Patent ID: 7991638

Claim:
One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-usable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, enable a given computer to perform a method of presenting information that is useable to help identify a prospective location of a physical retail store, the method comprising: receiving customer-demographic information that includes customer point locations, each of which indicates a geographic point location of a customer who is within a given geographic area; creating a buffer zone of at least a minimum radius around each of said customer point locations; combining on the given computer said buffer zone for each of said customer point locations to form at least one aggregated area, which is characterized by a perimeter; defining at least one polygon using the perimeter; and displaying said at least one polygon to represent a trade area, at least a portion of which is within said given geographic area (1) wherein said at least one polygon indicates customers who have the potential to be served by the particular retail store, and (2) wherein said displaying includes visually enhancing said polygon to depict attributes of said trade area that assist with determining said prospective location of said physical retail store.