Retailers Report September Sales

It is the first Thursday of October, and retailers are dishing on their sales performance in the month of September. Solid gains were reported by a number of big retailers.

Saks Incorporated—which operates 46 Saks Fifth Avenue stores as well as 60 Saks Off 5th outlet doors—said sales totaled $275.0 million for the five weeks ended October 1, 2011 compared to $256.4 million for the five weeks ended October 2, 2010, a 7.3% increase. Comparable store sales increased 9.3% for the month. Among the strongest categories were women’s shoes, handbags, fashion jewelry and cosmetics.

Macy’s, Inc reported total sales of $2.298 billion for the five weeks ended Oct. 1, 2011, an upswing of 5.3% compared to the five weeks ended Oct. 2, 2010. On a same-store basis, Macy’s, Inc. sales were up 4.9% in September.

“We continued to see a strong sales trend in September at both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. Our sales performed well both in stores and online. This underscores that our business remains on track, despite the persistently negative macroeconomic news,” said Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc. “Our customers are responding to fashion and uniqueness in the assortment at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. We are feeling quite confident that we will continue to gain market share as we head toward the holiday selling season.”

Online sales from macys.com and bloomingdales.com were up 43.3% in September and 39.4% year to date, the retailer said.

Target Corporation said its net retail sales for the five weeks ended October 1, 2011 jumped 6.5%. September comparable-store sales increased 5.3%.

“We’re very pleased with our September comparable-store sales, which were somewhat ahead of our expectations,” said Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president and CEO of Target Corporation. “We experienced strong sales results throughout the month and across a broad array of merchandise categories, demonstrating Target’s ability to deliver on both sides of our “Expect More. Pay Less” brand promise and generate strong financial performance even in this soft economic environment.”

Meanwhile at The Bon-Ton Stores, comparable store sales for the five weeks ended October 1, 2011 fell 3.6%. Total sales decreased 4.1% to $286.9 million for the five weeks compared with $299.2 million for the prior year period. However, one of its best performing businesses was cosmetics, according to Tony Buccina, vice chairman and president – merchandising with Bon-Ton, which operates 275 department stores.

Limited Brands, Inc. reported a comparable store sales increase of 11% for the five weeks ended Oct. 1, while its Bath & Body Works unit posted a sales gain of 12%, beating projections. The firm attributed gains at B&BW to success in home fragrance and anti-bacterial products as well as signature fragrances, the latest of which is Charmed Life.