The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. announced comparable store sales in the four weeks ended August 25 increased 2.2 percent. Total sales increased 2.1 percent to $180.8 million in the current year compared with $177.1 million in the prior year period.
Year-to-date comparable store sales decreased 0.3 percent. Year-to-date total sales decreased 0.4 percent to $1,416.4 million compared with $1,422.5 million in the same period last year.
“We were pleased with our August sales increase and attribute the sequential improvement to our continued efforts to refine our merchandise assortment and to deliver clear, compelling marketing messages,” said Brendan Hoffman, president and chief executive officer. “Favorable customer response to new transitional merchandise yielded sales growth in ladies and special size sportswear, both moderate and better; shoes; children’s and home. Fine jewelry also had strong sales gains. In addition, our eCommerce business continued to post double-digit sales gains. Our well-managed inventory enabled us to effectively respond to sales trends in season and we believe we can build upon this momentum as we continue to implement our merchandising and marketing strategies.”
“Our excess borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility was approximately $403 million at the end of August,” stated Keith Plowman, executive vice president and chief financial officer.
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., with corporate headquarters in York, Pennsylvania and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operates 272 department stores, which includes 11 furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s and Younkers nameplates and, in the Detroit, Michigan area, under the Parisian nameplate.
