Hurricanes, Energy Costs, Falling Consumer Confidence Hurt Sales in September
Most DMers reporting September sales results yesterday posted positive numbers while those with negative news blamed their poor figures on factors such as hurricanes, escalating energy costs and falling consumer confidence.Continuing its streak of bad news was Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL, which announced total sales of $2.33 billion for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, a 4.9 percent drop compared with the year-ago period. Comparable-store sales dipped 3.2 percent last month.
Federated Department Stores Inc., Cincinnati, reported total sales of $1.35 billion for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, down 0.2 percent from last year. On a same-store basis, Federated's sales rose 0.1 percent last month. As was previously reported, Federated said last month's sales were hurt by about $30 million as a result of hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.
Other companies reporting results yesterday included:
· J.C. Penney Company Inc., Plano, TX, generated total sales of $1.51 billion for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, a 2.3 percent increase from last year. Same-store sales rose 2 percent while catalog/Internet sales posted a 3.3 percent gain for a total of $253 million.
· The Neiman Marcus Group, Dallas, produced total revenue of $366 million for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, up 6.3 percent from last year. Comparable revenue at Neiman Marcus Direct in this period increased 6.4 percent.
· The Talbots Inc., Hingham, MA, reported a 3 percent increase in sales for the five weeks ended Oct. 2 for a total of $187.5 million. Comparable-store sales declined 1.3 percent for the month.
· Sharper Image Corp., San Francisco, announced a 21 percent jump in sales for the calendar month ended Sept. 30, totaling $46.4 million. Same-store sales increased 2 percent in the period while total catalog/direct marketing sales rose 28 percent to $14.9 million.
· Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Hampstead, MD, experienced a 15.9 percent rise in sales for the fiscal month ended Oct. 2, totaling $32.1 million. Same-store sales increased 3.9 percent in the period while combined catalog and Internet sales rose 8.7 percent.
· Nordstrom Inc., Seattle, produced sales totaling $598.4 million for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, a 7.1 percent increase from last year. Same-store sales rose 6.2 percent in the period.
· Casual Male Retail Group Inc., Canton, MA, reported a sales gain of 1.8 percent for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, reaching $27.7 million. Same-store sales rose 2.3 percent for the month.
· Chico's FAS Inc., Fort Myers, FL, reported that total revenue jumped 23.7 percent for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, totaling $106.4 million. Same-store sales rose 5.2 percent in the period.
· Abercrombie & Fitch, New Albany, OH, said sales climbed 17 percent for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, totaling $174.7 million. On a comparable-store basis, sales increased 2 percent in the period.
· The Bombay Company Inc., Fort Worth, TX, reported a 9 percent drop in revenue for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, totaling $48.3 million. Same-store sales plummeted 20 percent.
· Limited Brands Inc., Columbus, OH, said Wednesday that same-store sales declined 5 percent for the five weeks ended Oct. 2. The company reported net sales of $679.3 million, down from $714.4 million last year.
