Claire time again!
February 3, 8:02 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Claire's Stores, Inc.
Claire's Stores Reports January Sales Up 37%
PEMBROKE PINES, Fla., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Claire's Stores, Inc. (NYSE: CLE - news) announced sales for the four weeks ended January 29 were $54,603,000, a 37 percent increase over sales of $39,869,000 reported for the comparable four week period ended January 30, 1999. Same store sales were down four percent. Same store comparisons do not include the performance of the Afterthoughts stores, which were acquired December 1, 1999.
For the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2000, ended January 29, sales were $307,241,000, a 37% increase over sales of $224,793,000 for the last three months of Fiscal 1999. Same store sales were up two percent for the quarter.
Sales for the 12 months of Fiscal 2000, were $846,462,000, up 28% from $661,856,000 in Fiscal 1999, the company said. Same store sales increased five percent.
All figures have been restated to reflect the disposition of Just Nikki, Inc.
Rowland Schaefer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Claire's, said, ''We were very pleased that the same store sales comparison of two percent was on target for the quarter. Our integration plans for the 750-plus Afterthoughts stores are on plan and we expect to complete the total integration process in the second quarter of Fiscal 2001.
''We also are very proud to report that earnings from operations in the fourth quarter, ended January 29, will meet analysts' consensus estimates of $.90 per diluted share. The company will release year-end earnings figures on February 17,'' Mr. Schaefer added.
Claire's Stores, Inc., a leading mall-based retailer of popular priced teens' accessories and costume jewelry, currently operates more than 3,000 stores under the following trade names: Claire's Accessories, Afterthoughts, The Icing, Velvet Pixies, and Mr. Rags. The stores are located throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Japan, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. The company also has announced that it will acquire a 42-store fashion accessory chain in France. Closing of that acquisition is expected this month.
This release contains ''forward-looking statements'' that represent the company's expectations or beliefs with regard to future events. These ''forward-looking statements'' are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These factors include, without limitation, changes in consumer preferences, competition and economic conditions in the United States.
Claire's Stores, Inc.
(Monthly Sales in 000s) *
Reporting Change FY 2000 FY 1999 TOTAL SAME STORE
CHANGE CHANGE
February $ 46,807 $ 36,032 30% 12%
March 69,013 49,824 39% 21%
April 54,674 45,635 20% 5%
May 54,102 41,554 30% 13%
June 71,047 57,586 23% 9%
July 60,797 49,344 23% 6%
August 66,904 55,951 20% 0%
September 63,003 55,139 14% (4%)
October 52,874 45,999 15% (2%)
November 63,811 56,287 13% 0%
December 188,827 128,637 47% 5%
January 54,603 39,869 37% (4%)
Year to Date 846,462 661,856 28% 5%
* Restated to reflect the disposition of Just Nikki, Inc.
Note: Other Claire's Stores, Inc. press releases, a corporate profile, the company's most recent 10-K and 10-Q reports, and proxy statement are accessible through Claire's Stores' Internet home page: clairestores.com. |
