West Marine, Inc. saw sales of $195.6 million for the third quarter, which represents an increase of 3.7% from net sales of $188.6 million for the same period last year. Comparable store sales increased 2.4% in the quarter. Net sales for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2006 were $592.8 million, an increase of 4.5% from net sales of $567.5 million for the same period a year ago. Comparable store sales for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2006 increased 2.8%.
Net sales attributable to the company's Stores division for the first nine months of 2006 were $523.8 million, an increase of $29.5 million, or 6.0%, compared to the same period last year. Port Supply (wholesale) division sales through our distribution centers for the first nine months of 2006 were $34.5 million, a decrease of $4.3 million, or (11.2%), compared to the same period last year, primarily due to increased sales to Port Supply customers through our store locations, which are included in Stores sales. Net sales of our Direct Sales division for the first nine months of 2006 were $34.5 million, an increase of $0.2 million, or 0.6%, compared to the same period last year.
Peter Harris, Chief Executive Officer of West Marine, said, “It is encouraging to see our sales growing in the midst of an overall down cycle in the boating industry. Our third quarter sales results are generally as we expected during this difficult period.”
