Apparel retailer Cache posts 5.9% sales dip in Q3 2012

For the 13-week period ended September 29, 2012:

• Net sales decreased 5.9% to $45.8 million from $48.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Comparable store sales declined 2.9%, following a 5.7% increase in comparable store sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2011;
• Gross profit decreased 25.8% to $14.7 million, or 32.0% of net sales, compared to $19.8 million, or 40.6% of net sales, in the third quarter of fiscal 2011;
• Operating loss totaled $8.1 million, as compared to an operating loss of $3.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011; and
• Net loss totaled $6.4 million or ($0.49) per share, which included a $1.3 million charge or $0.10 per share for an increase in the tax valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets. This compares to a net loss of $1.8 million or ($0.14) per share last year

Thomas Reinckens, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Our third quarter results were at the better end of our revised expectations, prior to an increase in the tax valuation allowance. Third quarter results were negatively affected by an unfavorable response to our summer and fall sportswear assortments, as well as an increase in the valuation allowance of $1.3 million against net deferred tax assets.

“We have identified the actions that we believe are necessary to bring about a positive change in our business. We are working expeditiously to intensify our offerings of sophisticated fashions which our customers look for in our brand. At the same time, we continue to maximize strong selling categories such as dresses and generate solid increases in our e-commerce sales.

“Our search to identify a new President is well underway and we believe that we are on track to achieve our targeted savings of $3 million in fiscal 2013. While we remain cautious as we enter the final quarter of the year, we are confident in our strategies, which we expect to enable us to improve our sales and margin trends as we enter 2013.”

For the 39-week period ended September 29, 2012:

• Net sales increased 1.5% to $163.4 million from $161.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Comparable store sales increased 4.0%, as compared to an increase of 6.4% in the first nine months of fiscal 2011;
• Gross profit decreased 8.6% to $63.2 million, or 38.7% of net sales compared to $69.2 million, or 43.0% of net sales, in the first nine months of fiscal 2011;
• Operating loss totaled $8.5 million, as compared to an operating loss of $143,000 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011; and
• Net loss was $6.6 million or ($0.51) per share, which included a $1.3 million charge or $0.10 per share for an increase in the tax valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets, compared to net income of $205,000 or $0.02 per diluted share in the first nine months of fiscal 2011.