![]() Margins would continue to be under pressure given the ongoing discounting pressure in the segment. Second half revenue was traditionally larger and that was expected to be the case this year, but the company was cautious about the outlook for the next half given the inconsistent pattern of trade in the past six months, Postie Plus said. The first half result, due on March 24, was expected to show a reduction in last year's first half loss. Market share increased further in what continued to be a difficult retail climate, particularly for the speciality apparel segment, Postie Plus said today. Same store sales at the group, which includes Postie and Babycity stores, were also up 4.6 per cent from a year earlier for the half year to the end of January. They have fallen from a year high of 61c a year ago, but are up from the year low of 20c reached in February.Clothing and baby products retailer Postie Plus Group lifted first half sales 4.6 percent from a year earlier, and is expecting a smaller loss for the six month period. Postie Plus shares last traded yesterday at 30c. Postie Plus sold the Arbuckles chain of manchester and homewares stores last year. ![]() "We were free from the crippling stock overhang we have had to contend with since 2006, the legacy of inefficient warehousing, logistics and retail delivery systems and Arbuckles' accumulating losses." "We started the 2008-09 year in a much stronger position than we have been in for some years," Mr Boskell said. Savings in finance costs would come through in the second half. ![]() The business was also benefiting from cost containment and operational efficiencies.Ĭoupled with savings from the lower inventories, bank debt had been reduced by $6m, or 32 percent, compared with the same period last year. ![]() Inventories were down 30 percent in total compared with the prior first half, with apparel inventories reduced by 15 percent, Mr Boskell said. Margins were continuing to lift and the group had entered the second half with a clean stock position for the crucial winter selling period. The result was good considering the state of the market and the rocky start in the first quarter when retailers had to battle for every sale, he said. "But we anticipate it will be a late run in the final quarter for us to reach the line and deliver the modest profit we seek." Managing director Ron Boskell said the company was quietly confident it would turn around the losses at the end of this financial year. No interim dividend would be paid due to the economic environment and the results. It said it was on track to deliver a modest full year profit in a generally stronger second half, provided the recession did not worsen. The company runs Postie Plus and Baby City stores. Net loss for the half year was $2.7m, compared to $2.9m a year earlier. In the first quarter sales were down 8.8 percent from the corresponding quarter a year before to $19.9m, while in the second quarter the decline was 2.3 percent to $30m. Retailer Postie Plus Group's half year sales fell 5 percent from a year earlier, but the company said margins improved and the decline eased in the second quarter.įor the six months to the end of January the company had operating revenues of $49.9 million, down from $52.5m a year earlier.
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