Telescopes.com’s YTD sales jump 400% over prior year

When the stars line up right, it means more sales at Telescopes.com. But that’s not an astrological phenomenon, it’s a celestial one. Last week’s lunar eclipse was responsible for an estimated 50% increase in sales at Telescopes.com over the past two weeks, Jonathan Thralow, director of marketing and technology, tells InternetRetailer.com.

Telescopes.com reports that sales are up more than 400% this year over last and that September hit a record. “In September, our sister companies combined to post over a $1.1 million in sales. We were able to achieve this number thanks to the huge growth of Telescopes.com,” says Daniel Thralow, CEO. Other sites include Peepers.com for sunglasses, Pans.com for cookware, Binoculars.com, Optics4Hunting.com, TelescopeTown.com and Telescopes4Kids.com.

Jonathan Thralow says October is on pace to break $1 million in sales, also.

He adds that the spike in lunar eclipse sales pales in comparison to the excitement over the near approach of Mars to Earth. "Our telescope sales only averaged $100 a day until Mars showed up on Aug. 27, 2003, then sales jumped to over $4,000 within 48 hours,” says Daniel Thralow. “By Christmas 2003 we had achieved sales of $15,000 a day.”