August sales were up for many direct marketers posting monthly results on Thursday, with the exception of Sharper Image, which again showed a downturn.
August sales for JoS. A Bank Clothier’s Inc. were up 29.8% to $28.3 million, compared to $21.8 million in August 2004. Comparable store sales for the men’s clothier increased in August 12.9% compared to August 2004. The Hampstead, MD-based company credited sportswear for the gains. Total sales for the seven months ended Aug. 27 increased 21.7% to $223.5 million compared with $183.7 million in the first seven months of 2004. Comparable store sales increased 5.5% in the first seven months of this year compared to last year, and combined catalog and Internet sales rose 26%. JoS. A. Bank plans to open 46 stores by the end of 2005, and plans to grow the chain to 500 stores over the next three to four years.
Sharper Image Corp.posted total sales of $36.6 million for the calendar month ended Aug. 31, a 15% decrease from the $43.3 million posted in Aug. 2004. Total store sales were $24.0 million, versus $26.0 million in the prior August, an eight percent decrease. Comparable store sales in August decreased 14%; a six percent increase was reported during the same month last year. Total catalog sales/direct marketing sales (including wholesale) were $7.2 million compared to last August’s $11.1 million, a decrease of 35%. Internet sales were $5.4 million compared to last August’s $6.2 million, a decrease of 12%.
The Neiman Marcus Group Inc. posted total revenues of $255 million for the four weeks ended Aug. 27, a 6.5% increase over the $239 million reported in August 2004. Comparable revenues in the Specialty Retail Stores segment, which includes Neiman Marcus Stores and Bergdorf Goodman, increased 8.7 percent. Revenue growth trends were the strongest in the company’s stores in the West and Midwest. Comparable revenues at Neiman Marcus Direct in August increased 8.4%. Top selling merchandise categories in the DM segment included women’s shoes and apparel, designer handbags, jewelry and men’s.
August sales at clothing cataloger and retailer The Talbots Inc. increased 9% to $93.1 million from $85.4 million for the four weeks ended Aug. 28, 2004. Comparable store sales increased 2.3% for the month. Year-to-date sales for the 30 weeks ended Aug. 27 increased 10.0% to $989.2 million from $899.1 million reported for the 30 weeks ended Aug. 28, 2004.
J. C. Penney Co. Inc. posted total sales of $1.57 billion for August, versus $1.52 billion for the same four weeks last year. Direct sales were flat at $194 million, compared to a six percent increase in last year’s August period. Sales for jcpenney.com increased nearly 30% for the month, on top of a 35% increase last August. Total department store sales for were up 3.7% for the month ended Aug. 27, while comparable store sales increased 2.8%. The best performing merchandise categories for the month were women’s accessories and fine jewelry, home furnishings and family shoes. From a geographical perspective, sales were strongest in the southeast and western regions of the country.
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