Philadelphia based maternity apparel retailer Mothers Work Inc announced that preliminary net sales for the month of August 2005 increased approximately 17 percent to approximately $45.8 million from $39.0 million reported for the month of August 2004.
The increase in net sales for August was driven primarily by sales from the Company's new Oh Baby! By Motherhood licensed arrangement with Kohl's, which launched during the second quarter of fiscal 2005, and sales from the expansion of the Company's Two Hearts Maternity collection to an additional 497 Sears locations during late March 2005.
Comparable store sales for August 2005 were down approximately 0.5 percent (based on 1014 locations) versus a comparable store sales decrease of 13.0 percent (based on 888 locations) for August 2004. The comparable store sales decrease of 13.0 percent for August 2004 was negatively impacted by approximately 5 percentage points due to having only four Fridays and four Saturdays in August 2004 compared to five Fridays and five Saturdays in August 2003, as well as the later timing of the Labor Day holiday weekend in 2004 compared to 2003.
During August 2005, the Company opened 1 store (a multi-brand store) and 6 leased department locations, and closed 2 stores, with 1 of these store closings related to a multi-brand store opening. The Company ended the month with 855 stores and 1,598 total retail locations, compared to 879 stores and 1,106 total retail locations atthe end of August 2004. The significant increase in the Company's total retail location count compared to a year ago resulted predominantly from the expansion of the Company's proprietary Two Hearts Maternity collection during late March 2005.
marketing@alchempro.com
