomplish that with a visible spot in a busy location.
Well, there you have it! 6 considerations for your hunt for a new office in WNY! We kindly recommend that if you or someone you know is looking for office space in Amherst, NY, you reach out and take a look at what we have to offer here at Alberta Sheridan Office Park. We have office solutions for everyone, from small Ready2Rent to medium and large offices, to storefront opportunities in a great spot on Sheridan Drive! We look forward to showing you our properties, and good luck!
FAQ
What should I look for when planning my new office location?
The right location means creating a space where your employees and clients feel safe and can access the location seamlessly. It’s important to consider the surrounding area and provide a nice local environment for current and future talent to be attracted to and be able to grab a quick bite to eat or run an errand. Parking and directions should be simple for visitors and clients.