Weyco Group, Inc. reported first-quarter revenues grew 15.6 percent to $75.3 million, benefiting from last year's acquisition of the Bogs and Rafters outdoor footwear brands. Net earnings rose 14.7 percent to $3.9 million, or 35 cents a share.

Sales in the North American wholesale segment grew 17.7 percent to $56.6 million. Bogs' sales were $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to $2.2 million in 2011. The year-ago period reflects sales after the acquisition closed on March 2, 2011.

On a conference call with analysts, Tom Florsheim, Jr., Weyco's chairman and CEO, said the mild weather across the country in the first quarter impacted Bogs' boot sales and reduced anticipated fill-ins during the months of January and February. He said the mild winter “hit all boot companies, especially boot companies that were somewhat weather-dependent” and sales came in less than anticipated. He added, “Looking forward, that tends to also impact the next season as retailers are more conservative in terms of how they plan their fall buy.”

On the bright side, Weyco's takeover of Canadian distribution of Bogs in June is expected to add $6 million to $8 million in sales in 2012 and $8 million to $10 million in 2013. In addition, Weyco's Australian subsidiary is in the process of introducing Bogs in Australia and New Zealand. Overall, the Bogs business is “working out very well” AND Bogs team is doing a “terrific job” around product design. He feels “we have a number of good things going with Bogs just in terms of the overall level of consumer support for the brand.”

Among Weyco's other brands, wholesale sales of Stacy Adams and Nunn Bush were up 17 percent and 13 percent, respectively, while net sales of the Florsheim brand were down 2 percent for the quarter. Operating earnings for the NA Wholesale segment were $4.5 million in the quarter, compared to $3.6 million in 2011.