NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abercrombie & Fitch
(NYSE: ANF) today reported net sales of $219.7 million for the four-week
period ended February 2, 2008, compared to last year's net sales of $252.3
million. January 2007 was a five-week month. January comparable store sales
were flat for the four-week period ended February 2, 2008, compared to the
four-week period ended February 3, 2007. Total Company direct-to-consumer net
sales increased 33% to $24.4 million for the four-week period ended
February 2, 2008, compared to the five-week period ended February 3, 2007.
For the fifty-two week fiscal year ended February 2, 2008, the Company
reported a net sales increase of 13% to $3.750 billion from $3.318 billion for
the fifty-three week fiscal year ended February 3, 2007. Fiscal 2007
comparable store sales decreased 1%. For the fifty-two week fiscal year ended
February 2, 2008, the Company reported direct-to-consumer net sales increased
49% to $258.9 million.
January 2008 Developments
-- Total Company net sales reached $219.7 million
-- Total Company direct-to-consumer net sales increased 33%
-- Total Company comparable store sales were flat to last year
-- Abercrombie & Fitch comparable store sales increased 2%
-- abercrombie comparable store sales decreased 1%
-- Hollister Co. comparable store sales decreased 2%
-- RUEHL comparable store sales decreased 17%
The Company operated a total of 355 Abercrombie & Fitch stores, 201
abercrombie stores, 447 Hollister Co. stores, 22 RUEHL and three Gilly Hicks
stores in the United States at the end of fiscal January. The Company operates
three Abercrombie & Fitch stores and three Hollister Co. stores in Canada, and
one Abercrombie & Fitch flagship in London, England. The Company operates
e-commerce websites at www.abercrombie.com, www.abercrombiekids.com,
www.hollisterco.com and www.RUEHL.com.
To hear the Abercrombie & Fitch pre-recorded January sales message, please
dial (800) 395-0662, or internationally, dial (402) 220-1262.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT
OF 1995
A&F cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this
Press Release or made by management of A&F involve risks and uncertainties and
are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be
beyond the Company's control. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan,"
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," and similar expressions may
identify forward-looking statements. The following factors, in addition to
those included in the disclosure under the heading "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
AND RISK FACTORS" in "ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS" of A&F's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2007, in some cases have affected
and in the future could affect the Company's financial performance and could
cause actual results for the 2007 fiscal year and beyond to differ materially
from those expressed or implied in any of the forward-looking statements
included in this Press Release or otherwise made by management: changes in
consumer spending patterns and consumer preferences; the effects of political
and economic events and conditions domestically and in foreign jurisdictions
in which the Company operates, including, but not limited to, acts of
terrorism or war; the impact of competition and pricing; changes in weather
patterns; postal rate increases and changes; paper and printing costs; market
price of key raw materials; ability to source product from its global supplier
base; political stability; currency and exchange risks and changes in existing
or potential duties, tariffs or quotas; availability of suitable store
locations at appropriate terms; ability to develop new merchandise; ability to
hire, train and retain associates; and the outcome of pending litigation.
Future economic and industry trends that could potentially impact revenue and
profitability are difficult to predict. Therefore, there can be no assurance
that the forward-looking statements included in this Press Release will prove
to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties in the forward-
looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should
not be regarded as a representation by the Company, or any other person, that
the objectives of the Company will be achieved. The forward-looking
statements herein are based on information presently available to the
management of the Company. Except as may be required by applicable law, the
Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking
statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any
projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.
SOURCE Abercrombie & Fitch
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