Opinion: Austin Reed and BHS may vanish but newcomers show retail’s vibrant

That’s because the travails of once-venerated names are counterbalanced by the rise of newcomers that are doing well enough to list on the Stock Exchange.

Foodie specialist Hotel Chocolat was scheduled to float on AIM on Tuesday, May 10, while fashion retailer Joules is pursing the same ambition.

While AIM may be known as the ‘junior’ market, it is home to some highly successful retailers that have strong growth prospects – think Asos and Boohoo – and the hope must be that Hotel Chocolat and Joules can follow similar trajectories.

Hotel Chocolat and Joules are both great entrepreneurial stories that deserve to be celebrated in their own right, and each exerts powerful consumer appeal.

You can see that in Hotel Chocolat’s resolute adherence to its powerful brand values and its ability to key into people’s desire for the ‘experiential’ through ventures such as the Tasting Club.

And you can see it in Joules’ distinct product and positioning as what it calls a “fun, family, ‘time off’” lifestyle brand.

Each has consistently sought to move with the times by exploiting digital opportunity.

Their success reflects the continued vibrancy of UK retail, even as some famous names look likely to slip off this mortal coil.

And there are many more examples. Notonthehighstreet.com is one. Perhaps it may also follow in the footsteps of Hotel Chocolat and Joules with a public listing.