Several marketers – including J.C. Penney and Jos. A Bank – reported sales increases last month, while Sharper Image continued to show decreases compared to 2004.
* For the month ended June 30, Sharper Image Corp., posted sales of $46.1 million compared to $50.8 million in the previous year, a decrease of nine percent. Total store sales were $30.9 million compared to $30.6 million in the prior June, an increase of one percent. Total catalog sales/direct marketing sales (including wholesale) were $8.5 million compared to last June’s $13.3 million, a decrease of 36%. Internet sales were $6.7 million compared to last June’s $7.0 million, a decrease of four percent. For the five months ended June 30, total company sales were $232.8 million compared to $254.9 million in the previous year, a decrease of nine percent. Total store sales for the period were $138.4 million compared to $142.3 million in the prior year, a decrease of three percent. Total catalog sales/DM sales (including wholesale) year-to-date were $58.4 million compared to last year’s $72.2 million, a decrease of 19%. Internet sales year-to-date were $36.0 million compared to last year’s year-to-date $40.5 million, a decrease of 11%. CEO Richard Thalheimer said sales for the month were in line with the San Francisco-based company’s expectations. Sharper Image expects to open 18 to 24 new stores in fiscal 2005.
*J. C. Penney Co. Inc., Plano, TX, posted total company sales of $1.5 billion for the month of June, versus $1.4 billion for the same period last year. Catalog and Internet sales were $216 million, a 9.1% increase over the $198 million reported for June 2004. Department store sales were $132 million for the month, up 8.1% from the sixth month of last year. For the fiscal year so far, total company sales were $6.91 billion, up 4.9% from the $6.6 billion posted for the first 22 weeks of 2004. Direct sales were $1.06 billion, compared to $1.002 billion in the same period last year, a 6.6% increase. A 4.9% increase was seen in department store sales for the year so far, up to $6.91 billion from $6.50 billion.
*Dallas-based luxury goods retailer Neiman Marcus Group Inc. posted preliminary revenues of 4351 million for the five weeks ended July 2, an 8.2% increase over the $324 million reported for the same period last year. Comparable revenues at Neiman Marcus Direct in the five-week June period increased 22.2%. The top selling merchandise categories in the direct marketing segment included women’s shoes, handbags, accessories, jewelry, women’s apparel and men’s.
* JoS. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. reported total sales for the fiscal month ended July 2 of $40.0 million, a 23.8% compared with $32.3 million in fiscal June 2004. Comparable store sales for the Hampstead, MD-based men’s clothing retailer increased 7.5% when compared to last June, while combined catalog and Internet sales were up 30.2%. Total sales for the five months ended July 2 increased 21.5% to $168.1 million compared with $138.4 million in the prior year period. Comparable store sales increased 5.2% for the five months, while combined catalog and Internet sales jumped 25.5%.
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