The J. Jill Group Inc. posted net sales for the second quarter ended June 25 of $117.4 million, a 2.6% decrease from the $120.6 million reported in the same period last year.
Catalog sales for the period were $18.4 million for the quarter, versus $32.2 million in the prior year quarter. Internet sales held steady at $22.14 million, compared to $22.06 million in the second quarter of 2004.
Sales productivity was down in both the retail and direct segments of the business. Gordon R. Cooke, president and CEO attributed the results partly to the company’s ongoing merchandise transition and the fact the direct business is being cannibalized by the retail stores.
“Although the second quarter of 2005 was disappointing when compared to the second quarter of 2004, it turned out to be much stronger than we originally anticipated,” he said in a statement. “We are currently implementing a number of initiatives to improve this business including increasing the amount of catalog-only product offerings and the density of offerings per catalog page,” added Cooke.
The Quincy, MA-based women’s apparel cataloger and retailer reported operating income for the quarter totaled $7.0 million or 5.9% of net sales compared to $11.3 million or 9.4% of net sales in the prior year. The company generated net income for the quarter of $3.9 million or $0.19 per diluted share versus $6.5 million or $0.32 per diluted share in the second quarter of the previous year.
Network
