ABILENE, Kan., April 11, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ALCO Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALCS) today announced sales from continuing operations, excluding fuel, increased 1.4% to $44.8 million for the five-week period ended April 7, 2013, compared to $44.2 million during the same period of the prior year. On a same-store basis, excluding fuel, sales decreased 1.7% from a year earlier.
Rich Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "March sales results benefited from the shift of the Easter holiday this year compared to April last year. However, due to the extended winter weather throughout much of the Midwest, sales decreases in our outdoor seasonal businesses offset the benefit of the Easter shift, resulting in a decrease in same-store sales. Lower sales in outdoor furniture, lawn and garden, and horticulture were responsible for the entire sales decrease for the month of March."
Mr. Wilson concluded, "We are confident that sales in weather-sensitive categories will normalize as temperatures return to more typical weather patterns throughout April and May. We are also encouraged by the progress being made as we integrate our new Revionics price optimization software. The project is currently on schedule and we expect to realize benefits during third and fourth quarters."
Effective with the thirteen-week reporting period ending May 5, 2013, the Company will switch from reporting sales results on a monthly basis to reporting sales results on a quarterly basis.
Investor Conference Call
The Company will host an investor conference call at 10:00 a.m. Central Time on Friday, April 19, 2013, to discuss operating results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 3, 2013. The dial-in number for the conference call is 888-240-9373 (international/local participants dial 913-312-0376), and the Conference Code is 8688745. Parties interested in participating in the conference call should dial in approximately five minutes prior to 10:00 a.m. Central Time. A replay of the call will be available after 1:00 p.m. Central Time April 19, 2013 through April 24, 2013, by dialing 888-203-1112 (international/local participants dial 719-457-0820), and the Replay Code is 8688745. A replay of the call will also be available four hours after completion of the call by visiting the Investors page on the Company's website, www.ALCOstores.com.
About ALCO Stores, Inc.
ALCO Stores, Inc. is a broad-line retailer, primarily located in small underserved communities across 23 states. The Company has 217 ALCO stores that offer both name brand and private label products of exceptional quality at reasonable prices. We are proud to have continually provided friendly, personal service to our customers for the past 112 years. To learn more about the Company, visit www.ALCOstores.com.
The ALCO Stores, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5865
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, as referenced in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("the Act"). Forward-looking statements can be identified by the inclusion of "will," "believe," "intend," "expect," "plan," "project" and similar future-looking terms. You should not rely unduly on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and projections regarding economic conditions, retail industry environments, and the Company performance. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties, and, accordingly, actual results may vary materially. Factors which could significantly change results include but are not limited to: sales performance, expense levels, competitive activity, interest rates, changes in the Company's financial condition, and factors affecting the retail category in general. Additional information regarding these and other factors may be included in the Company's 10-Q filings and other public documents, copies of which are available from the Company on request and are available from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.