Ann Taylor Stores Corporation announced its sales results for the month of September 2007. For the five-week period ended October 6, 2007, net sales increased 6.2% to $246.7 million, compared with net sales of $232.3 million for the five-week period ended September 30, 2006.
By division, net sales for Ann Taylor decreased 5.1% to $87.6 million in September 2007, compared with net sales of $92.3 million in September 2006. For Ann Taylor LOFT, net sales increased 11.8% to $123.2 million in September 2007, compared with net sales of $110.2 million in September 2006.
Comparable store sales for the September 2007 period increased 0.5%, versus a comparable store sales gain of 5.8% in the September 2006 period. By division, comparable store sales for Ann Taylor decreased 4.8% in the 2007 period, compared with an increase of 9.6% the prior year. For Ann Taylor LOFT, comparable store sales increased 2.6% in September 2007, compared with an increase of 1.4% the prior year.
Commenting on the Company's sales, Ann Taylor President & Chief Executive Officer Kay Krill stated, "Despite persistent traffic softness at both divisions, we managed our business well in September."
"At Ann Taylor, the slowdown in traffic negatively affected the business, causing us to be more promotional during the month, but we maintained solid margins. At LOFT, we were pleased with our performance in September, which benefited from very strong in-store metrics that offset particularly soft traffic."
"Clients responded favorably to our more balanced assortment, which was more season- less, featured more color and novelty and offered more relaxed wear-to-work options. We are pleased with the success we achieved during the month in tightly managing our inventory levels, particularly during this period of macroeconomic uncertainty, and we entered October in a healthy position at both divisions."
Ann Taylor Stores Corporation
marketing@alchempro.com
