The We-Rent-Em/U-Dent-Em Inc. truck company rents small trucks to private individuals. Currently, it only has offices in two small midwest cities. However, it has been doing such a “bang up” business...

The We-Rent-Em/U-Dent-Em Inc. truck company rents small trucks to private individuals. Currently, it only has offices in two small midwest cities. However, it has been doing such a “bang up” business that it is ambitiously planning to branch out to a nationwide service over the next 5–8 years. The company is concerned about such factors as where to locate facilities in each city it moves into and when to enter each market.

(a) Identify the key factors that might influence the company’s location choices. In particular, what factors would influence its choice of cities in which to locate offices and, within those cities, the locations of the offices themselves.

(b) What data would you need to help We-Rent-Em/U-Dent-Em Inc. develop an expansion plan?