With exception of Spiegel and Talbots, January and the recently ended fiscal year were bright for many direct marketers reporting results on Thursday.
*J.C. Penney Company Inc. reported that combined catalog and Internet sales increased 9.8% for the month to $214 million, versus $153 million for the same period in 2003. Internet sales were up 50% For the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, Internet sales exceeded $600 million. Catalog and online sales for the 53 weeks ended Jan. 31 were $2.7 billion, compared to $2.6 billion for last year.
*Revenues at Neiman Marcus Direct increased 20.7% for the month of January, boosted by strong sales in women’s sportswear, dresses and shoes. Total company revenues for the month were $1.05 billion, compared to $938 million for the same period last year. Second quarter earnings will be released March 3.
*The Spiegel Group reported net sales of $98.6 million for the four weeks ended Jan. 31, a 27% decrease compared to net sales of $135.6 million for the four weeks ended Jan. 25, 2003. Sales for the Eddie Bauer division decreased 7% for the period. The company’s catalog and e-commerce sales were down 28% for the month compared to the same period last year, due to what the company said was a planned decrease in catalog circulation and a change in mail dates. Spiegel debuted a repositioned version of its catalog and Web site the third week of last month.
*Restoration Hardware’s direct-to-customer division showed a revenue increase of 88% for the month, versus an increase of 54% last year. Net revenue for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, was $165 million, a 6% increase over the $155 million reported in the same period last year. Direct-to-customer revenue increased 50% to $27 million, compared to $18 million in the quarter last year. For the year ended Jan. 31, net revenue was $439 million, an increase of 10% from $400 million reported for fiscal 2002.
*The Talbots Inc. reported that sales for the fourth quarter were even at $431.5 million, compared to $431.8 million for the 13 weeks ended Feb. 1, 2003. Catalog sales decreased 12% to $60.2 million from $68.3 million in the prior year. This, said the company, was due to a combination of very lean inventories and reduced circulation. Sales for the 52 weeks ended Jan. 31 increased 2% to $1,624.3 million from $1,595.3 million for previous fiscal year. Catalog sales for the year decreased 3% to $239.4 million compared to $247.4 million last year.
*Sharper Image reported that total company sales increased 40% for January to $47.3 million from last year’s $33.8 million. Total catalog sales for the month increased 33% to $12.9 million from the last January’s $9.7 million. Internet sales increased 51% to $9.1 million from last January’s $6.0 million. For the quarter ended Jan. 31, total sales increased 29% to $270.2 million from last year’s $209.7 million. Total catalog sales increased 14% to $54.9 million from the last year’s fourth quarter of $48.0 million, while Internet sales increased 34% to $43.6 million from $32.6 million. For the fiscal year, total sales increased 26% to $630.1 million from last year’s $498.7 million. Catalog sales for the year increased 15% to $155.7 million from last year’s $135.7 million. Internet sales increased 37% to $95.1 million from last year’s $69.2 million.
*Brookstone Inc. reported that total sales for the 13-week period ended Jan. 31 jumped 18.3% to $219.1 million, compared to $185.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2002. Direct marketing sales rose 26.6%to $38.1 million on a 41% increase in circulation. For the year, Brookstone’s total sales rose 15.5% to $434.2 million, compared to $375.9 million last year. DM sales were up 15.3% to $75.7 million, on a 19.9% increase in circulation.
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