Retail losers, retail winners

The retail industry is going through a challenging period. Centre for Retail Research has a fascinating list called 'Who's Gone Bust in Retailing'. The list for 2005-2011 covers UK store chains that went into administration (including some retail companies that ultimately survived). That list includes: Borders, Barratts, Alexon, T J Hughes, Jane Norman, Habitat, Focus DIY, Floors-2-Go, the Officers Club, Oddbins, Ethel Austin, Faith Shoes, Adams Childrenswear, Thirst Quench, Stylo, Mosaic, Principles, Sofa Workshop, Allied Carpets, Viyella, Dewhursts, Woolworths, MFI and Zavvi/Virgin Megastore.

PricewaterhouseCoopers says that multistore retailers closed '14 stores a day on average across Great Britain in 2011'. Among the losers: electricals, home furnishings, menswear, book shops and travelshops.

At the same time, PwC's report notes that some retailers are doing well, including: convenience food stores, supermarkets, charity shops, pawn brokers, pound shops and shoe shops. 
 
Financial Times is featuring the latest financial results reported by UK retailers...and the post-Christmas 2011 news is decidedly mixed. Tesco issued a profit warning; HMV didn't do well; Ocado issued a profit warning; Mothercare didn't do well. On the other hand, Asos did well; Wm Morrison did well; Kingfisher (B&Q) did well; and John Lewis did well. 

Not surprisingly, strong online retail sales helped the industry overall. Does this mean high street stores will continue to disappear as people click to buy instead of pushing a trolley?