1Q Direct Sales Jump 40% at Sharper Image
Thanks largely to its proprietary-design products, San Francisco-based The Sharper Image (Nasdaq: SHRP ) continues to churn out double-digit gains. The high-tech gadgets cataloger/retailer said that first-quarter net earnings ballooned 211%, to $2.1 million for the three months ended April 30, compared with $700,000 last year. Total revenue increased 34%, to $156.4 million. Catalog/direct marketing sales increased 40%, to $45.1 million from $32.2 million. Internet sales increased 58%, to $26.2 million. Total store sales increased 26%, to $81.4 million.
Restoration Hardware Direct Sales Up 94%
Surging direct-to-consumer sales helped Corte Madera, CA-based Restoration Hardware (Nasdaq: RSTO) narrow its first-quarter net loss. The home decor cataloger/retailer posted a net loss of $4.0 million for the three months ended May 1, a 23% improvement upon the net loss of $5.2 million for the first quarter of last year.
Net revenue increased 21%, to $98.9 million from $81.8 million for the same period last year. Sales from the direct-to-customer division increased 94%, to $21.9 million. Comparable store sales increased 9%.