Hingham based cataloger The Talbots Inc announced the total Company sales for fiscal July, the four weeks ended July 30, 2005, increased 20 percent to $114.7 million from $95.7 million for the four weeks ended July 31, 2004. Comparable store sales increased 11.3 percent for the month.
Sales for the second fiscal quarter, the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2005, increased 12 percent to $449.6 million from $401.5 million for the thirteen weeks ended July 31, 2004.
Retail sales were up 11 percent to $388.8 million from $349.0 million last year.
Comparable store sales for the quarter increased 6.7 percent compared to the prior year. Direct marketing sales, which include catalog and Internet, increased 16 percent to $60.8 million from $52.5 million in the same period last year.
Year-to-date sales for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2005 increased 10 percent to $896.1 million from $813.7 million reported for the twenty-six weeks ended July 31, 2004. Retail sales were up 10 percent to $766.9 million from $697.6 million last year.
Comparable store sales increased 5.5 percent for the twenty-six week period. Direct marketing sales increased 11 percent to $129.2 million from $116.1 million last year.
Arnold B. Zetcher, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "July is historically a clearance month and their better-than-expected comparable store sales increase of 11.3 percent was driven by the strength of their markdown selling. They are very pleased with this result, as they experienced double digit comp increases in all concepts and across all U.S. regions in the period."