Staples Reports Solid Growth for 2005
Total sales for Framingham, MA-based catalog/retailer Staples grew 9% and 11%, respectively, for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Jan. 28. Fourth-quarter sales reached $4.5 billion; full-year revenue hit $16.1 billion.
Fourth-quarter sales from its North American Delivery Business– which includes the Staples and Quill catalog and online businesses as well as the Staples contract delivery business–grew 18%. North American Retail sales increased 8%, and comparable store sales rose 3%.
Annual net income climbed 18%, to $834 million. North American Delivery revenue for the year rose 18% as well. Full-year North American Retail sales rose 9%, while comparable store sales increased 3%.
Worldwide e-commerce sales reached $3.8 billion for the year, a 27% increase compared to 2004.
Annual Sales, Income Up for Aristotle
Stamford, CT-based Aristotle Corp., the parent company of the Nasco family of education and farming catalogs, saw revenue and income gains for the both the fourth quarter and the full year ended Dec. 31.
Fourth-quarter net sales increased 6%, to $38.2 million from $36.1 million in 2004. Annual sales increased 8%, to $188.8 million from $175.1 million.
Net income for the fourth quarter rose 36%, to $4.1 million from $3.0 million. And annual income increased nearly 18%, to $27.2 million from $23.1 million for 2004.