Methods and apparatus to identify local trade areas

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to identify local trade areas are disclosed. An example method includes selecting, with a processor, census block groups (CBGs) associated with a retailer location, identifying, with the processor, a plurality of stores within the selected CBGs and associated all commodities volume (ACV) values for respective ones of the plurality of stores, calculating, with the processor, similarity index values associated with respective pairs of the plurality of stores, generating, with the processor, local trade areas (LTAs) of subgroups of the plurality of stores based on a comparison of the similarity index values to a similarity threshold value, and when a respective one of the LTAs includes a violation of a releasability criterion, preventing, with the processor, erroneous disclosure of market share information by re-distributing the stores within the respective one of the LTAs to a geographically adjacent LTA.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus to identify a local trade area (LTA), the apparatus comprising:
 means for determining a similarity index to determine similarity index values associated with respective pairs of stores associated with a retailer location;   means for building a local trade area to generate local trade areas (LTAs) of subgroups of stores corresponding to the retailer location based on a comparison of the similarity index values to a similarity threshold value; and   means for managing a release requirement to, when a respective one of the LTAs does not satisfy a releasability threshold, prevent erroneous disclosure of market share information by re-distributing the stores within the respective one of the LTAs to a geographically adjacent LTA.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 29 , further including:
 means for interfacing a census block group (CBG) to select census block groups (CBGs) associated with the retailer location; and   means for interfacing an all commodities volume to identify (a) the stores within the selected CBGs and (b) identify associated all commodities volume (ACV) values for respective ones of the stores.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 30 , wherein the similarity index determining means is to calculate the similarity index values based on a ratio of (a) a sum of ACV values of respective pairs of the stores that share a common CBG and (b) a sum of ACV values of the respective pairs of the stores from all CBGs in which they contribute. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 29 , further including means for calculating an LTA to calculate a geographical center of the LTAs, the geographical center based on geographical coordinates of the subgroups of the stores. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 29 , wherein the releasability threshold represents a store sales amount within a geographical area defined by one of the LTAs. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 29 , wherein the release requirement managing means is to re-distribute to two or more geographically adjacent LTAs. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 34 , further including means for calculating a market share to verify the two or more geographically adjacent LTAs satisfy the releasability threshold by re-calculating a market share value of respective stores in the two or more geographically adjacent LTAs. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 29 , wherein the local trade area building means is to identify the geographically adjacent LTA as ready for syndicated distribution when the releasability threshold is not violated. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus to identify a local trade area (LTA), the apparatus comprising:
 a similarity index engine to determine similarity index values associated with respective pairs of stores associated with a retailer location;   a local trade area builder to generate local trade areas (LTAs) of subgroups of stores corresponding to the retailer location based on a comparison of the similarity index values to a similarity threshold value; and   a release requirement manager to, when a respective one of the LTAs does not satisfy a releasability threshold, prevent erroneous disclosure of market share information criterion by re-distributing the stores within the respective one of the LTAs to a geographically adjacent LTA, at least one of the similarity index engine, the local trading area building, and the release requirement manager including a logic circuit.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 37 , further including:
 a census block group (CBG) interface to select CBGs associated with the retailer location; and   an all commodities volume (ACV) interface to:
 (a) identify the stores within the selected CBGs; and 
 (b) identify associated ACV values for respective ones of the stores. 
   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 38 , wherein the similarity index engine is to calculate the similarity index values based on a ratio of (a) a sum of ACV values of respective pairs of the stores that share a common CBG and (b) a sum of ACV values of the respective pairs of the stores from all CBGs in which they contribute. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 37 , further including an LTA spatial engine to calculate a geographical center of the LTAs, the geographical center based on geographical coordinates of the subgroups of the stores. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 37 , wherein the releasability threshold represents a store sales amount within a geographical area defined by one of the LTAs. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 37 , wherein the release requirement manager is to re-distribute to two or more geographically adjacent LTAs. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 42 , further including a market share calculator to verify the two or more geographically adjacent LTAs satisfy the releasability threshold by re-calculating a market share value of respective stores in the two or more geographically adjacent LTAs. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 37 , wherein the local trade area builder is to identify the geographically adjacent LTA as ready for syndicated distribution when the releasability threshold is not violated. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 37 , further including a shape file generator to generate a distribution shape file of the geographically adjacent LTAs. 
     
     
         46 . A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to, at least:
 determine similarity index values associated with respective pairs of stores associated with a retailer location;   generate local trade areas (LTAs) of subgroups of stores corresponding to the retailer location based on a comparison of the similarity index values to a similarity threshold value; and   when a respective one of the LTAs does not satisfy a releasability threshold, prevent erroneous disclosure of market share information by re-distributing the stores within the respective one of the LTAs to a geographically adjacent LTA.   
     
     
         47 . The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in  claim 46 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:
 select census block groups (CBGs) associated with the retailer location;   identify (a) stores within the selected CBGs and (b) identify associated all commodities volume (ACV) values for respective ones of the stores.   
     
     
         48 . The tangible computer-readable storage medium as defined in  claim 47 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to calculate the similarity index values based on a ratio of (a) a sum of ACV values of respective pairs of the stores that share a common CBG and (b) a sum of ACV values of the respective pairs of the stores from all CBGs in which they contribute.