October direct sales results for several retailers were a mixed bag, with some reporting cuts associated with pulling back resources, and others generating substantial jumps. What follows is a sampling of reported results for four-week selling periods last month.
* J. C. Penney Co. Inc. reported a slight slip in sales, from $2.53 billion to $2.51 billion. While its department stores reported a 3.9% dip (2.3% among comparable stores) the Plano, TX-based retailer’s catalog and Internet operations generated $238 million, up from $237 million a year ago.
* Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. generated $27 million during October, compared with $22 million a year ago. Comparable store sales were up 4.6%, while the Hampstead, MD-based men’s apparel firm’s catalog and Internet sales jumped 27.1%.
* At Neiman Marcus, total revenue rose 10.4%, to $272 million, while comparable store revenue was up 9.7%, from $246 million to $270 million. But the Dallas-based retailer’s revenue within Neiman Marcus Direct was up 15%.
* Sharper Image Corp.’s 35% sales growth, from $37.4 million to $50.5 million, was spurred by advances in its catalog sales. Catalog revenue grew 47%, from $12.1 million to $17.8 million. It was trailed by online sales increases (34%, from $5.2 million to $7 million) and same-store sales, which jumped 12%.
* The Spiegel Group, Downers Grove, IL, saw its October sales drop 25%, to $129.5 million. This was due to a combination of store closings – at the end of October it operated 468 stores, down from the 572 it ran a year ago – and a planned reduction in catalog circulation. Catalog and e-commerce sales decreased by 31%.
