Natural Health Trends Corp. posted its financial results for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008. The company reported sales of $11.1 million and net income of $229,000, after de-recognizing $2.2 million in past year commission liabilities in the fourth quarter of 2008. Last year's data was not released by the company for percentage comparison.

Chris Sharng, the company's president, said, "We had a strong finish for the year 2008. Our deferred revenue, which represents orders not shipped as of Dec. 31, was higher than at the end of the third quarter. We are also excited about the current momentum our Greater Chinese members have generated, following a prolonged Chinese New Year festival period that effectively reduced the number of working days in January and February of this year."

The company expects additional measures to reduce SG&A and cost of goods sold that were identified by the end of 2008 will generate cost savings of $500,000 per quarter, to be fully realized by June. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2008, Natural Health Trends implemented a price increase in Hong Kong, Europe and North America that it expects will further bolster the gross profit margin.

"This year, we have been actively planning new marketing programs, including training and meetings in Greater China that will begin within the next few weeks," continued Mr. Sharng. "We have also been actively working on opening a new market in Russia, where in-market customer service facilities are expected to be activated by the end of June. We feel that the trend in revenue and expenses we are witnessing after the Chinese New Year bodes well for a solid year."