The retail collapses of the past few weeks were sad news for those losing their jobs, but the focus on failure meant the bigger picture was obscured: crisis for one means opportunity for others, and good quoted retailers are seizing it.

The retail collapses of the past few weeks were sad news for those losing their jobs, but the focus on failure meant the bigger picture was obscured: crisis for one means opportunity for others, and good quoted retailers are seizing it.

The demise of Focus was a boon for Kingfisher, which snapped up 30 shops for its market-leading B&Q chain, preserving 600 jobs.

Change will happen fast – some of the parcel of stores will be trading as B&Q next month.

While the Habitat UK business shuffled off this mortal coil, Home Retail was able to pick up an iconic brand which will be reinvented through its Homebase business and online. Homebase may also pounce on some of defunct Homeform’s brands.

And Debenhams, should it choose to show Jane Norman the door as a concessionaire, has plenty of options about how to use the space more profitably by devoting it to own-brands such as H! by Henry Holland or Principles by Ben de Lisi – sales of which rose 40% and 70% respectively in the second half.

Sports Direct too is exploiting turbulent conditions to make inroads into new markets.

Having grown to dominate its core category, Sports Direct now intends to chase a different customer following the acquisition of retail brands from Sir Tom Hunter and the establishment of a lifestyle division.

The best retailers have proven their ability not just to ride the roller-coaster of daily trading, but to think ahead and evolve their businesses so that they come out of the downturn not just intact, but on the front foot.

Life is tough on the high street; there is no doubt of that. But many a tale of woe is counterbalanced by another of success. Marks & Spencer’s update on Wednesday showed it can navigate rough waters. Kingfisher’s next Thursday should demonstrate the same.

 

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