Weathering the Storm

Chico's FAS Inc. (Fort Myers, Fla.) has reported a 25.2 percent sales increase for February 2003.

Same-store sales jumped 5 percent for the four-week period ending March 1, 2003.

“Our spring collections have been very well-received and we look forward to a strong March as weather becomes less of a factor,” said president Scott Edmond. “Excluding only the days that were directly affected by the harsh weather during February, we would have run a considerably better same store sales increase for the month.”

Chico's sells exclusively designed, private-label women's casual clothing and related accessories in 380 stores in 41 states and the District of Columbia. The company owns 368 of the stores and franchisees own the other 12.