J. Crew, Sharper Image Lastest to Report September Sales Decline

Stamford, CT—Apparel cataloger/retailer J. Crew says that revenue for the five weeks ended Oct. 6 was $66.1 million, down 8% from $72.1 million for fiscal September of last year. Catalog sales for the New York-based company declined 24%, to $10.1 million from $13.3 million last year. Web sales rose nearly 10%, to $10.2 million from $9.3 million. Comparable store sales declined 18%.

If sales trends continue through October, J. Crew expects third-quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to be about $15 million, or 32% below the $22 million it reported last year.

High-tech gadgets cataloger/retailer Sharper Image Corp. reported a dramatic 30% tumble in September sales, to $21.4 million from last September’s $30.3 million. Catalog sales decreased 2%, to $6.6 million from $6.8 million, but Web sales dropped 29%, to $3.0 million from $4.2 million. Total store sales for the San Francisco-based company decreased 39%, to $11.7 million from $19.3 million; comparable store sales decreased 45%.