Retailers see a glimmer of hope as they assess losses: despite retailer setbacks, many see a jump in business.

As soon as Southlanders gather together their lives and reassemble their homes and their nerves, they will probably be out shopping to replace what was broken in last week's temblor, retail experts say.

"Certain aspects of the retailing community are going to be impacted positively by this (earthquake)," said Alan Frank, partner in charge of retail services in the downtown L.A. office of Deloitte & Touche accounting firm.

The next three months could represent a boom for all retailers, added Jack Kyser, chief economist with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.

"There are clearly some things people are going to have to replace," said Dave Stewart, a marketing professor at the University of Southern California.

During the week following the quake, people were depressed, sleeping poorly and out of sync overall. "But in a couple of weeks they will be out shopping," Frank said.

Following Hurricane Andrew in Florida in August, 1992 and the Midwest floods last summer, there was a big surge in consumer spending at home improvement, building materials, furniture and appliance stores.

"I would expect to see that happen here as well," said Ira Kalish, retail economist with the Los Angeles office of Price Waterhouse, a business services firm.

Building and home improvement stores are probably going to see some immediate benefit, echoed Richard Giss, another partner in charge of retail services at Deloitte & Touche.

Retailers of earthquake supplies "will do a land office business," he added.

The same can be said for large discount stores that sell supplies, such as batteries and flashlights, used for earthquake preparedness, Giss added.

Consumers are also likely to gravitate to grocery stores because they now see the importance of having well-stocked cupboards, he said.

Then, over the next few months those lucky enough to have earthquake insurance may see some checks coming in and are likely to go out and spend, Kalish said.

"The influx of insurance money will be a boost to the economy," he said.

After the 1989 earthquake in San Francisco, consumers got their insurance checks in two to three months and then there was a big surge in spending at consumer electronics and furniture stores, said Robert Kahn, a management consultant in Lafayette, Calif.

There could also be a few months' delay while people whose homes are currently inhabitable settle down and find new places to live before they go out and buy things, Kyser added.

Over the longer term, there could be a boost at retailers that sell construction-related items, such as plumbing and electrical parts, Giss said.

Overall, some of the spending might be "displacement spending," Frank said. Money consumers might otherwise spend on clothing, for instance, might be used to buy dishes or television sets, he said.

And many stores in the San Fernando Valley that are still intact may be busier as consumers who normally shop at the Bullock's in Northridge Fashion Center and other destroyed retail structures go elsewhere, Frank said.

But Southlanders will most likely stay close to home, choosing to shop at their neighborhood stores rather than venturing onto the city's tenuous freeway labyrinth, he noted.