Mothers Work

Mothers Work Inc. (Philadelphia) announced a 13.6 percent increase in net sales for April 2005. Same-store sales increased 3.1 percent for the month.

The maternity wear retailer said comparable sales were favorably impacted by having five Saturdays in April 2005 compared to four Saturdays in April 2004, though unfavorably impacted by the shift in the timing of Easter from April last year to March this year. The company expects that its May comp sales results will be adversely impacted by approximately 3 to 4 percentage points, since there are only four Saturdays in May 2005 compared to five in May 2004.

During April, the company opened one store and closed seven. It ended the month with 863 stores and 1591 total retail locations, compared to 876 stores and 1101 total retail locations a year earlier. It attributed the significant increase in total retail locations to its expansion of its proprietary Two Hearts Maternity collection to an additional 497 Sears locations during late March 2005, bringing the total number of Sears maternity leased departments operated by the Company to 569.

President and coo Rebecca Matthias noted, “We are pleased with our April sales results, with more spring-like weather during April in much of the United States spurring on sales of seasonal merchandise, following a March during which our sales were adversely impacted by the cooler-than-normal weather conditions throughout much of the United States. For the months of March and April combined, which eliminates the timing shift of Easter and the delayed onset of spring-like weather compared to last year, our comparable store sales were flat. This is a significant improvement from our comparable store sales decrease of 4.2 percent for the first quarter this year and our decrease of 3 percent for the second quarter. For the third quarter this year (April through June), we are currently targeting comparable store sales to be approximately flat, reflecting an improved outlook compared to our prior guidance of a targeted comparable store sales decrease of 1 percent to 3 percent.

“Our overall sales increase of 13.6 percent for April reflects the sales contribution from our new Kohl’s and expanded Sears relationships, as well as increased sales from our own stores.”