Year-end sales up for Limited Brands, men's retailers

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. reported that its net sales for the 53 weeks ended Feb. 3 increased 17.6 percent for a total of $546.4 million compared to the 52 weeks of fiscal year 2005. Same-store sales rose 4.3 percent comparing the 53 weeks of fiscal year 2006 with the corresponding 53 weeks of the prior year, while direct marketing sales increased 23.5 percent.

Comparing the 14 weeks of fourth quarter of fiscal year 2006 with the 13 weeks of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Hampstead, MD-based multichannel retailer of men's clothing reported net sales increased 18.5 percent for a total of $194.1 million. Jos. A. Bank Clothiers' same-store sales increased 2 percent comparing the 14 weeks of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2006 with the corresponding 14 weeks of the prior year while direct marketing sales increased 26.5 percent.

Casual Male Retail Group Inc. said sales for the 14-week period ended Feb. 3 increased 12.5 percent for a total of $145.8 million compared to the prior year's 13-week period. Same-store sales for the 13-week period increased 7.5 percent compared to the comparable 13-week period in fiscal 2005.

The Canton, MA-based multichannel retailer of men's apparel posted a 10.9 percent gain in sales for the 53-week fiscal year ended Feb. 3 for a total of $467.4 million compared to the prior fiscal year, which had 52 weeks. Same-store sales for the 52 weeks increased 9 percent compared to the previous 52-week period.

The company said sales for its Rochester catalog division were below current trends. Casual Male is currently engaged in litigation seeking to recover damages that the Rochester catalog division sustained as a result of competitive activity and electronic data destruction that it believes was unlawful.

In the fourth quarter, Casual Male incurred incremental expenses associated with the initial start-up of new businesses and product expansions, such as BT Factory Direct, Jared M. and ThinkBig.com.

Limited Brands Inc., Columbus, OH, reported net sales for 14 weeks ended Feb. 3 totaled $4.025 billion compared to $3.542 billion for the 13 weeks ended Jan. 28, 2006. Same-store sales increased 8 percent for the 14-week period compared to the same 14-week period last year.

For the 53 weeks ended Feb. 3, the multichannel retailer's net sales totaled $10.671 billion compared to $9.699 billion for the 52 weeks ended Jan. 28, 2006. Comparable-store sales increased 7 percent during the 53-week period compared to the prior 53-week period.