Birks & Mayors Reports First Half Comparable Store Sales Increase 3% and Reports Mid-Year Financial

Birks & Mayors Reports First Half Comparable Store Sales Increase 3% and Reports Mid-Year Financial Results

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Birks & Mayors Inc. (the "Company" or "Birks & Mayors") (NYSE AMEX:BMJ), which operates 58 luxury jewelry stores across Canada, Florida and Georgia, reported results for the twenty-six week period ended September 29, 2012.

For the 26 Weeks Ended September 29, 2012 compared to the 26 Weeks Ended September 24, 2011

• Net sales decreased 3.8% to $124.9 million from $129.9 million in the prior-year period;

• Comparable store sales were up 3% as compared to the prior-year period;

• Gross profit margin decreased by 120 basis points over the prior-year period; and

• The net loss for the period was $5.7 million, or $0.47 per share, compared to a net loss of $5.6 million, or $0.49 per share, in the prior-year period.

Six-Month Fiscal 2013 Results

Net sales for the twenty-six weeks ended September 29, 2012 decreased by 3.8% to $124.9 million from $129.9 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 24, 2011. The $5.0 million decrease in reported net sales is primarily attributable to $4.6 million of lower sales related to the closure of seven stores which operated during the first half of last year and $2.3 million of lower sales related to translating the sales of the Canadian operation to U.S. dollars with a weaker Canadian dollar as compared to the prior period, partially offset by a 3% increase in comparable store sales. The comparable store sales increase of 3% reflects an 8% comparable store sales increase in Canada and a 2% decrease in the U.S. Comparable store sales in both countries were negatively impacted by lower store traffic which resulted in a decrease in the number of sales transactions, however, both regions experienced increases in average sales consistent with the Company's current merchandising and marketing strategies. While the increase in average sales transactions in Canada was able to drive comparable store sales growth, the increase in average sales transaction in the U.S. was not large enough to offset the decrease in the number of sales transactions associated with the reduced store traffic.

Gross profit was $53.9 million, or 43.2% of net sales in the first six months of fiscal 2012, as compared to $57.7 million, or 44.4% of net sales, in the prior year period. The $3.7 million decrease in gross profit was primarily related to the decrease in sales from closed stores as well as the 120 basis point decrease in gross margin and $1.1 million decrease related to translating the gross profit of the Canadian operation to U.S. dollars. The 120 basis point decrease in gross margin was primarily attributable to the sale of higher priced products which have a lower margin rate representing a larger percentage of the overall sales as well as a strategic decision to more aggressively reduce inventory of discontinued products and brands.

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") for the period were $52.7 million, or 42.2% of net sales, as compared to $55.3 million, or 42.6% of net sales, in the prior-year period. The $2.6 million decrease in SG&A includes a $1.0 million decrease in expenses related to foreign currency translation resulting from the translation of Canadian expenses into U.S. dollars with a relatively weaker Canadian dollar, and lower expenses related to the seven closed stores.

Inventory totaled $153.9 million at September 29, 2012, as compared to $146.0 million at September 24, 2011, an increase of $7.8 million or 5.4%. The increase in inventory is primarily attributable to $3.6 million of higher inventory related to translating the Company's Canadian inventory into U.S. dollars with a relatively weaker Canadian dollar and the decision to accelerate the timing of purchases of diamonds in order to take advantage of more favorable pricing.

Jean-Christophe Bédos, President and Chief Executive Officer of Birks & Mayors, commented: "While our sales decline in the first half of the fiscal year was somewhat anticipated by the decrease in the number of retail stores, our business in Florida continues to be impacted by lower customer traffic in that state. However, we are experiencing stronger sales and traffic performance in the state of Georgia. We are optimistic about the favorable same store sales growth in Canada experienced during the first half of the fiscal year and are confident that the introduction of new Birks products and a stronger holiday season will help us experience sales increases in the second half of the year thereby allowing us to achieve an improvement in our bottom line profitability for the year."

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss the results of the 26-week period ended September 29, 2012, is scheduled for today, November 15, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts in the U.S. and Canada interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-888-430-8709 approximately ten minutes prior to the start of the call. All other international callers please dial 1-719-457-2661 prior to the presentation. The conference call will also be web-cast live at www.birksandmayors.com. A replay of this call will be available until 11:59 pm Eastern Time on November 22, 2012 and can be accessed by dialing 1-877-870-5176 and entering conference PIN number 1750240.

Birks & Mayors is a leading operator of luxury jewelry stores in the United States and Canada. As of November 15, 2012, we operated 31 stores under the Birks brand in most major metropolitan markets of Canada, 24 stores in the Southeastern U.S. under the Mayors brand, one store under the Rolex brand name and two retail locations in Calgary and Vancouver under the Brinkhaus brand. Birks was founded in 1879 and developed over the years into Canada's premier retailer, designer and manufacturer of fine jewelry, timepieces, sterling and plated silverware and gifts. Mayors was founded in 1910 and has maintained the intimacy of a family-owned boutique while becoming renowned for its fine jewelry, timepieces, giftware and service. Additional information can be found on Birks & Mayors web site, www.birksandmayors.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking" statements concerning the Company's performance and strategies, including the confidence that the introduction of new Birks products and a stronger holiday season will help the Company experience sales increases in the second half of the year thereby allowing the Company to achieve an improvement in its bottom line profitability for the year. Because such statements include various risks and uncertainties, actual results might differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and no assurance can be given that the Company will meet the results projected in the forward-looking statements.These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the following: (i) economic, political and market conditions, including the economies of the U.S. and Canada, which could adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition, including our revenue and profitability, through the impact of changes in the real estate markets (especially in the state of Florida), changes in the equity markets and decreases in consumer confidence and the related changes in consumer spending patterns, the impact on store traffic, tourism and sales; (ii) the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, increases in commodity prices and borrowing costs and their related impact on the Company's costs and expenses; and (iii) the Company's ability to maintain and obtain sufficient sources of liquidity to fund its operations, to achieve planned sales, gross margin and net income, to keep costs low, to implement its business strategy, maintain relationships with its primary vendors, to mitigate fluctuations in the availability and prices of the Company's merchandise, to compete with other jewelers, to succeed in its marketing initiatives, and to have a successful customer service program.Information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 3, 2012 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Birks & Mayors Inc.
Michael Rabinovitch, 954-590-9000
EVP & Chief Financial Officer

KEYWORDS: United States North America Canada Florida Georgia

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Birks & Mayors Reports First Half Comparable Store Sales Increase 3% and Reports Mid-Year Financial Results originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.