Sales Up at Systemax

Sales at manufacturer/marketer Systemax were up for the fourth quarter and full year ended Dec. 31. Net sales for the fourth quarter increased 15%, to $938.2 million, while income for the same period jumped 46%, to $18.4 million. Internet sales rose 16%, to $235 million.

For the full year, the Port Washington, NY-based computer and industrial supplies firm posted a 4% rise in net sales, to $3.2 billion. Net income dropped 12.6%, to $46.1 million, from $52.6 million in 2008. Systemax chairman/CEO Richard Leeds credited the rise in part to increased consumer demand.

“Our consumer channel sales benefited from a robust holiday season that saw consumers shopping for lower priced products such as netbook computers, digital cameras and smaller flat screen televisions both online and at our retail stores, as well as the Circuit City asset purchase which was completed in May 2009,” Leeds said in a statement. “The market share growth strategy we have followed since the beginning of the economic downturn is beginning to pay off for us.”