USA : Cold gives big success to Bon-Ton outerwear sales

January 15, 2008

The Bon-Ton Stores Inc announced total sales for the five weeks ended January 5, 2008 decreased 13.0% to $558.2 million compared to $642.0 million for the prior year period. Bon-Ton and Carson’s combined comparable store sales for the five weeks decreased 11.3%. Carson’s comparable store sales decreased 9.5% and Bon-Ton comparable store sales decreased 14.2% compared to the prior year period.

Year-to-date total sales increased 1.8% to $3,178.3 million compared to $3,121.7 million for the same period last year. For informational purposes only, year-to-date Carson’s comparable store sales decreased 1.5%. Year-to-date Bon-Ton comparable store sales decreased 6.9%.

Tony Buccina, Vice Chairman and President – Merchandising, commented, “December sales were more challenging than expected, reflecting continued weakness in traffic trends. Having said that, we were pleased with our success in ladies shoes, driven by boots and euro-casual shoes; hard home, driven by electronic gifts; and children’s, fueled by sales of Hanna Montana merchandise. Cold weather gave us big increases in ladies, men’s and children’s outerwear and cold weather accessories.

Our weakest performing categories were juniors and soft home. Our biggest disappointment in December was that historical gift-giving businesses did not accelerate sales during the three weeks prior to Christmas, such as jewelry (fine, bridge and costume); cosmetics, particularly women’s and men’s fragrance; and intimate apparel.

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Source @ Fibre2fashion.com