Furniture Today,
ATLANTA — September sales were up 8% from the same month a year ago at retailer Havertys, and down 7.6% at Pier 1 Imports.


Havertys, which reports on a monthly basis, had the benefit of an extra Saturday this year. Pier 1’s numbers were for the five-week period ended Sept. 30, against a comparable period in 2012.

Same-store sales were up 6.4% at Havertys. The Atlanta-based retailer, with 119 stores in 17 states, said total sales were $72.4 million for the month. For the first nine months of the year, sales were $643.1 million, up 6.8%, with same-store volume up 5%.

“A much better in-stock position relative to last year continues to allow for faster and more reliable scheduling of home deliveries to our customers,” said Clarence Smith, president and CEO.

Written sales in September were up in the low single digits, with the performance weakening after strong increases during the Labor Day weekend, said Smith.

“Preliminary indications of gross profit margins for the third quarter are below the levels that were achieved in the second quarter of this year as there was more clearance activity than planned,” he added.

He also noted the company is launching a series of TV commercials with its new ad agency, Fitzgerald & Co. of Atlanta. “The ‘Have it All’ campaign will strengthen the connection between the Havertys brand and our customers’ desire to create homes reflecting their personal style,” Smith said.

Pier 1 said its same-store sales for the five-week period were down 10.1%. Total sales fell to $144.3 million for the Fort Worth, Texas-based chain. For the fiscal year to date, sales of $891.1 million were down 8.2%, with same-store sales off 11.2%.

“Sales in September were in line with our expectations,” said Chairman and CEO Marvin Girouard. “Customer traffic was below last year, average ticket sales were higher and conversion rates were slightly below the year-ago period.”

He said new holiday merchandise is flowing into Pier 1 stores, and the company will mail a fall catalog to 12 million customers this month, along with other direct-mail pieces. New television and magazine ads also are slated to start, and the company plans a “strong Internet and e-mail presence throughout the remainder of the year,” Girouard said.