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Kirkland’s announced that its net sales figures for the 13-week period ended July 29, 2013, increased 4.8% to $91 million, up from $86.8 million for the same period last year.


Store sales for the second quarter slipped 9% compared to a 10.2% decrease in the prior-year quarter. Sales were off 10.7% in mall stores 5.5% in off-mall stores. The company opened nine stores and closed five during the quarter.

Year to date net sales for the company are up 7% from the same period last year, to $183.6 million. The company has opened 19 stores and closed 24 stores since the beginning of the year.

Kirkland’s expects to report a second quarter net loss of $0.30 to $0.32 per diluted share, including a one-time charge of $0.02 related to an agreement entered into during the quarter with company CEO Robert Alderson for guaranteed post-retirement benefits.

Alderman expressed disappointment over the results but said the company continued to make progress by managing its inventory levels, adding that a decrease in customer traffic for the quarter was offset by an increase in the average ticket price.

Kirkland’s plans to issue its earnings release for the second quarter before the market opens on Aug. 29, and will host a conference call later that morning at 11 a.m.