West Marine, Inc. recorded a 4.9% decrease in fourth quarter net sales to $117.8 million from $123.8 million for the year-ago period. The company attributed the sales decline to a $4.2 million decrease in sales attributable to closed stores and a $2.9 million decrease in comparable store sales. Comparable store sales for the fourth quarter decreased 3.0%.
Net sales for the full fiscal year declined 5.2% to $679.1 million from net sales of $716.6 million a year ago, primarily due to a $28.6 million sales decrease attributable to closed stores and a $11.4 million decrease in comparable store sales. Comparable store sales for 2007 decreased 1.9%.
Net sales in the Stores segment for fiscal year 2007 were $593.8 million, a decrease of $36.1 million, or 5.7%, compared to fiscal year 2006. The sales decrease primarily was due to a $23.1 million decrease attributable to closed stores and a $11.4 million decrease in comparable store sales. Port Supply (wholesale) segment sales through the distribution centers for 2007 were $41.6 million, a decrease of $2.0 million, or 4.5%, compared to 2006. Net sales in the Direct Sales segment for 2007 were $43.8 million, an increase of $0.6 million, or 1.3%, compared to 2006.
