Second Quarter/Spring Season Outlook: The Company currently expects a consolidated second quarter loss per diluted share to be in the range of $0.25 to $0.27. Although Talbots brand second quarter was difficult, virtually all of this anticipated loss is due to J. Jill brand operations and acquisition-related and financing costs.
This anticipated second quarter loss per diluted share in the range of $0.25 to $0.27, compares to a $0.07 loss per diluted share reported in the same period last year.
The Company attributes its disappointing second quarter performance to negative comps at both the Talbots and J. Jill brands, resulting from a lack of positive customer response to their spring and summer assortments, as well as a significant decline in customer traffic.
In light of the much publicized uncertainty in the macro environment, the Company believes that its customers have become increasingly more discriminating regarding their discretionary spending.
The Company further commented that its Talbots brand second quarter performance is typically the weakest of the spring season, due to the impact of its semi-annual sale event. However, despite the internal and external pressures throughout the first half of the year, the Talbots brand is expected to be comfortably profitable in the spring season.
marketing@alchempro.com
