Sales Up at Elizabeth Arden

Elizabeth Arden, Inc.posted favorable financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010. Net sales increased 3.1% to $405.6 million.

For the six months ended Dec. 31, 2010, the company reported net sales of $690.5 million, an increase of 4.9%.

E. Scott Beattie, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Elizabeth Arden, Inc., commented, “The momentum we saw in our business through the first quarter continues. Sales and earnings results were ahead of our prior guidance, driven primarily by the continued strong performance of our international business. In constant currencies, net sales of our international business increased by 12%, while net sales in North America were flat.

“We saw strong net sales increases in our mass retail and direct-to-consumer businesses that offset declines in our U.S. department store fragrance business, which were largely anticipated.”

Beattie continued, “We are pleased with the performance of our brands and the progress we are making with our key initiatives. Year to date, sales of Elizabeth Arden-branded products rose by 7% globally, while sales of our European fragrance business grew by 13%, consistent with our strategy to accelerate the growth of the Elizabeth Arden brand and increase our share of the European fragrance market.”