Ulta Posts Holiday Gains

Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. reported favorable sales results for the seven-week holiday period from Nov. 14, 2010 to Jan. 1, 2011. This time period corresponds with the company’s holiday marketing initiatives and represents the seven full weeks beginning the week before Thanksgiving through the end of the week following Christmas.

Total net sales for the seven-week holiday period rose 18.4% to $310.4 million. Comparable store sales for the 2010 holiday period increased 9.5, according to the company.

Chuck Rubin, Ulta’s president and chief executive officer, stated: “We are pleased with our holiday performance. Our strategy included exciting merchandising and marketing programs that delivered new products and great values to our customers, all supported by a terrific shopping environment. Our sales strength was broad based across categories and was achieved primarily through higher traffic as well as slightly higher average ticket. Based on our strong holiday results, we have raised our fourth quarter expectations for sales and earnings.”

Driven by favorable holiday sales, the company is increasing its fourth quarter fiscal 2010 outlook in the range of $463 million to $467 million for net sales, as compared to its previous guidance of $447 million to $456 million. Fourth quarter fiscal 2009 net sales were $396.4 million.