Web sales at J. Crew and Penney race ahead of store sales

Web-based sales at J. Crew Inc. increased by 41% in May vs. May 2002, reaching $10.7 million from $7.6 million, the company reported today. Total companywide revenue increased 1.4% to $57.4 million from $56.6 million. The web accounts for 18.6% of J. Crew’s revenue, up from 13.4% a year ago.

In the first third of the year, web-based sales grew 22% $47.3 million from $38.8 million while total revenue decreased 2.1% to $218.9 million from $223.7 million. For the first 17 weeks of the year, the web accounted for 21.6% of revenue vs. 17.3% a year ago.

Catalog sales for the month fell 25.7% vs. a year ago to $5.2 million from $7 million and 26.2% in the first third of the year vs. a year ago from $32 million to $23.6 million.

Retail store sales for the month fell 3.3% vs. a year ago to $32.3 million from $33.4 million. J. Crew operates 154 retail stores and 42 outlet stores. Comparable store sales for the 17-week period were down 10%.

Web-based sales at J. C. Penney Co. Inc. increased more than 50% in May vs. May 2002, the company reported today. J.C. Penney does not break out dollar figures for Internet sales.

By comparison, comparable department store sales increased 3.2% in May from May a year ago, while comparable store sales in its Eckerd drugstore chain decreased 1.2%.