Hceux said:
So, what are some of the better ways of entering into careers related to the field of deciding or helping a corporation to decide where would be the optimal location for a retail/industrial activity?
Well, sadly, it is mostly done by accountants. That could be an avenue for you, if you can tolerate the accounting career you would need to establish to get your feet in the door. I work on the other side of the game, as an economic developer. Planning is a great background for that, and I still spend at least half of my time on planning issues, mostly redevelopment and planning for commercial, office or industrial development, though I still get to have input into parks, housing, etc. Most economic developers are more heavily focused on marketing and business attraction and retention programs. At the state level, there are people who do little more than work with businesses and site consultants to attempt to find them sites.
Retail is somewhat different. Many of the large chains have a research or real estate department that identifies new markets and evaluates potential locations. A degree in economic geography is a good start for this work. If you can add knowledge of GIS and a real estate license, you are even better off. There are entry-level opportunities here, unlike industrial site selection. I did this for a short time, but found it to be awful (no challenges, working conditions I could not stand, ethical issues... an ugly experience).
There are likely industrial site consultants near you, and perhaps a few retail headquarters as well. I know I have met a few Canadians at different functions and can try to get a couple names to you. If retail interests you, contact the International Council of Shopping Centers. Perhaps you can work a deal of some sort with them to be able to attend the annual deal-making session in Las Vegas. There are others, but something like 20,000 developers, retail site specialists and real estate representives, and economic developers descend on Vegas for a week, where an incredible percentage of all new leases are signed. It is a great place to see the industry in action.