Backorders Cause Catalog Sales Decline at PC Mall
Unfilled backorders of recently introduced products led to a 13% decline in first-quarter catalog sales for computers reseller PC Mall (Nasdaq: MALL). But thanks to a 15% increase in outbound business sales and a 2% boost in sales from its PC Mall Gov subsidiary, which specializes in government sales, total first-quarter sales increased 23%. Even better, the Torrance, CA-based company ended the quarter in the black.
For the three months ended March 31, revenue was $235 million, compared with $192 million in sales a year ago. The company netted $292,000, whereas last year it had a first-quarter loss of $6.4 million.
Revenue Down at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Accusations of insider trading continue to hurt Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (NYSE: MSO). First-quarter revenue for the New York-based company, which includes Martha Stewart the Catalog for Living and the Martha Stewart Living magazine, fell 15%, to to $58.0 million for the three months ended March 31. Sales within the Internet/direct commerce unit were $7.0 million, down slightly from $7.1 million a year ago.
The first-quarter net loss swelled to $4.5 million from $234,000 a year ago. Ad pages with the magazine, the company’s largest business unit, tumbled 28%.