Q2 sales up 7.4% at fashion apparel retailer Nordstrom

The Anniversary Sale is historically the Company’s largest sale of the year and started one week later in July relative to last year. The Company expected the event shift to cause an unfavorable comparison in the second quarter, offset by a favorable impact in the third quarter. Second quarter sales and Anniversary Sale results through the end of July exceeded Company expectations. Second quarter same-store sales increased 4.5 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2011. Net sales in the second quarter were $2.92 billion, an increase of 7.4 percent compared with net sales of $2.72 billion during the same period in fiscal 2011.

Second Quarter Summary

Nordstrom’s second quarter performance reflected top-line strength consistent with the Company’s growth strategy to elevate the customer experience and innovate through ongoing investments.

Nordstrom net sales, which include results from the full-line and Direct businesses, increased $139 million, or 6.1 percent, compared with the same period in fiscal 2011. Same-store sales increased 4.9 percent. Top-performing merchandise categories included Handbags, Women’s Shoes and Cosmetics.

Full-line same-store sales increased 1.1 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2011. The South and Midwest regions were the top-performing geographic areas relative to the second quarter of 2011.

The Direct channel continued to show strong sales growth with an increase of 40 percent, significantly outpacing the overall Company performance and reflecting the Company’s ongoing initiatives in e-commerce.

Nordstrom Rack, which opened six stores during the first half of the year, demonstrated continued sales growth in the second quarter with increases in net sales of 18.9 percent and same-store sales of 7.7 percent.

Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, decreased 98 basis points compared with last year’s second quarter. The decline primarily reflected a combination of the Anniversary Sale shift, enhancements made to the Fashion Rewards program and a reduction in shipping revenue from the launch of free shipping and free returns online that was introduced in the third quarter of 2011.

Retail selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of net sales, increased 61 basis points compared with last year’s second quarter. The increase was primarily due to the Company’s investments in various e-commerce and technology initiatives to improve the customer experience in stores and online.

The Credit segment continued to demonstrate improving trends in its overall performance. Customer payment rates continued to improve. Annualized net write-offs were 4.8 percent of average credit card receivables during the quarter, down from 7.2 percent in the second quarter of 2011. Delinquencies as a percentage of credit card receivables at the end of the second quarter were 1.9 percent, down from 2.7 percent at the end of the second quarter of 2011.