Zumiez Inc. saw December sales increase 43.5% to $44.5 million, compared to $31.0 million for the same month last year. The company's comparable store sales increased 20.9% for the month on top of a 16.2% jump in the year ago period.
According to a recent conference call, the growth came throughout the month, but was especially strong in the week before Christmas. Comparable store sales increased 18.6%, 16.5%, 14.2%, 38.2%, and 8.6%, respectively, for the five weeks of the fiscal month.
Management attributed the strong month to “new stores, an increase in comparable store transactions, and an increase in average unit retail.” All departments posted positive comp sales, with men's sales leading the way. Based on these stronger than expected results, the company now sees diluted earnings per share to be approximately 90 cents in fiscal 2005, an increase from previous guidance of diluted earnings per share of 84 cents to 85 cents, and fiscal 2004 earnings of 56 cents per diluted share.
