Retailers’ September 2008 sales roundup

The following is a general roundup of US apparel and shoe chains’ September 2008 sales results. The list will be updated as new results become available.

Mall-based Aéropostale said total net sales for the five-week period ended 4 October increased 15% to US$146.7m, from $127.9m for the five-week period ended 6 October 2007. The company’s same-store sales increased 5% for the month, compared to 1% in the year ago period.

Action sports chain Zumiez said its total net sales for September increased 4.8% to $33.6m, from $32.1m in the same period last year. The company’s same-store sales fell 9.0% for the month.

Victoria’s Secret operator Limited Brands reported a same-store sales decrease of 6% for the five weeks ended 4 October, compared to the same period last year. The company reported net sales of $673.4m for the five weeks, compared to net sales of $713.2m last year.

September net sales at teen retailer Hot Topic were up 2.5% to $60.8m, while same-store sales fell 1.8% for the month.

Maternity wear retailer Mothers Work said that net sales for the month of September 2008 dropped 5.8% to $43.7m from $46.4m in the same period last year. Its same-store sales, meanwhile, decreased 1.3% on a reported basis.

Women’s wear chain Cache posted a 6% same-store sales drop for September, as compared to a 3% increase for the five-week period ended 29 September 2007. Total net sales for the month were down 8% to $24.8m.

Women’s shoe firm Bakers Footwear Group said its same-store sales increased 4.1% for September, compared to a decrease of 17.6% for the prior year period. Net sales for the five-week September 2008 period rose 1.6% to $15.2m.

Apparel and accessories retailer The Wet Seal said its total net sales fell 3.2% to $51m for the month of September. Its same-store sales fell 7.5% for the period.

Casual clothing company Pacific Sunwear of California reported a 4% fall in PacSun sales for the five weeks to 4 October, dropping to $91.2m from $95.1m. PacSun same-store sales were down 5% during the same period.

Children’s wear retailer The Children’s Place Retail Stores announced net sales of $160.7m for the month, a 2% increase compared to net sales of $157.1m for the five-week period to 6 October 2007. Same-store sales were flat versus a 2% decrease last year.

Stein Mart has posted total sales down 11.9% to $112m, while the company’s same-store sales decreased 14.8% for the month of September.

Apparel chain American Eagle Outfitters announced that total sales for the five weeks to 4 October increased 3% to $229.2m, from $222.8m last time. Same-store sales fell 6% in the month, compared to a 2% decrease for the same period last year.

Upmarket retailer Nordstrom posted preliminary sales of $718m for the five-week period, a decrease of 5.8% on last year’s $762m. Same-store sales were down 9.6%.

The Bon-Ton Stores said its same-store sales for the five weeks to 4 October fell 4.6%. Total sales dropped 2.7% to $299.4m from $307.9m.

Fashion retailer Dillard’s reported sales for fiscal September of $568.5m, down from $649.2m in the same period last year. Sales dropped 12% on both a total and comparable store basis.

Retailer Saks Incorporated said its owned sales totalled $273.2m for the five weeks to 4 October, compared to $307.4m for the same month last year, an 11.1% fall. Same-store sales were down 10.9% for the period.

Department store operator Kohl’s Corporation reported a 0.6% rise in total sales for the five-week month, but on a same-store basis, sales decreased 5.5%.

Another department store chain, JC Penney, said that same-store sales were down 12.4% in September. This compared to a 3.7% drop in the same month last year. Total company sales slipped 10.9%, it said.

Net September sales at the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores, increased 5.8% to $36.23bn. The company’s same-store sales rose 2.4%.

Supermarket retailer Target Corporation, meanwhile, said net retail sales for the five weeks ended 4 October increased 2.5% to $5.32bn, while its same-store sales declined 3.0%.

Fashion chain Stage Stores saw a 9.6% drop in sales to $115.5m from $127.8m last time. Same-store sales slumped 13.6% versus an increase of 2.3% last year.

Women’s fashion retailer The Cato Corporation posted sales of $64.8m for the five weeks, down 2% from sales of $65.8m for prior year period. Same-store sales were 3% lower than the prior year.

Apparel, accessories and footwear retailer The Buckle said its same-store net sales increased 19.7%. Net sales for the fiscal month soared 26.2% to $72.8m from $57.7m last time.

Same store sales at department store chain Gottschalks decreased 11.8% in September. Total sales for the five weeks dropped 13.2% to $45.8m from $52.8m in the same month of 2007.

Clothing producer and retailer American Apparel said its sales for stores open for more than a year rose 15% in September over the year ago period. Same-store sales were up 35%.

Fashion store chain Abercrombie & Fitch reported net sales of $275.4m for the five-week month, a 7% decrease from net sales of $297.4m in the same period last year. September same-store sales fell 14%.

Ross Stores saw its September sales rise 5% to $561m, from $537m in last time. Same-store sales for the five weeks declined 2%, the company said.

Fashion chain Chico’s reported that its net sales were down 9.3% in fiscal September to $159.5m, while same-store sales dropped 15.6% for the five-week period.

Off-price retailer The TJX Companies said its sales for September were $1.83bn, up 3% over the same period last year. Consolidated same-store sales decreased 1% compared to last September.

Specialty clothing retailer Gap Inc posted a 6% drop in net sales to $1.34bn for the five-week period to 4 October 2008. The company’s same-store sales for September 2008 were down 11% compared with a 7% decrease for September 2007.