Market Research Plan Handout
DFW Market Research • Day 1
Store Research Plan
Student Handout
Student Name:
Date & Period:
Store Concept Name:
Today's Goal: Build a list of essential questions you must answer before deciding whether your store can survive and profit in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) market.
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Step 1 — Open & Recap Your Phase 1 Proposal
Pull up your completed Store Proposal and summarize the core details below:
Store Type / Category
Target Customer
Proposed DFW Area
Main Competitor
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Steps 2 & 3 — Think Like an Owner ($100,000 Mindset)
Write 10+ Total Questions Across Categories
Imagine investing $100,000 of your own savings. What must you know before spending a dime? Draft specific questions for each core research category below:
1. Demographics Age, income, population size
2. Consumers & Habits Shopping habits, affordability
3. Market Demand Need, product popularity
4. Competitors Existing rivals, pricing
5. Locations in DFW Foot traffic, retail rent
6. Market Opportunity Your unique edge / gap in market
Turn to Page 2 to explore the Research Source Bank and select your 5 sources. Page 1 of 2
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Sources, Action Plan & Verification
Phase 2 — DFW Market Research Setup
Student: ____________________
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Step 4 — Research Source Bank (Choose At Least 5)
Mix at least 2 different categories
Government & Demographics
- • U.S. Census Bureau (QuickFacts): City population, age breakdown, median household income.
- • Texas Workforce Commission (TWC): Local employment rates and regional wage averages.
- • City Economic Dev. Corps (EDCs): Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, or Plano official growth data.
Location & Traffic Intelligence
- • North Central Texas COG (NCTCOG): Regional transportation and DFW population forecasts.
- • TxDOT Traffic Count Maps (AADT): Daily vehicle volume passing specific retail roads.
- • Commercial Real Estate (LoopNet/Crexi): Available retail storefronts and price/sq. ft.
Industry & Market Trends
- • Trade Associations & Reports: National Retail Fed. (NRF), Texas Restaurant Assoc., etc.
- • SBA.gov & SCORE Dallas/Fort Worth: Small business starter guides and retail benchmarks.
- • Direct Competitor Websites: Pricing, product menus, store hours, and service guarantees.
DFW News & Customer Voice
- • Dallas Business Journal / DMN: New store openings, commercial developments, market shifts.
- • Google Reviews & Yelp Reviews: What local customers love or complain about at rival stores.
- • Local Chamber of Commerce: Community events, business networking directories.
Selected Source & Type
Specific Data / Answers You Expect to Find
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Owner's Dilemma: My #1 Make-or-Break Question
Out of all your questions, which single question has the power to either greenlight or shut down this store idea?
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Step 5 — Before Leaving: Exit Checklist
10+ Research Questions
Recorded across the 6 core categories
6 Core Categories
All headings addressed
5+ Credible Sources
Government, local, industry, or reviews
Phase 2 Doc Created
Titled: Phase 2 — DFW Market Research
Teacher Checkpoint:
Initials: Status: Approved to Research
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