FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
THE
CHILDREN’S PLACE REPORTS SEPTEMBER SALES
Announces
Plans to Automate Portions of E-Commerce Operations in Alabama Distribution
Center
Secaucus, New Jersey – October 8,
2009 – The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE) today
announced net sales of $174.7 million for the five-week period ended October 3,
2009, an increase of 9% compared to sales of $160.7 million for the five-week
period ended October 4, 2008. Comparable retail sales, which include online
sales, increased 4% in September 2009 on top of a 1% increase for the same
period last year. During September 2009, comparable store sales increased 2% in
the U.S. and declined 1% in Canada, while online sales increased
54%.
During
September 2009, the Company opened one store.
|
|
September
|
Year-to-Date
|
|
Net
Sales:
- In
Millions
- Change
vs. Year Ago
|
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|
$174.7
+9%
|
$160.7
+2%
|
$1,031.0
-1%
|
$1,044.0
+11%
|
|
Comparable
Retail Sales:
- Change
vs. Year Ago
|
+4%
|
+1%
|
-3%
|
+6%
|
The
Company also announced plans to automate portions of its e-commerce fulfillment
operations in its distribution center located in Fort Payne, Alabama. The total
cost of the implementation is estimated to be $20 million, with approximately
one-third of the capital expenditure expected to be incurred during fiscal 2009
and the remaining two-thirds expected to be incurred in the first half of fiscal
2010. The Company anticipates it will finalize the implementation and begin
utilizing the automated distribution system during the second quarter of fiscal
2010.
In
conjunction with today’s September 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, October 15,
2009. To access the recording, please visit the Investor Relations
section of the Company’s website at www.childrensplace.com.
About
The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc.
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 October 3, 2009, the Company
owned and operated 942 The Children’s Place stores and an online store at www.childrensplace.com.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
press release (and above referenced call) may contain certain forward-looking
statements regarding future circumstances, including statements regarding the
total cost and timing of implementation of plans to automate portions of the
Company’s e-commerce fulfillment operations in the Fort Payne, Alabama
distribution center. 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 annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended January 31, 2009. Included among the risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially are the risk
that the Company will be unsuccessful in gauging fashion trends and changing
consumer preferences, and the risks 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.
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CONTACT:
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The
Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc.
Jane Singer, Vice President, Investor Relations,
(201) 453-6955
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