Mixed Shopping Bag For July

Kmart announced same-store sales increased 3.4 percent in July, one of a solid group of large retailers celebrating the past four weeks'results.

“We are extremely pleased with our results for the month of July,” said ceo Chuck Conaway. “We are driving customer traffic and conversion through the success of our BlueLight Always program.”

Other retailers sharing pieces of the July pie include The May Department Stores Co., reporting a 4 percent increase for July net retail sales. Dollar General's total sales jumped 19.3 percent. Target Corp. announced that its sales were up 11.7 percent, while comp-store sales increased 4.6 percent.

Venator Group (Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker and Champs Sports) reported a 9.3 percent increase in sales for the 13-week period ended Aug. 4, 2001, and a 7.7 percent same-store sales increase. For the 26-week period, sales increased 6.4 percent and comp- store sales increased 6.2 percent.

Cato Corp. reported a 12 percent sales increase for the month, and a 4 percent comp-store sales increase. The 825-store North Carolina-based retail chain opened 18 new stores in July (in Marietta, Savannah, Decatur, Union City, Roswell and Douglas, Ga.; Eagle Pass and San Antonio, Texas; Christiansburg and Bristol, Va.; Troy, Mo.; Murray and Louisville, Ky.; Indianola and Greenville, Miss.; Charles Town, W.Va.; Phenix City, Ala. and Jacksonville, Fla.). During the first half of the year, the company opened 40 new stores, relocated eight stores, and closed four stores. Cato says it is on plan to open 85 stores forthe year.

Abercrombie & Fitch reported that July net sales increased 26 percent over last year, though comp-store sales decreased 14 percent.

Sears ceo Alan Lacy summarized July as being “another challenging month, as the retail environment continues to be difficult.” Sears announced that its total sales decreased 2.5 percent. The Spiegel Group lost 5 percent of its total sales, and comp-store sales at its Eddie Bauer division decreased 9 percent for the four-week period and 10 percent for the 30-week period ended July 28, 2001. And ShopKo Stores Inc. reported a 1.9 percent loss on consolidated sales this month.

Charming Shoppes, Inc., reported a 5 percent loss in total sales for the four weeks ended Aug. 4, 2001, and a 7 percent comp-store sales decline. But it has received regulatory clearance for the acquisition of Lane Bryant fr4om the Limited Inc. for $335 million.