May was not a stellar month for many U.S. retailers, though industry customer The Buckle and inexpensive teen retailer Aeropostale continue to post strong numbers.
Here are some results for industry customers and competitors. Zumiez reported results Wednesday. PacSun no longer reports monthly sales.
The Buckle
May same-store sales: up 13.4 percent
Total men’s sales: up 1 percent
Strong categories: denim and active apparel
Total women’s sales: up 35 percent
Strong categories: denim, knit tops, active apparel, footwear
Accessories: up 33 percent
Footwear: up 23 percent
Year-to-date same-store sales: up 16.7 percent
Total stores: 376
American Apparel
Same-store sales: down 24 percent
New stores: five in May – New Haven, Schaumburg, Ill., Honolulu, Vaughan, Ontario, and Dresden, Germany.
Total stores: 270
Hot Topic
Total May same-store sales: down 6.4 percent
Hot Topic stores: down 6.3 percent
Torrid stores: down 6.9 percent
Note: Women’s declined 22 percent at Hot Topic stores, men’s fell 8 percent and music and accessories were flat.
Total stores: 679 Hot Topic stores, 157 Torrid stores.
Abercrombie & Fitch
Total May same-store sales: down 28 percent
Hollister stores: down 32 percent
Abercrombie & Fitch stores: down 25 percent
Abercrombie stores: down 28 percent
Ruehl stores: down 33 percent
Total stores: 1,128
Aeropostale
Total same-stores sales: up 19 percent, with all weeks comping positive.
Women’s comps: up high teens
Men’s comps: up mid-20s
Note: the company said merchandise margins rose and e-commerce sales increased 80 percent.
Total stores: 914
Nordstrom
Total May same-store sales: down 13.1 percent
Women’s and kids sale: In the first 11 days of the annual sale that started May 20, same-stores sales were down 14 percent compared to the same period last year.
Best departments: Women’s coats and dresses, Individualist, Savvy, Narrative
Best regions: South, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest
Year-to-date same-store sales: down 13.2 percent
Total stores: 176
Macy’s
Total May same-store sales: down 9.1 percent
Year-to-date same-store sales: down 9.1 percent
Total stores: 840
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