Retail location services

• US 20080077509A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Littlejohn, Kevin, Rossmark, Sharon
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/163 Real estate management

Abstract

Methods of preparing retail establishments are disclosed. An area for a retail location may be chosen and an individual may be selected to manage the retail location. The selection of the area may include an evaluation of geographical factors. From the area, a retail location may be selected based on an aggregate score of a set of characteristics of the retail location. The individual may remotely select the layout and furnishing of the retail location and may remotely monitor the progress of the preparation of the retail location. In an embodiment, the individual may be prepared to manage the retail location at a centralized location that is distinct from the area where the retail location is located.

Claims

1. A method of developing an operative retail location with a simultaneous two-track development process, the method comprising:

(a) developing a retail location in a first track of development, the first track comprising;

(i) determining a site for the retail location;

(ii) coordinating feedback regarding the progress of a build out of the retail location;

(iii) linking the retail location to a company database; and

(iv) determining that the retail location has met minimum requirements to be opened to retail business; and

(b) determining that an agency principal is ready to manage the retail location in a second track of development, the second track comprising;

(i) determining that the agency principal has passed a screening process; and

(ii) determining the agency principal has met minimum qualifications.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first track and the second track are initiated substantially simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second track are concluded substantially simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the coordinating in (ii) comprises:

(1) receiving updates through a network;

(2) providing a remote view of the progress through a webcam connected to the network; and

(3) providing instructions over the network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second track are concluded substantially simultaneously.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first track further includes:

(v) determining a region for locating the site; and

(vi) obtaining a negotiated lease for the site.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining that the agency principal has met the minimum qualifications of (b)(ii) comprises:

(1) verifying that the agency principal has obtained a state license; and

(2) determining that the agency principal has passed a training course.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining that the agency principal has met the minimum qualifications in (ii) comprises:

(1) receiving a first indication that necessary licenses have been granted; and

(2) receiving a second indication that the training is complete.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining of the site in (a)(i) comprises:

(1) determining a geographical distribution of individuals in a region; and

(2) automatically selecting a portion of the region as being sufficient proximal to a sufficient number of individuals.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining of the site in (a)(i) comprises:

(1) determining that at least two possible sites in a region meet a predetermined minimum criteria;

(2) providing data related to scores for at least three weighted variables for each possible site; and

(3) selecting the preferred site based on a value of a combined score for each of the at least two possible sites.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the linking in (a)(iii) comprises:

(1) linking a computer in the retail location with a company server, whereby proprietary company data may be made available to the computer over a secured network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second tracks are initiated and concluded substantially simultaneously and the first and second tracks are concluded in about 4 months.

13. A method of preparing a retail location for business in a region, comprising:

(a) determining a desired site;

(b) selecting an individual to operate the retail location;

(c) preparing the individual to become an agent principal in a first track; and

(d) preparing the retail location at the desired site in a second track, wherein the first track ends substantially simultaneously with the second track, and wherein the progress of the preparation of the retail location is remotely monitored over an IP network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the monitoring in (d) includes a visual inspection of at least a portion of the retail location by the individual being trained.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining in (a) comprises:

(i) determining an area in the region to locate the retail location;

(ii) determining a separate score for each of a plurality of possible sites within the area; and

(iii) selecting the desired site based on the score associated with the desired site.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining in (a) is done from a remote location based on information provided over an IP network and wherein the score for each of the plurality of sites is generated by aggregating a set of characteristic values associated with the respective sites.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the preparing in (c) is conducted at a central location remote from the desired site.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the starting of the first and second track is substantially simultaneous.

19. A method of preparing a retail location for use in offering insurance in a region, comprising:

(a) selecting an area for placing the retail location based on the location of at least one existing retail location;

(b) selecting an individual from a pool of potential agents principals based on the selected area;

(c) preparing a retail location within the area in a first track; and

(d) preparing the individual to manage the retail location in a second track in a central location distinct from the retail location, wherein the first and second track conclude substantially simultaneously.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first track and the second track are initiated substantially simultaneously.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the selecting in (a) comprises:

(i) receiving information regarding the location of at least one existing retail location; and

(ii) determining the area to locate the retail location based on geographical features of the region and demographics of people within the region.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the selecting in (b) includes a determination of whether the individual has a required license.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the preparing in (c) comprises:

(i) selecting a site from a plurality of sites within the area;

(ii) determining a plan for preparing the retail location at the site; and

(iii) monitoring the progress of the preparation of the retail location, wherein (i)-(iii) are done remotely from the site.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the selecting in (i) comprises:

(1) determining an aggregate score for each of the plurality of sites within the area, the aggregate score composed of a weighted sum of characteristic scores for each respective site.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the preparing in (d) includes a mentoring period for allowing the individual to become proficient, the mentoring period taking place in an existing retail location.