Mid-market department store chain Gottschalks Inc announced that same store sales for the month of January 2006 increased 0.3 percent.
Total sales for the month increased 2.3 percent to $35.9 million from $35.1 million in January 2005.
Fourth quarter fiscal 2005 same store sales increased 2.2 percent and total sales increased 3.6 percent to $229.9 million from $221.8 million for the same period of fiscal 2004.
For the 52-week fiscal year, same store sales increased 1.2 percent from the comparable period of fiscal 2004.
Total sales for the fiscal year increased 2.3 percent to $676.9 million compared to $662.0 million in fiscal 2004.
Jim Famalette, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gottschalks, said that their January sales were softer than expected, due in part to a slow post New Year's week.
Their best performing merchandise categories during the month of January were shoes, coats, juniors and men's apparel as well as furniture.
Overall for both the fourth quarter and the fiscal year, they have experienced strong sales trends in their more fashion forward merchandise categories.
They have also maintained their focus throughout the year on improving inventory turnover and ended the fiscal year with 1.2 percent less inventory than the prior year in comparable stores."
Gottschalks is a regional department store chain, currently operating 63 department stores and 6 specialty apparel stores in six western states, including California (39), Washington (10), Alaska (6), Oregon (3), Nevada (2) and Idaho (3).
Gottschalks offers better to moderate brand-name fashion apparel, cosmetics, shoes, accessories and home merchandise.
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