J.C. Penney Co. and JoS A. Bank both reported sales increases last month, but Sharper Image is still struggling to come out of a transitional period.
Plano, TX-based J. C. Penney Company Inc. reported total sales of $1.29 billion for the month of May, an increase of 5.4% over the same period last year. Catalog and Internet sales for last month were $193 million, versus $179 million in May 2004, a 7.8% increase. Department store sales were $1.09 billion, compared to $1.05 billion during last May. For the first 17 weeks of the year, the company posted total sales of $5.48 billion, versus $5.26 billion for the same period in 2004, a 4.3% increase. Direct sales were $852 million (compared to $804 million in 2004, a 6% increase) and department store sales were $4.63 billion (compared to $4.45 billion, a $4% increase).
JoS. A. Bank Clothiers Inc., Hampsead, MD, reported total sales for the fiscal month ended May 28 of $31.5 million, a 20.2% increase compared with $26.2 million in May 2004. Comparable store sales increased 5.6% when compared with same period last year, while combined catalog and Internet sales increased 18.7%. Total sales for the four months ended May 28 increased 20.7% to $128.1 million compared with $106.1 million in same period last year. Comparable store sales increased 4.4% in the four months, while direct sales increased 24.3%.
For the month ended May 31, total sales for San Francisco-based Sharper Image were $45.6 million, compared to $51.4 million in the previous year, a decrease of 11%. Total store sales were $29.2 million compared to $30.3 million in the prior May, a decrease of four percent. Total catalog sales/direct marketing sales (including wholesale) were $10.1 million compared to last May’s $13.8 million, a decrease of 27%. Internet sales were $6.2 million compared to last May’s $7.3 million, a decrease of 14%. For the four months ended May 31, total sales were $186.8 million compared to $204.1 million in the previous year, a decrease of eight percent. Total store sales for the period were $107.5 million compared to $111.7 million in the prior year, a decrease of four percent. Total catalog sales/DM sales (including wholesale) were $49.9 million compared to last year’s $58.9 million, a decrease of 15. Internet sales year-to-date were $29.4 million compared to last year’s year-to-date $33.5 million, a decrease of 12%. Richard Thalheimer, founder, chairman and CEO, noted in a statement the results were expected, and that the company is projecting improving trends in the second half of the year.
