Stage Stores February Sales Up

Stage Stores, a specialty department store retailer, has reported that total sales for February 2008 increased 1.2% to $105.9 million from $104.6 million in February 2007. Comparable store sales decreased 2.5% in February 2008 versus an increase of 1.4% in February 2007.

The company reported that its cosmetics, dresses, footwear and intimates departments all achieved comparable store sales increases in February 2008, and its children’s category, while negative, performed better than the company average. Cosmetics category was the company’s best performing category during February with a 9.5% comparable store sales increase.

Jim Scarborough, chairman and CEO of Stage Stores, said: “In addition to weak macroeconomic conditions, our February comparable store sales results are reflective of regional differences in weather conditions during the last half of the month. Our eastern market stores were negatively impacted by severe wintry weather, while stores in our south central and southwestern markets benefited from much milder weather.”