Philadelphia-based apparel and home decor merchant Urban Outfitters (Nasdaq: URBN) reported an 11% increase in its direct-to-consumer business, which includes the Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban Outfitters catalogs. For the three months ended July 31, catalog/Internet sales reached $31.5 million, up from $28.2 million in the second quarter of 2005.
Total company net sales increased 13%, to $285.6 million. “We were pleased with the results produced this quarter by our Free People wholesale and retail groups and the Urban European stores, all of which delivered sales significantly above our plans,’” president Richard A. Hayne said in a statement. “However, store sales at our two large retail brands were below plan due to missed fashion opportunities. During the quarter we continued to develop a much clearer understanding of the fashion trends our customers are responding to, and we are working to adjust our forward season assortments accordingly.”