Hi,
I typically search (using the galactic map thing) for a system with 6 rings and at least 3 asteroid belts, that isn't too far from a worm-hole, and isn't too far from "void space". Once I've found a system I pick a sector that is near the edge of it, away from planets and "rotating sectors", and away from the "worm-hole side".
I don't care about shops much (with the new trading guild stations you can be sure that some sort of shop will be within one jump drive hop). Initially I build an ugly tiny station (shop module, undeathinator, build block, rail docker, faction module and very little else), claim the system, and set the station has "invincible faction home base". Note that I use the shop module as (limited) temporary storage in the early stages; not for selling things.
Then I build a salvaging ship with cloaking and jump drive (and a few missiles and a damage beam). Then I build a temporary factory and cargo area. After that NPC shops are mostly a waste of time (I hoard large quantities of crap and manufacture whatever I'm missing). Once I've got factory, storage and salvager, it's time to start building a decent base.
I choose "near void space" (and don't care too much if I'm near a pirate station) because I know my initial salvaging ship is typically enough to kill pirates safely and salvage pirate stations; and that pirate ships are a valuable source of blocks (the only alternative to mining and factories for increasing wealth). "Void space" has more pirates, which means more loot for me. They can't attack my base (it's invincible, so they ignore it unless I attack them first) and can't attack a cloaked ship either.
I'm not entirely sure why I choose a system next to a worm hole - I like to think that one day I'll use it for fast travel, but I rarely use worm holes because they're one way (and getting back to where you started isn't so easy).
