Four stores, two stories

Some retailers seem to do well in adversity. Take Spain’s Inditex, owner of Zara, or Primark, the UK discount clothes merchant. Both are still adding sales despite hailing from the two European countries hardest hit by the downturn. Their gains will make a tough year for more staid names – such as M&S or El Corte Ingles – tougher still. Inditex and Primark are both relatively new. Thanks to hyper-efficient inventory control, they are to get whatever is hot onto the shelves faster than competito...