July same-store sales remained tough, but there were some glimmers of hope, especially for Nordstrom, which saw a better-than-expected response to its Anniversary Sale.
Here are some results for industry customers and competitors. PacSun is not included because the chain no longer reports monthly same-store sales results. I reported Zumiez results yesterday.
Abercrombie & Fitch continues to post some of the worst results in the retail sector and the company’s Hollister chain is performing particularly badly.
The Buckle
Same-store sales: up 2.8 percent
Total men’s sales: down 3 percent
Positive men’s categories: denim, wovens
Total women’s sales: up 17.5 percent
Positive women’s categories: denim, knit tops, active apparel, accessories.
Accessories: up 7 percent
Footwear: up 5.5 percent
Total No. of stores: 401
Note: The Buckle’s industry-leading same-store sales growth is slowing. But the company was up against a tough comparison. In July of 2008, the company’s same-store sales increased 20.9 percent.
Urban Outfitters
Q2 total company same-store sales – stores: down 6 percent
Q2 total same-stores sales – including direct sales: down 3 percent
Urban Outfitters stores: down 8 percent
Anthropologie stores: down 4 percent
Free People stores: down 16 percent
Total stores: 309
Macy’s
Same-store sales: down 10.7 percent
Bright spot: online sales, which rose 7.9 percent in July
Total No. of stores: 840
Nordstrom
Same-store sales: down 6.9 percent
Strong categories: kids’ shoes, dresses, Point of View, kids’ wear, women’s specialized (intimate apparel, active clothes).
Strong regions: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South
Total No. of stores: 175
Note: The company said sales during its Anniversary Sale were better than expected, with same-store sales during the first 16 days down 6.6 percent vs. the same days during the sale last year.
American Apparel
Same-store sales: down 13 percent
Total No. of stores: 275
Note: The company was up a tough comparison with same-store sales rising 25 percent in July 2008.
Hot Topic
Total same-store sales: down 8.5 percent
Hot Topic stores: down 8.8 percent
Torrid stores: down 7.6 percent
Total No. of stores: 835
Abercrombie & Fitch
Total company same-store sales: down 28 percent
Same-store sales by chain:
Hollister: down 32 percent
Ruehl: down 28 percent
Abercrombie: down 27 percent
Abercrombie & Fitch: down 25 percent
Total No. of stores: 1,132
Aeropostalé
Same-store sales: up 6 percent
Total No of stores: 927
Note: this low cost chain continues to do well in the recession.
