February Sales Roundup

Several of the multichannel merchants tracked by CATALOG AGE boasted of double-digit February sales growth.

For example, Hampstead, MD-based Jos. A. Bank Clothiers (NasdaqNM: JOSB) reported a 20% year-over-year increase in February catalog and Internet sales and a 19% rise in total February sales. For the fiscal month ended Feb. 26, the men’s apparel cataloger/retailer had sales of $28.6 million. Comparable store sales were up 3% from the previous December.

Total February sales for Hingham, MA-based The Talbots (NYSE: TLB) increased 13%, to $95.0 million from $84.3 million. Comparable store sales increased 8% for the month. The apparel cataloger/retailer does not break out monthly direct sales data.

Comparable revenue at the Nieman Marcus Direct division of Dallas-based Neiman Marcus Group rose 20%. The division consists of the high-end Neiman Marcus and Horchow apparel and decor titles. Total comparable February revenue increased nearly 8%, to $273 million. The comparable sales figures exclude revenue from Chef’s Catalog, which the company sold this past November.

New York-based Bluefly (Nasdaq SmallCap: BFLY), an online retailer of discounted designer apparel and home accessories, enjoyed a 14% rise in February net sales, to $4.1 million from 3.6 million last year.

February sales at Victoria’s Secret Direct, part of Columbus, OH-based Limited Brands (NYSE: LTD), increased 8%, thanks to strong bra salesTotal net sales at Limited Brands inched upward just 1%, to $611.4 million. Comparable store sales decreased of 4%. In addition to Victoria’s Secret, Limited Brands includes the Express, Bath & Body Works, and White Barn Candle Co. retail chains.

The catalog/Internet division of Plano, TX-based J.C. Penney Co. (NYSE: JCP) grew its February sales 6%, to $200 million from $188 million last year. Web sales jumped nearly 35% for the month. Comparable department store sales increased 6%. Total company sales increased 7%, to $1.3 billion. Spring apparel and seasonal product sales exceeded company expectations, and in a release Penney said it had seen "good customer response to Valentine's and Presidents’ Day events."

The exception to the rule of year-over-year increases was San Francisco-based Sharper Image (Nasdaq: SHRP). Its February direct marketing revenue (which includes wholesale) decreased 16%, to $12.2 million. Internet sales fell 14%, to $6.9 million. Total company sales decreased 13%, to $45.4 million, while comparable store sales decreased 20%.