Blair’s web sales grow 9% while total sales slip 12%

Web-based sales at apparel and home furnishings retailer Blair Corp. increased 9.3% in the first six months of this year over last, reaching $45.6 million from $41.7 million. Companywide sales for the six months were $255.6 million, down 12.2% from last year’s sales of $291.4 million in the first six months. The web accounted for 17.8% of all sales vs. 14.3% a year earlier.

Blair operates the Blair and Crossing Point catalog and web site brands. It has announced that it will discontinue mailing of the Crossing Pointe catalog early next year, although the company says it plans to maintain the web site for now.

Net income for the first six months $5.6 million compared to $4.6 million reported for the first six months last year.