COMMERCIAL TENANTS: Growing up in the 'burbs

Finding the right location is often the hardest and most crucial decision a business can make, according to Sue Kamjorn, president of Kamjorn Inc., a local residential and commercial realty firm.

She said for a retail client, the choice can literally decide whether or not the business survives. Retailers need a location with lots of traffic, high visibility, easy access, suitable demographics in the surrounding area and, of course, an affordable lease.

As one of her clients can attest, having room to grow is another consideration.

Asian Images, a home furnishings and design store based in Henderson, opened at the Galleria at Sunset mall. Business was brisk at the mall location, but it had one drawback -- too small.

Store manager and co-owner Tommy Anantasilp said the unique nature of the items he sells -- furniture made from centuries-old teakwood and original artwork and handicrafts from Thailand -- relies heavily on customers seeing the goods to appreciate them. Anantasilp loved his location, but he needed more room to show off his wares.

"We do custom orders, so we attract homeowners looking for something different, or unique pieces. Our clients want something designer. We offer centuries-old wooden items that they can't get just anywhere," he said.

"We already had an established clientele, so we didn't want to move too far from our old location."

Calling upon Kamjorn to obtain a new lease, Anantasilp found just the place at Adobe Center, a retail mall just south of his previous location. His agent praised his choice as perfect for a business that draws heavily upon people who have recently purchased a home. The theme of the commercial center is ironic, given his store caters to customers looking for a Southeast Asian look, rather than the more common Southwestern theme. Still, the location works.

"There's a lot of new houses in the area and businesses like (Asian Images) are about the new-home buyer and decorating the home," Kamjorn said. "It's also a high-income area, and that's their market."

Although not quite on par with the mall, the new location also has high visibility, another essential for a retailer, Kamjorn explained.

"It's at a corner, which makes it easy to find and it's fairly close to the street," she said.

Anantasilp soon found the advantages of more space. With room to display his life-size bronze angel statues, teakwood furniture carved from the scraps of old ox carts, solid stone fountains, artwork and curios, sales took off with customers making larger average purchases.

The show-me approach helped Anantasilp to draw clients looking for entire ensembles of items, including entertainer and local resident Gladys Knight, who adorned her yard with a suite of teakwood furniture.

"Now that they can see all of the items together, people will buy a whole bunch of items to get an effect for their home or yard," he said.

While the change of venue helped his business, Anantasilp already wishes he thought longer term. Only months after the move, his over-stuffed store already needs more space.

Kamjorn said some businesses may better expand with an additional location rather than a larger one. With the city divided into several submarkets, multiple locations offer not only more space but greater convenience for customers -- especially for businesses based on new-home buyers.

"There's two really active areas, Summerlin and Henderson. It can be good to have a store in both places," she said.

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