Sears Reports September Comparable Store Sales
Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) announced today that comparable domestic store revenues decreased 3.2 percent for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, 2004. Total domestic store revenues were $2.33 billion for the five-week period in September 2004, down 4.9 percent compared with the five weeks ended Oct. 4, 2003.
"Sears' comparable store sales in September were helped by revenue gains in our home appliance and lawn and garden businesses, as well as sales growth across most of our specialty retail formats," said Sears Chairman and CEO Alan J. Lacy. "Apparel sales were disappointing during the month, due in large part to soft demand, as well as comparisons with strong apparel sales last year."
Specialty retail revenues were up in the low-single digit range, due primarily to sales gains at Sears Dealer Stores, Orchard Supply Hardware and The Great Indoors.
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Domestic Store Revenues & Comparable Store Revenues
(*According to National Retail Federation Fiscal Calendar.)
(**A store is considered to be comparable at the beginning of the 13th
month after the store is opened.)
Fiscal Period Ending Percent Change
October 2, October 4, All Comp
2004 2003 Stores Stores**
September $2,332,800,000 $2,453,500,000 -4.9% -3.2%
Year-to-Date* $16,763,600,000 $17,419,400,000 -3.8% -2.5%
The company has made available by phone a recorded message on sales performance of its domestic stores for September 2004. The message can be heard by calling (847) 286-6111 and will be available for approximately one week.
About Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. With revenues in 2003 of $41.1 billion, the company offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the U.S. and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears is the only retailer where consumers can find each of the Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End brands together -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the largest provider of product repair services with more than 14 million service calls made annually.
SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
CONTACT: News Media Contact, Edgar P. McDougal, +1-847-286-9669, or
Investor Contact, Scott A. Bohaboy, +1-847-286-7419, both of Sears, Roebuck
and Co.
Web site: