Sears Reports October Comparable Store Sales
Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) announced today that comparable domestic store revenues increased 1.9 percent for the four weeks ended Oct. 30, 2004. Total domestic store revenues were $1.90 billion for the four-week period in October 2004, up 0.1 percent compared with the four weeks ended Nov. 1, 2003.
"October comparable store sales met our expectations for improved performance," said Sears Chairman and CEO Alan J. Lacy. "We were particularly pleased with our home appliance business, which showed strong sales growth due to customer response to innovative new products. We were also pleased to see a sales increase in the home electronics business following our reset of the department, which was just completed in September."
As expected, apparel sales were down slightly compared with last October. Specialty retail revenues were up in the mid-single digit range, with sales gains achieved at Sears Dealer Stores, The Great Indoors and Orchard Supply Hardware.
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Domestic Store Revenues & Comparable Store Revenues
(*According to National Retail Federation Fiscal Calendar.)
(**A store is considered to be comparable at the beginning of the 13th
month after the store is opened.)
Fiscal Period Ending Percent Change
October 30, November 1, All Comp
2004 2003 Stores Stores**
October $1,897,100,000 $1,894,800,000 0.1% 1.9%
Year-to-Date* $18,660,700,000 $19,314,200,000 -3.4% -2.1%
The company has made available by phone a recorded message on sales performance of its domestic stores for October 2004. The message can be heard by calling (847) 286-6111 and will be available for approximately one week.
About Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. With revenues in 2003 of $41.1 billion, the company offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the U.S. and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears is the only retailer where consumers can find each of the Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End brands together -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the largest provider of product repair services with more than 14 million service calls made annually.
SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
CONTACT: News Media Contact, Edgar P. McDougal, +1-847-286-9669, or
Investor Contact, Scott A. Bohaboy, +1-847-286-7419, both of Sears, Roebuck
and Co.
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