Brookstone Loss Widens

Merrimack, NH-based Brookstone (Nasdaq: BKST), which mails the Brookstone, Hard-to-Find Tools, and Gardeners Eden catalog titles, posted a wider net loss for the third quarter, although its direct marketing segment posted double-digit sales gains.

Brookstone reported a net loss of $6.7 million for the quarter ended Oct. 30, compared to a net loss of $5.9 million last year.

Total company sales climbed 15.9% to $85.4 million, compared to $73.7 million for the third quarter in 2003. Direct marketing sales jumped 17.9% to $15.8 million, while comparable store sales rose 4%.

To continue its direct marketing momentum, Brookstone says it will increase fourth quarter catalog circulation 72%, to 19 million books mailed, compared with 11 million last year.

In its financial release, Brookstone says that it generally carries a loss over the first three quarters and makes its profit for the year in the fourth quarter.