Merchant Archive
Thread: What planet and area is the best for a new vendor to be placed?
HistoricallyTheed and Coronet were two biggest concentrations of vendors.
I've never had a vendor near Theed, but I have had them around: Coronet, Bestine, Tyrena, and Mining Outpost - Dant. And the vendors near Coronet traditionally do better business.
I would think it would depend alot on what you have to sell.
Do some research in the areas and see what the competition is like. Are others selling similar products? Will you be able to compete with these already established vendors? Can you place a house or tent within a reasonable distance from the city in question?
Also don't forget Mos Eisley. At least on my server (Starsider), Mos Eisley is very busy. Land outside the city is also reasonably available. A business outside of Eisley can do very wellespecially if you plan to sell items the new players would llike to purchase. Also Lok near Nym's with the CU and gurk groups as become very busy. A business selling things the warrior might need (weapons, armor, food, spice, etc) would do well there.
With the vendor search option I believe that being close to a major starport and being reasonably priced (not necessarily the cheapest) are the two most import factors in a successful business venture.
Good luck.
On Eclipse, I've had shops outside of both Coronet and Theed.However, at least on our server, Coronet has died for the most part. I didn't even encounter more than one person spamming there the last time i had to pick something up. 
I find thatour player city (right outside the krayt hunting grounds) does VERY good business for all our crafters. I believe that outside the MOP is also a great place for weapons, foods, armor, etc. At least on eclipse, the MOP is the new Coronet.
I have my Shipwright store placed just outside the main gate of the Rebel Outpost on Rori. The shop is visible from the base, and I use NPC actors and perks (like an X-Wing or a Lambda Shuttle to draw people over)..because a X-Wing parked between the main gate of the Rebel Outpost and the next ridge where my shop is, is a total magnet for the curious. I also have the NPC actor dressed up in a flight suit waxing on about how great my shop is and that he just tricked out his X-WIng.
I could care less about putting shops into the urban sprawl surrounding Theed & Coronet. Im operating a Rebel shipyard, so proximity to a Rebel Outpost is needed, and I cater to Crimson Phoenix squadrom pilots comign through on their missions (great place to resupply, then they dont have to go running all over the galaxy to find missile packs.