Urban Outfitters sales for the first quarter climbed by 59% over the same period last year, to $170.3 million and easily set a new Company first quarter record. This sharp increase was driven by:
— a 32% jump in total Company comparable store sales
— a 24% increase in the number of stores in operation resulting in new and noncomparable store sales gains of $22.1 million
— a 95% surge in direct-to-consumer sales; and
— a 47% rise in wholesale sales
The Company achieved a 32% comparable store sales gain this year on top of a 2% increase last year. Detailed by brand, comparable sales at our Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters stores rose by 32%, 54% and 33%, respectively.
“Our first quarter sales were simply extraordinary,” said Richard A. Hayne, Chairman and President, adding that “customer response to our product offerings excelled throughout the quarter, across all brands and distribution channels, in all regions of the country, and among all merchandise categories.”
Net sales for the three months were as follows:
Three months ended
April 30,
2004 2003
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(in thousands)
Urban Outfitters store sales $78,566 $52,109
Anthropologie store sales 66,574 40,954
Direct-to-consumer sales 18,601 9,527
Free People sales 6,549 4,438
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Total net sales $170,290 $107,028
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