FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
THE
CHILDREN’S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC. REPORTS MARCH SALES
Secaucus, New Jersey – April 9, 2009
– The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE) today announced
net sales of $156.5 million for the five-week period ended April 4, 2009, a 2%
decrease compared to net sales of $160.1 million for the five-week period ended
April 5, 2008.
Consolidated
comparable retail sales for the fiscal month of March 2009 declined 2% on top of
a 4% decline in March 2008. U.S. comparable store sales declined 3% in March
2009 on top of a 5% decline for the same period last year; Canadian comparable
store sales declined 4% in March 2009 on top of an 8% decline for the same
period last year; and e-commerce sales increased 38% during March 2009 on top of
a 37% increase for the same period last year.
During
March 2009, the Company opened two stores and closed one.
|
|
March
|
Fiscal
Year-to-Date
|
|
Net
Sales:
- In
Millions
- Change
vs. Year Ago
|
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|
$156.5
-2%
|
$160.1
+3%
|
$266.9
-2%
|
$271.5
+8%
|
|
Consolidated
Comparable Retail Sales*:
- Change
vs. Year Ago
|
-2%
|
-4%
|
-1%
|
+1%
|
*Note: As
previously announced, beginning February 2009, the Company is reporting
consolidated comparable retail sales based on constant dollars and including
e-commerce sales. A chart comparing monthly consolidated comparable retail sales
results based on the new methodology and “as reported” for fiscal years 2006,
2007 and 2008, was included in the Company’s January sales release issued
February 5, 2009.
In
conjunction with today’s March sales release, you are invited to listen to the
Company’s pre-recorded monthly sales call, which will be available beginning at
7:30 a.m. Eastern Time today through Thursday, April 16, 2009. To
access the call, dial 800-283-4799 or you may listen through the Investor
Relations section of the Company’s website, www.childrensplace.com.
The
Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer of
children’s merchandise. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture
and sells high-quality, value-priced merchandise under the proprietary “The
Children’s Place” brand name. As of April 4, 2009, the Company owned
and operated 918 The Children’s Place stores and an online store at www.childrensplace.com.
This
press release (and above referenced call) may contain certain forward-looking
statements regarding future circumstances. These forward-looking statements are
based upon the Company's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to
various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described in
the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in
the “Risk Factors” section of its report on Form 10-K. The following risks and
uncertainties could cause actual results, events and performance to differ
materially: the risk that the Company will be unsuccessful in gauging fashion
trends and changing consumer preferences, and the risk resulting from
the highly competitive nature of the Company’s business and its dependence on
consumer spending patterns, which may be affected by the downturn in the
economy. Readers (or listeners on the call) are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of
the date they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to release
publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to
reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events. The inclusion of any statement in this
release does not constitute an admission by the Company or any other person that
the events or circumstances described in such statement are
material.
CONTACT:
The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc.
Jane Singer, Vice President, Investor Relations, (201) 453-6955
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