This study empirically investigates the determinants of convenience store sales and rents by integrating location and spatial characteristics, operational and competitive factors, and demographic and socio-economic variables. Against the backdrop of s...
This study empirically investigates the determinants of convenience store sales and rents by integrating location and spatial characteristics, operational and competitive factors, and demographic and socio-economic variables. Against the backdrop of structural changes in the Korean retail environment since 2020—marked by the contraction of consumer mobility, the expansion of neighborhood-based consumption, and large-scale apartment developments—traditional location-centered approaches have become insufficient to explain the performance of convenience stores. In response, this study proposes a comprehensive analytical framework that jointly examines sales performance and rental structures using actual store-level operational data.
The analysis is based on a balanced panel dataset comprising quarterly observations from 31 convenience stores operating exclusively within the same living area between the third quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2025. Multiple econometric approaches are employed, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, pooled regression models with alternative functional forms, panel data models, and dynamic panel estimation using the system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). This multi-layered methodology allows for a comparative assessment of static and dynamic determinants while addressing unobserved heterogeneity and endogeneity concerns.
The empirical results reveal that convenience store sales are primarily driven by demand-related and operational efficiency factors. Daily customer traffic and average transaction value consistently exhibit strong positive effects across all model specifications, while labor costs, store size, and inventory inefficiencies tend to exert negative impacts on sales performance. These findings suggest that, in a mature and highly competitive retail market, operational precision and demand management outweigh scale expansion or purely locational advantages. Furthermore, dynamic panel results indicate strong sales persistence, implying that accumulated customer bases and past operational performance significantly influence current sales.
In contrast, rent determinants display a markedly different structure. Rental levels are more strongly associated with spatial value indicators such as accessibility, frontage width, local income levels, and competitive structure, rather than short-term operational outcomes. Notably, rent and sales exhibit a bidirectional relationship: higher sales tend to increase rental pressure, while excessive rent burdens subsequently constrain sales performance. This endogenous interaction underscores the necessity of analyzing sales and rents as distinct yet interrelated outcome variables.
Overall, the study demonstrates that sales and rents are governed by fundamentally different decision logics. While sales outcomes are sensitive to operational and demand-side management, rents primarily reflect spatial scarcity and market valuation of location. These findings offer practical implications for store operators, franchisors, and developers by emphasizing the importance of differentiated strategies in site selection, operational management, and rent negotiation. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the dynamic interplay between operational performance and real estate value in neighborhood-based retail environments.