West 49 Inc., Canada's action sport retailer, reported fourth quarter-to-date sales were down 0.5% to CN$54.8 million ($44.7 mm). Quarter-to-date consolidated same-store sales were down 0.9% compared to the year before, with the West 49 banner's comparable store sales declining by 1.7%. For the month of December, net sales increased 1.7% CN$34.9 million ($28.5 mm) from a year ago. The higher sales were driven primarily by growth in overall comps of 1.3%. Comps for the core West 49 banner were up 0.1%.


Due to fiscal calendars that more closely resemble the actual calendar, Golfsmith and West Marine reported full fourth quarter sales results. Like the Q4-to-date results reported by others, these too were down.

West Marine, Inc. reported sales slid 6.1% for the fourth quarter to $111.1 million from $118.3 million last year as comps decreased 5.1%. On a constant-calendar basis, comparable store sales declined 9.9%. Net sales for the fiscal year declined 7.1% to $631.3 million from $679.6 last year. Net sales attributable to its Stores segment for the Q4  2008 were $95.3 million, a decrease of 6.0% from last year. 


West Marine expects to report a net loss of 44 cents to 50 cents per share for the fiscal year, slightly better than earlier guidance of a loss in the range of 55 cents to 60 cents and a sharp improvement from a year-ago loss of $2.31.

A pair of British sporting goods retailers, JJB Sports and JD Sports Fashion, both reported expectations for the full fiscal year. Of all the retailers to update guidance this week, JD Sport was the only one to have an upbeat perspective.


JJB Sports Plc expects a loss before tax and exceptional items between £5 million and £10 million in its year ended January 25.
Within this result the LifeStyle division (the Original Shoe Company and Qube) was expected to incur losses of about £15 million. Options regarding the future of the LifeStyle business were also being considered. JJB said that over the five weeks to January comps were down 8% at the group's retail stores and up 8.4% at its health club business, which is now up for sale.


JD Sports Fashion Plc reported sales rose 2.8% in the five weeks ended January 3. Pre-tax profit will be “marginally” above estimates, helped by a strategy of delaying marking down merchandise until December 26.  By division, sales at Sports Fascias were up 1.0% and Fashion Fascias jumped 12.5%. The Group's cumulative comparable sales for the fiscal year-to-date were up 3.8% with Sports Fascias up 3.1% and Fashion Fascias up 8.0%. Gross margins were said to have improved marginally over last year.