Web sales at Spiegel, J.C. Penney grow strongly in April

Web sales once again were the only bright spot in the monthly sales report from The Spiegel Group. While total sales reached $205.4 million for the four weeks ended April 28, a 2% decrease from sales of $209.9 million for the year earlier period, Internet sales grew 76%. The Spiegel Group does not break out dollars for Internet sales.

Guide to E-Commerce Technology

For the 17 weeks ended April 28, Spiegel‘s total sales declined also by 2% to $817.1 million from $837.4 million in the same period last year. Spiegel operates the Spiegel, Eddie Bauer and Newport News brands.

J. C. Penney Co. Inc.’s JCPenney.com’s sales also grew smartly in April, reaching $18 million, up 38.5% from last April’s $13 million. Year-to-date web sales hit $73 million, up 55% from last year’s YTD sales of $47 million.

Total department store sales for April increased 1.8% to $1.11 billion from $1.09 billion in April 2000. On a comparable-store basis, department store sales for April increased 3.8% from April last year.

J.C. Penney catalog sales for April decreased 14.7% from April 2000. The company attributed the decline to the elimination of unprofitable specialty catalogs, the closing of outlet stores, and generally weak demand from the Spring/Summer big book. Internet sales are reported in the catalog sales numbers.