Sharper Image Corp., San Francisco, has reported a sales increase of 14% for May over the prior year, driven by an 11% increase in comparable store sales, and a 554% increase in Internet sales.
For May, total company sales of $18.9 million were 14% higher than the prior year’s $16.6 million. Total store sales increased 16%, to $13.1 million from $11.3 million last year, with comparable store sales increasing 11%. Internet sales increased 554% to $1.3 million from last year’s $194 thousand. Catalog sales decreased 16% to $4 million from the prior year’s $4.7 million.
Excluding the sales from the Home Collection catalog for the prior year, total company sales of $18.9 million for the month were 23% higher than the prior year’s pro forma sales of $15.3 million and catalog sales of $4.5 million were 17% higher than last year’s $3.8 million. The company decided to no longer test The Sharper Image Home Collection catalog (featuring furniture and accessories).
“The 554% increase in our Internet sales reflects the strong customer response to our Web site, sharperimage.com for both our established online store and our Sharper Image Auction site,” Richard Thalheimer, founder, chairman and CEO, said in a statement.
For the year to date for the four months of fiscal 1999, total company sales increased 6% to $59.3 million from last year’s $55.8 million. Total store sales were 12% higher at $42.3 million from $37.8 million for the prior year, with comparable stores sales increasing 8%. Internet sales increased 404% to $3.6 million from last year’s $714 thousand. Catalog sales decreased 23% to $13.4 million from last year’s $17.3 million.
Excluding the sales from the Home Collection catalog for the prior year, total company sales of $59.3 million year to date were 16% higher than the prior year’s pro forma sales of $51.1 million and catalog sales of $13.4 million were 6% higher than last year’s $12.6 million.
