LONDON, United Kingdom — British clothing retailer Next said on Thursday it plans to open its first standalone beauty shops by taking space in five former Debenhams stores, seeking to diversify its offer into faster growing markets.

The move is a departure for Next, which has traditionally sold clothes, homeware and beauty products altogether in its stores. It's also a sign that retailers with robust finances can take advantage of opportunities for future growth while weaker rivals battle to survive during the coronavirus pandemic.

Struggling department store chain Debenhams said on Wednesday it would not reopen five stores leased from landlord Hammerson after failing to agree rent terms with the mall operator.

All Debenhams and Next stores in Britain are currently closed as part of the country's lockdown.

Next said it has signed new flexible leases with Hammerson for the space in sites which include Bullring & Grand Central in Birmingham and Highcross in Leicester, central England, as well as Silverburn Glasgow in Scotland.

Next will trade the space as "The Beauty Hall from NEXT."

"This is another example of how we are repurposing department store space," said Hammerson Chief Executive David Atkins.

Next Chief Executive Simon Wolfson said the deal was an opportunity to "create a new force in beauty retailing."

Next said it aimed to create a premium retail environment for beauty, to complement its existing online beauty business, which sells over 200 beauty brands, including Estee Lauder, Clinique and GHD.

Next said it is in talks to add a small number of further sites.

It said it was likely that many of the former Debenhams' beauty staff will get a job at Next.

Last month Next sold property, suspended share buybacks and dividends and delivered higher cost savings to shore up its finances. Its first quarter sales plunged 41 percent.

Shares in Next, down 33 percent so far this year, were up 0.9 percent at 09.54 am GMT, while Hammerson was down 6.3 percent near all-time lows. The mall operator's shares have fallen more than 80 percent since December.

By James Davey; editor: Jan Harvey